Twice the fun

Donna-Rae Munroe
Leader-Post

June 25, 2005


What do Fillmore, Humboldt, Lumsden, Sheho, and 17 other towns in Saskatchewan have in common?

They're all celebrating two centennials this year -- their own 100th birthdays, along with Saskatchewan's.

"I think we're nostalgic, sure we are," said Johanna Taylor, a member of Fillmore's centennial committee.

On June 10, Fillmore turned 100 years old, and Taylor said that's not the only thing getting up in age in the village.

"It was getting pretty ricketty and we wanted to preserve it," she said of the town's original hitching post, which used to stand infront of a livery stable in the village. A portion of the hitching post has been incorporated into a steel monument dedicated to the pioneers who settled Fillmore.

There are 13 people over the age of 90, said Taylor, who are recognized as pioneers and will receive scrolls in honour of their accomplishments.

Fillmore's three original buildings are getting up there in age as well. The pharmacy, the hotel, and the bank were all built between 1904 and 1906, said Taylor.

Humboldt will also be recognizing homesteads of 100 years in honour of the city's birthday June 30.

"We're very proud of these homesteads especially in this day in age when farming is getting harder," said Stacey Kwasney of Humboldt, who also said third or fourth generation family farms are becoming rare as they are sold off.

One homestead on display in Humboldt will be the Lemmerick farm started up in 1903, which has been up and running for four generations.

Lauren Rice is a fourth generation Lumsden resident, and her children are fifth generation.

"We're kind of big history buffs around here," said Rice.

"I remember the old fashioned general store, walking into the butchershop and he'd give you a slice of cheese off the barrel. It sounds weird, but I remember when there was no running water," she said, and added, "I'm only 43!"

Lumsden also has some original buildings and homes.

"There's some that date to the early times that are still standing and still in use today," said Bill King, resident and member of the Lumsden Historical Society.

"A number of them date back to 1902. Most are two or three stories and made with brick," he said.

The community of Sheho will be touring an old homestead built before the railroad went through the area.

"They thought a track would go by there," said Emil Sebulski, chair of Sheho's centennial committee, of the 10 to 12 room stone house, which was originally built to become a hotel when the railroad arrived. However, the tracks were laid farther away and the stone house in now vacant.

The other communities that have turned or are turning 100 this year are Riversdale, Kamsack, Antler, Canora, Craven, Neudorf, Hanley, Lipton, Tisdale, Dubuc, Tyvan, Stockholm, Dundurn, Kinistino, Carnduff and Vonda.

Communities celebrating are putting on a variety of activities.

In Fillmore from July 1 to 3, there will be fireworks, a dance, a car show, a parade, and more. Humboldt will host a CCA sanctioned rodeo, as well as a petting zoo, rides, agricultural displays, and other attractions from June 29 to July 1. For Lumsden, 100 years will be celebrated with the grand opening of a new library in the old firehall, a street market, bonfire, and a historical picture display on July 2 to 3. And Sheho will have a parade, pioneer tributes, a history book unveiling, and fireworks from July 8 to 10.

For more information on these and other centennial events, visit the Saskatchewan Centennial Web site at www.sask2005.ca.

Wow that was the front page dang what a harsh town man!!

I hope no one from Regina moves to my town I'd be scared!

LOL

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Unregistered Felon Reviewed by Unregistered Felon on . Fuckin scary experience Yah so i was at my friends house tonight with some other guys and we go outside and find out we need to fight about 15 people, and there were 8 of us. So of course we end up getting into the fight and they all pull out fuckin knives even though they outnumber us. I guess we all came to our senses and booked it out of there but my buddy M got shanked on the side of his ribcage and is was bleeding like crazy. After this, we go back to my friends house and get some weed from this guy that came Rating: 5