Backroads Saskatchewan

We’re out exploring with a friend and looking for abandoned places. This is Backroads Saskatchewan and we’re in the southwest corner of the province kicking up a little dust. We’ve been down this way before, so not exactly strangers, but it’s always nice to come back and take in something new.

Before we start, a big shout out to Dale for showing us around and allowing us to ride shotgun. On the road of life, it’s sometimes a refreshing change to be a passenger and not the guide. This post is pure randomness with no real direction and a decidedly casual approach, but still captures some interesting subjects. Let’s go!

1) Red Lake Cemetery is well hidden out in pasture and a sad, forgotten place. There’s a single grave marker, but we know there’s other folks buried here in (now) unmarked plots. The number of depressions seen suggests there’s a few at least and one report states the number ten. We know not their names nor anything else about them – rest in peace. This small plot of fenced-in land is unmaintained and a mine-field of badger holes.

Mention is made of a church being located on the property and the report goes on to say it latter was moved away to a town in the district back in the 1930s. There appears to be no evidence of where it stood in relation to the cemetery but a lot of time has passed and any signs likely obliterated.

2) We’re at Kincorth Cemetery, on a lonely plot of land down by the CPR tracks. Occasionally, there’s the deep rumble of a passing freight but otherwise silence rules here on the remote Saskatchewan plains. There’s about thirty recorded burials here, with a good number lacking markers or with ones illegible. The first person interred here happened in 1915 and the most recent, 1946.

Johann Oddan, whose grave shows in the first photo of this group, donated land to the cemetery. That’s a unique grave marker. Little Henry Kennedy was but two years old when he passed on and that must have been heartbreaking for his folks. Surviving to adulthood a hundred years ago could be counted as an accomplishment and child deaths all too common. You see the lamb and know in an instant it marks the grave of a little one that didn’t make it.

3) The much photographed “Witch House”, so named for its prominent turret resembling the conical hat worn by the ex-GF stereotypical practitioners of the black arts. We’re working to reconnect with it sometime down the road for a more in-depth look and of course we’ll probably blah, blah, blah about it afterwards. You know, hopefully dig up some dates and stuff. Look at that character here and of all the places seen in this post it was the only one we knew of already. We’ve oddly never visited, but that’s just due to bad timing and not for a lack of wanting to.

4) Farmer’s never throw anything away and in the case of a car that no longer runs, they were (and still) often disposed of out back of the property somewhere and forgotten. At this old farm yard, marked by some hedge rows and a few trees, there nothing really of man’s making left behind, but the old Chevy still sits where parked long ago. It appears to be a late 1930s model and while we looked for a manufacturer’s plate to confirm with more accuracy, it appeared missing. We struggle when it comes to IDing old cars, but always cautiously take a stab.

5) Here’s one of Saskatchewan’s iconic bowstring arch bridges. These were everywhere back in the day, and while many still exist, a good number are abandoned. Being made of steel-reinforced concrete means they’re costly to remove so most are simply left behind when bypassed. Hundreds of years from now, the earth will be a scorched, lifeless husk, but this bridge will remain.

The data suggests it’s from the late 1920s, although info is spotty. Something like eighty of these, of varying lengths, were put in along Saskatchewan backroads that decade and the one to follow. Know more about this design: Bridge Hunting – Highway 37 Saskatchewan and Bridge Hunting – Scotsguard Saskatchewan.

6) Lastly, it’s a former one room school in the literal middle of nowhere (<--overused analogy alert). These buildings are often quite modest in proportion, but here it's downright tiny. The date 1917 appears above the door, but no solid information could be found when exactly it closed. A long time ago, however, would be a rock solid bet.

With this photo and these words, the post comes to an end. Thanks for taking the time and we hope you enjoyed getting to know (albeit briefly) the subjects presented.

There’s plenty of new content coming, and more fun on the horizon, so stay tuned!

They’re saying…

”They present well researched articles (ed: this quick post excepted) that do a lot to preserve our history and heritage which is very important. We are losing many of our landmarks such as old grain elevators, rural churches and commercial buildings in many of our small towns. Chris and Connie have done a lot to highlight these passings and to keep us informed.” Lynn Bardsley Redekopp.

More like this…
Take The Backroad Home.
These Places Visited.
Eastern Alberta Abandonment.

If you wish more information on what’s seen here, don’t hesitate to: contact us!

Date of Adventure: March, 2021.
Location(s): Saskatchewan, baby.
Article references: Medicine Hat & District Genealogical Society, FindAGrave.com and thanks to our friend Dale for hosting us.

1) A lost cemetery.

1) Only one grave marker is visible.

1) This is Backroads Saskatchewan!

2) At Kincorth Cemetery.

2) A lamb always means a child.

2) Goodnight John May.

2) The train was the only sound.

2) A sign, easily missed.

3) The much photographed Witch House.

3) So called due to the turret resembling a witch’s hat.

4) This 1930s Chevy.

5) An iconic Bowstring Arch Bridge.

5) This one was bypassed.

6) From the 1910s.