Laying the Rails Railway lines are made up of two parts: the ties and the rails. The ties are wooden planks, about six feet long. The rails are made of steel. The rails are joined to the ties and to each other by fishplates and spikes. The ties ire placed across the roadbed exactly two…
The St. Andrew’s Lock and Dam is most commonly known for its unique structure. Its adapted French design was used to work with the environment, instead of attempting to control the forces of nature. The creation of the dam increased trade access along the Red River from North to South by raising the water level…
Built in 1862 by Robert Cox, Cox House is one of only two surviving Red River frame style houses in Manitoba still on its original site. Red River frame was an architectural style where walls were formed by slipping short logs cut with protruding tongues into vertical logs that had channels cut down their length….
Architectural Heritage of St. Clements “Starting afresh in a new home has always been a part of prairie life” (Holt 1). St. Clements municipality has attracted many different social and ethnic groups throughout history. These groups each brought their own distinctive influences which combined to form the great multicultural history of our region. The major…
Part 1 The Van Horne Farm It has always been a profound belief of mine that the things which people regard as next to impossible are the easiest things to do. Consequently I have always set myself out to perform the next-to-impossible, wherever I have run against it – Sir William Van Horne. To understand…
For over one hundred and forty years, the ferry system was one of the most common transportation methods in Manitoba. In St. Clements, the ferry system was crucial in the everyday activities of its citizens, particularly for maintaining communication and flow of goods and services between West and East Selkirk. These raft-resembling crafts were located…
Manitoba has protected many of its most important Provincial Heritage Sites and commemorated significant people and events with plaques. Government of Manitoba Heritage Sites in St. Clements Bunn House: http://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/hrb/prov/p069.html St. Peter Dynevor Anglican Church: http://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/hrb/prov/p007.html Manitoba Heritage Council Commemorative Plaques First Farmers in the Red River Valley: http://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/hrb/plaques/plaq0377.html Chief Peguis: http://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/hrb/plaques/plaq0206.html Thomas George Prince:…
Mr. Arthur Doidge learned his trade of Pottery in Peterborough, Ont. He came to Manitoba and settled in East Selkirk in the 1870’s. He built for himself a business in East Selkirk called the “Doidge’s Pottery Works” and his large plant was situated about 150 yards south of where the old CPR Right-of-Way crossed Cooks…
The School District of Donald School No. 1094 was formed on Nov. 6, 1900 by an award of Arbitrators and by Feb. 4, 1901, the first public meeting for election of trustees was called resulting in Albert Anderson becoming Chairman of the Board, Donald McKay and Donald McDonald trustees with Donald McDonald filling the Sec….
There are many possible reasons to donate to the East Beaches Heritage Wing: Perhaps you have parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles who danced in the pavilion, walked along the beach, rode the moonlight express, spent their summers at a cottage. You wish to honour their memories. Perhaps you spent your summers at Grand Marais and remember…
The school district of Dunlop No. 2150 was formed by J.E.S. Dunlop (IPS) on the 16th of June, 1926, and consisted of the following lands in unorganized territory: Sections 11,12, 13, 14, 15, 23, 24, 25, 26, 35, and 36, in tp. 18-7E and 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 30 in tp. 18-8E….
At one time five brickyards operated in the East Selkirk area. They were west of Cooks Creek and run down as far as the Red River. The brick from these plants were used in the Towns of East and West Selkirk and also for the Roundhouse on the east side of the Red River. The…
The only mail transportation in the early years to and from our Red River area was by packets or brigades of the Hudson’s Bay Company or the North West Company. These fur company expresses travelled back and forth between Montreal and Red River at least twice per year and as a courtesy, often carried mail…
(13 pages) Learn about the first inhabitants of the St. Clements area who arrived about 3000 years ago. Submitted by Grade 5 teacher Tom Flight, St. Andrews School, St. Andrews, Manitoba
The East Selkirk and District Seniors Club was organized on March 15, 1982 and was sponsored by the East Selkirk Recreation Association as part of their Community Centre Program. The first meeting was chaired by Mr. Les Mazur, with guest speakers, Mr. Cal. Zacharias and Mr. Gerry Ham representing the Federal and Provincial Gov’ts. The…
(13 pages) Origin and history of the East Selkirk area looking at First Nations peoples, European settlers, and the role of the railway, ferry and bridge.
Historical documents and photos of the inauguration of the East Selkirk Recreational Association, including many significant achievements by the group and local projects they have been a part of.
By Donna Sutherland 1670 – 1870: The Fur Trade The First European Explorers Beginning in the 1500s, European Explorers sailed the Atlantic Ocean looking for a faster route to Asia so the people of Europe could trade their goods with the peoples of Asia. Those early explorers did not reach Asia, but they found North…
In the Beginning Canada was a new country at the end of the 19th century with a low population of immigrant people. The majority of people living in Canada then, especially in western Canada, were First Nations and Métis peoples. The Prime Minster of Canada, Wilfrid Laurier, wanted to increase the country’s immigrant population in…
We are looking for photographs and a few small artifacts for the exhibits. Click here to learn more. Lake Winnipeg Learn how Lake Winnipeg and its beautiful beaches came to be. Then explore the lake’s ecology, health threats, and ways to keep it healthy. Learn about the mighty Lake Winnipeg’s origins, its watershed and health….
The People of Red River Settlement before Confederation. Red River Settlement was a colony built at the forks of the Red and Assiniboine rivers long before Confederation. It would become the city of Winnipeg. It became an official colony in 1812 with the arrival of settlers from the Scottish Highlands, known today as Selkirk Settlers….
Timeline: About 8000 Years Ago: Lake Agassiz A huge body of water covered the lands of St. Clements about 8000 years ago. Scientists suggest it formed about 14,000 years ago from the melting of a continental ice sheet. When the glacial lake drained, its sediments formed the rich farmland of the Red River valley and…
(13 pages) Decide what you think early inhabitants should have done when the Europeans arrived. Submitted by Grade 5 teacher Tom Flight, St. Andrews School, St. Andrews, MB
Various grants are available to groups or individuals for heritage-related projects. Consult with the Red River North Heritage Committee if you want to pursue a grant for a heritage project—the Heritage Committee has the background and experience that can help you define and refine your project. For a list of available grants, visit Manitoba Culture,…