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Lumsden: A Walking Tour of Historical Buildings First Inhabitants

People have lived for more than 12,000 years on ’s grasslands. Archaeologists are still trying to determine who these early people were, as they left no written records about themselves or their times. Instead, their history must be found through examination of historic sites and artifacts, and interpreting oral histories. To date in the Lumsden area, artifacts have been carbon dated back some 8,400 to 9,500 years. Since the coming of Europeans to the prairies in the middle 1600s it’s known that five First Nations groups - Gros Ventre, Cree, Assiniboine, Blackfoot, and Saulteaux - ancestors of those early people, lived and hunted in the Lumsden area. The stone medicine wheel and tee pee ring in the picture are located along the Arm River near Regina Beach. Lumsden Settlement Story

Credit for Lumsden’s name and beautiful valley location belongs to both a railway company and circumstances. The company was the CPR; the circumstances were an incomplete branch line and inflated land prices. The CPR became involved when it was awarded a lease in 1885 to complete a branch line from Regina to Prince Albert, a much needed route to help open up more of the prairie west to agricultural settlement and provide supplies to more northerly communities. The Qu’Appelle, Long Lake and Railway Company had the rights for the line but after laying track only as far as Craven, then known as Sussex, the fledgling company decided the job was too big for it to complete and awarded a six-year lease to the CPR to finish and operate the line. For its construction headquarters and a possible future town site, the CPR initially wanted a location one and a half miles east of present day Lumsden, where the Boggy Creek enters the Qu’Appelle River, and a spot where the completed portion of the rail line lay. However, when negotiations with the landowner brought land prices too high for the company’s liking, it looked elsewhere, settling on Lumsden’s current location. As a way of honouring its head engineer/surveyor on the project, Hugh Lumsden, the CPR named the town site Lumsden. It wasn’t long after the railway came that Lumsden experienced a building boom, roughly between 1897 and 1910. It was during this time that most of the homes and buildings featured in the guide were built. Lumsden became a village in 1898 and a town in 1905. About Lumsden

Today, Lumsden is a rapidly growing community with a population of more than 1600 people. Like so many small towns in the province, it’s a safe, friendly and welcoming community in which to raise a family, do business or retire. One of the town’s greatest assets, of course, is its beautiful location in the Qu’Appelle Valley, bordered by the Wascana and Boggy Creek Valleys. Lumsden’s community spirit is the cornerstone for its many successful sports, recreation, cultural and community endeavours, with events and activities going on the year round. The Duck Derby, for example, is one our major events, staged annually during the Labour Day weekend. Our town’s attractions include: • hockey and curling rinks • elementary and high schools • shops, stores, restaurants • baseball diamonds • library • museum • parks • campground • seasonal community events • manor and extendacare homes • various denominational churches • many other services During your walking tour (or after), take some time to visit some of our town businesses, or drop into the local museum and learn more about the Lumsden area’s history. You may also want to look over some of the new housing developments around town. We have a lot to offer! 1N (1903) - 90 2nd Ave. E. 2N (1903) - 215 James St. N. 3N (1900) - 225 James St. N. This is one of Lumsden’s most historic homes - Maggie The Balfour brothers - Alexander, William, John, and David Funding for this structure, to be used as a town hall, was Inglis’s “home hospital”. Maggie was a midwife and built this building for their general store business. The rather unusual as town residents were asked for financial delivered more than 300 babies in the home between basement walls are made of fieldstone and concrete. The support to have it built. It was later sold by the subscribers/ 1922 - 1945. It was said that if a person was born in the bricks are from Grenfell, SK. Later, Alexander operated shareholders to the rural municipality of Lumsden Lumsden area during those years, it was probably in the store on his own. In 1946 his son, Sheff, formed a (probably around 1912 when the RM was formed) who Maggie’s home. partnership with Les McLaren and they ran the store as used it until the construction of a new town and rural Balfour-McLaren until the mid 1970’s when it was closed. municipal office across the street in 1972. 4N (1897) - 245 James St. N. 5N (1904) - 255 James St. N. 6N (1897) - 265 James St. N. Lumsden’s Methodist congregation erected this small Charles Hynds had this building put up to house his This is one of Lumsden’s oldest homes still being occupied. building to serve as its church. In 1908 they built a new newspaper business, The Lumsden News Record, which It was built for Tom and Elizabeth McNeice (Kelly) who church on the corner of James Street and Qu’Appelle he published and edited for about 33 years. After his death also used it as a boarding house, renting out bedrooms on Drive on the south side of the valley. This building became the building was turned into a private home. The Lumsden the top floor. Tom was a founding trustee of the Lumsden a butcher shop as early as 1919 when the Slessor family Museum has a nearly complete set of all the papers School District in 1897 and part owner of one of Lumsden’s moved to Lumsden from Kipling to open a meat store. published by Mr. Hynds. first stores. The barbershop was added in 1942 by Earl Butson, then owner of the home. 7N (1902) - 505 James St. N. 8N (1902-1906) - 515 James St. N. 9N (1902-1906) - 525 James St. N. This is one of the six homes along James Street constructed This Miller home was occupied by William and Sarah Hugh and Frances Miller (Walton) occupied this home. by members of the Miller family between 1902 and 1906. Canning (Miller). They later moved to Ross Street. Hugh was involved in local politics, serving as Reeve of This was the home of Matthew and Rebecca, parents of William had been a homesteader and a general store the R.M. of Lumsden (1916 - 1926) before being elected as Jack, Bob, Hugh, Elizabeth, Sarah and Maude. The family clerk in Ontario before relocating to Lumsden. Sarah and the district’s MLA (1925 - 1929). Hugh & Francis had four moved from Ontario to Regina in 1889 and to Lumsden in William had two children, Gladys and Delmar. children, Walton, Howard, Frances and Norman. 1890, where Matthew and Rebecca, along with their three sons, took up homesteads. 10N (1902-1906) - 535 James St. N. 11N (1905) - 605 James St. N. 12N (1904) - 735 James St. N. This home was originally owned by William and Maud Bob and Blanch Miller built this unique home with its corner This home was built for Jack and Anne Miller (McEwen). Leaker (Miller) from 1906 - 1911. Mr. Leaker was turret. Other residents have included the Dr. Anderson and The one-story wings on the north and south sides of the listed in Henderson’s Directory for 1905 as a barber and Beattie Ramsay families. Dr. Anderson was Lumsden’s first house were added at a later date. Their children became tobacconist. Generations of Lumsdenites would remember doctor; Beattie Ramsay was Saskatchewan’s first Olympic Canadian sports stars with Florence excelling in track and the Pavilion dance hall the Leakers operated for many Gold Medalist in hockey, winning the honour for the Toronto field and Earl in hockey, playing in the NHL for Toronto years on the bank of the old river. Maud and William had Granites in the 1924 Winter Olympics in France. and Chicago and winning a Stanley Cup while playing for two children, Mae and Mervin. the Maple Leafs. 13N (1960) - 60 - 8th Ave. 14N (1905) - 740 James St. N. 15N (1905) - 700 - James St. N. Completed in 1960, the John Nugent Studio typifies Most of the houses along the west side of James Street William and Florence Kerr (Nurse) built this home in 1903. the modernist style of architecture of Mr. Wiens, who North, including the house above, were built at the One year later they had to leave it to escape the Great Flood received a Massey Silver Medal for its design in 1967. beginning of the 1900s. At the time, the street had no of 1904, camping in the nearby hills with their new son and Initially used to manufacture beeswax votive candles, the trees as the picture on the back of the guide shows. A tree other residents. One of their children, Illingworth, became building became exclusively an artist’s studio as Nugent’s planting program later helped beautify both the street and an internationally known Canadian landscape artist, author reputation for working in metal grew. The studio is one of the town. and illustrator, and was officially recognized as “Canada’s 47 provincially designated heritage sites. first prairie born artist of note”. 16N (1904) - 610 James St. N. 17N (1910) - 600 James St. N. 18N (1907) - 430 Lake St. Edward and Maggie Troughton (Clark) built this home. The Watkins family added this home to Lumsden’s This was home for Alexander (Doc) and Annie Balfour. The outer walls are made of rusticated concrete, which growing community. Mr Watkins was Lumsden’s first As well as their long association with Balfour’s General was hand mixed and poured in sixteen inchs blocks. The lawyer. A later long-time owner was Frank Gibbs of Gibbs Store, they owned the old Lumsden Hotel, which they Troughtons operated a tinsmith, undertaking business and Bros. Construction, one of Saskatchewan’s first large operated with their son, Sheff. Alex was the youngest of furniture store in Lumsden. Later occupants of the home scale construction companies. The brick home lost some eight children of Agnes Balfour who, after being widowed were the Nathan Bugg and Clarence Mack families. of its extensive grounds in the 1970’s when the river was in 1883, moved from Ontario to an area west of Lumsden relocated to reduce the threat of flooding in town. to homestead with her family. 19N (1972) - 360 James St. N. 20N (1903) - 240 James St. N. 21N (1931) - 220 James St. N. The Town and Municipal office building was erected in Ed Troughton put up this building in 1903 to house his This beautiful building, erected during the “dirty 30s”, 1972. The original building was a hall that served the hardware, tinsmith, undertaking and furniture businesses. served as Lumsden’s post office until the end of November Presbyterian congregation until 1907 when they finished For many years the building was used for the Red and 2001 when it was moved into the new building to the North their new church on the south side of the tracks. The bell White Store. It is now a hardware store. to provide more space for mail boxes and mail sorting. was purchased by the town in the 1920’s and was used to tell the time of day and warn of fires. 22N (1900) - 20 - 2nd Ave. 23N (1908) - 110 - 2nd Ave. 24N (1899) - 125 - 2nd Ave. W. Dr. Anderson erected this building using part of it for his Originally the home of Dr. Cairns, the house was built by It’s believed that Charles and Helen Keith (Burrows) were drug store and renting out part for a bakery owned by Dolly William Kinnon for approximately $4,000. It is one of the first owners of this home, possibly as early as 1899. and Cecil McDonald. Lumsden’s first telephone company, the few early houses in Lumsden, the interior of which, is Helen was the daughter of Pete Burrows, a son of one of the Lumsden Radical Company, moved into the upstairs in finished entirely of solid oak. A later, long time owner was the early settler families in the Lumsden/Tregarva areas. A 1903. Over the years, the building has also been used for a W.C. (Billy) Gibbs of Gibbs Brothers Construction. portion of the Keith’s farmland is now part of the town grocery store, video establishment and coffee shop. of Lumsden. 25N (1905) - 115 - 2nd Ave. W. 26N (1898) - 85 - 2nd Ave. W. 27N (1904) - 100 James St. N. Built for Jim Kinnon, an early settler in the Cottonwood All Saints Anglican Church. This historic frame structure Will and Florence Kerr (Nurse), original owners, built District south of Lumsden. Jim was known for his was moved from Condie in 1946. A plaque reads: “To on this site to house their automobile sales and repair Clydesdale horses, winning many prizes at fairs and commemorate the construction of this Church in 1898 on business. Other owners, including the Critchleys and exhibitions, including the 1899 Regina Fair. This property land near Condie donated by M. Cullum; its consecration Butsons, altered or added onto the building. Many early is surrounded by the large cottonwood poplar trees for in 1899 as St. James, Condie; its service as that parish residents of Lumsden will remember the building as the which the town is known. Church until 1925; its removal to this site to continue home of the Lumsden Young Men’s Association, or LYMA service; and the first service held September 19, 1948.” Club, which met every week between 1933 and 1953. Town of Lumsden Walking Tour Map

13N

12N

14N

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11N 17N

10N 9N 8N 7N 18N

1N 19N 6N 5N 4N 20N 3N 21N 2N 22N 23N 20S W 14S 13S 12S 24N 25N 26N 27N

15S 19S 21S 16S 18S 11S 17S 10S 6S

MUSEUM 8S 9S

5S 4S

7S 2S 1S

3S 1S (1905) - 170 Qu’Appelle Dr. W. 2S (1901) - 190 Qu’Appelle Dr. W. 3S (1905) - 145 Qu’Appelle Dr. W. These two small homes first belonged to related families - the Barkshires, who lived at 170 Qu’Appelle Drive West, and This is another William Kinnon built home, constructed for the Horners, who lived at 190. Their relationship was through the marriage of the Horner’s daughter, Edith, to Arthur George and Alex Mutch at a cost of $11,500. Unlike many of Barkshire, a fact that goes a long way in explaining why the two houses are so similar. The Horner’s home was built by a the other Kinnon brick homes in town, it features red rather contractor named Smith, a nephew of Mrs. Horner. Both the Horners and Barkshires were early settlers in the than yellow bricks. Later, the Dave Gibbs family bought this Cottonwood District south of Lumsden. lovely home using the farm’s two large barns to the west to house horses used in the family’s construction business. 4S (1900) - 130 Carss Road 5S (1903) - 100 Carss Road 6S (1905) - 125 James St. S. This home, with its veneer brick façade, still has the The three brick homes standing side-by-side and marked as Dr. and Mrs. N. Anderson had this home constructed. basement cistern in place. The present owners added the 5S on the map, are known locally as the three sisters, and Dr. Anderson was Lumsden’s first doctor. In addition, he back and front porches. Early pictures show that when the are typical of the homes built by William Kinnon between operated a pharmacy and provided emergency dental care. house was built, there were very few trees or shrubs on 1903 - 1928. The home in the picture is the one on the right The Andersons are associated with two historic homes in the hillside. when viewed from Qu’Appelle Drive. Lumsden: this house and, later, the home located at 605 James St. N. (Map#11N). 7S (1905) - 110 Prospect Pl. 8S (1910) - 35 Kelly Ave. 9S (date unknown) - 45 Kelly Ave. This house was the retirement home of William Edward This house, with its distinctive curved peak, was the home Charles and Ada (or Ida) Hynds built this large house as and Helen Cooney (Barkshire). Most accounts indicate that of David and Mabel Balfour (Halstead). David was a part well as the newspaper building on James St. (Map#5N). Mr. Cooney was one of a group of about seven men from owner of the Balfour Brothers’ General Store for a time They came to Lumsden in 1904, a few weeks before that the Cobourg, Ontario area who arrived at “Old Crossing” and then turned his interests to mercantile and grain trading spring’s big flood that covered all of the valley’s low west of Regina on Wascana Creek on May 24, 1882. All and investment banking. Mr. Balfour served on Town ground, including the village of Lumsden. During the high took up homesteads, becoming the first white settlers in Council, 1907 - 1908, and Mrs. Balfour was a founding water, they tented in the valley’s hills with many other the area. member of the Lumsden Priscilla Club. town residents. 10S (1907) - 230 Elgin Cres. 11S (1905) - 265 Elgin Cres. 12S (1910) - 350 Elgin Cres. This home was the home of Henry and Mary Schuller. William Smith built this home for the Baird family. Arthur Margaret and James Rehil built this home. Like many Henry was born in Germany in 1853. By the Census of Pearson, who worked for the Pearson Land Company, homes of this era, the basement walls are made of concrete 1901 he is recorded as farming 480 acres in the Lumsden purchased it in 1942. Arthur’s father established the and fieldstones and are 2-3 feet thick. The original boiler area with his wife, Mary. Their son, also Henry, was also company in 1902 to sell farmland around Last Mountain system is still in place circulating water by gravity and a homesteader. Lake. Prime Minister John Diefenbaker nominated Arthur providing a silent, even heat. However, when starting the to the Canadian Senate in 1957. system up, it can take up to a day for the house to warm. 13S (1910) - 235 Qu’Appelle Dr. E. 14S (1904) - 115 Elgin Cres. 15S (1900) - 165 Elgin Cres. Originally the United Church Manse in which various Although this home was built in 1904 for Herb Hall, who The home of W.T. (William) and Jennie Balfour (Carrs) are ministers of the Church have lived over the years. It is now was associated with the Hall Milling Co. of Lumsden, closely associated with this home. Both the Balfour and a private home. it has become known as the Wilbur Carrs home. Wilbur Carrs families were early homesteaders in the Lumsden was a member of the Carrs family from Fitzroy, Ontario. area. William became a partner in the Balfour Brothers store Edward Carrs is recognized as the first white settler in the in 1905. He served on Town Council 1921, 1941 and 1942. Lumsden District, arriving in 1881. Both he and Jennie were active in the United Church. 16S (1904) - 175 Elgin Cres. 17S (1904) - 200 Elgin Cres. 18S (1910) - 180 Elgin Cres. William and Margaret Fulton (Fyffe) and family were early This small, quaint brick house was built in 1904 for James Originally the home of the Fred Gibson family. Other inhabitants of this house. Their daughter, Edith (Fowke), and Catherine East, who immigrated to Canada from owners have included the Kopas’s whose son, Jack, went became a leading Canadian folklorist. She was also a England in 1891. The home has only had four owners: the on to become a top sulky trainer and driver in both Canada professor at York University, Toronto. Mr. Fulton started Easts, followed by the Sleds (John T. and then James D.) and the USA. He was twice voted Canadian Horseman of the Premier Garage on James Street (where the pharmacy and, currently, Bill and Jean McGill. the year (1969 and 1976) and was elected in the Canadian and the dentist/real estate/flower shop are located), Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 1989 and the USA eventually selling it to the Kembel family. Harness Hall of Fame in 1994. 19S (1910) - 160 Elgin Cres. 20S (1909) - 165 Qu’Appelle Dr. E. 21S (1907) - 115 King St. Built in 1910 as the retirement home of John and Helen This is another Kinnon built house, constructed in 1909 Originally erected in 1907 by Lumsden’s Presbyterian Cornish. As is the case with a number of other Lumsden for a cost of $2,300. In the book Lumsden the Hills of congregation, this building became St. Andrews United homes, the house has an elaborate hot water/steam heating Home, it is referred to as “the honeymoon home”. Today, Church when the Methodist and Presbyterian churches system complete with classical cast-iron radiators of the it is probably known more so as the Cameron home for the joined to form the United Church of Canada in 1925. time. The large veranda is also typical of houses of that era. family who occupied it for many years. The Methodist church building was sold and torn down; however, its cornerstone was removed and placed on the east side of the main door of the new St. Andrews. Area Attractions

The Lumsden area’s famous market gardens are located along highway 20 between Lumsden and Craven. During the growing season, they offer garden fresh vegetables and some fruits. Just west of Craven, and along highway 20, lies the Valeport Marsh. There are a couple of stops along the highway that provide access to the marsh’s miles of walking dikes that offer excellent spots for viewing birds and valley scenery. Last Mountain House lies further north along highway 20 on the way to Silton. The Hudson Bay Company built the fur trading post in 1869, a year or two before the demise of the buffalo herds and the end of the fur trade industry. The post burnt down in the late 1870s but has been mostly rebuilt to represent an important era in Canadian history. It is open from July 1st to Labour Day, Thursday through Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm. Regina Beach is only a short 15 minute drive from Lumsden up highways #11 and 54. The resort town lies along and has one of the most beautiful beaches in southern Saskatchewan. The lake offers opportunities for water sports including boating, water skiing and fishing.

Hudson Bay Company outpost on Last Mountain Lake. photo credit: Lorraine Brecht Kennel or St. Nicholas Anglican Church, one of the most photographed little churches in the province, sits a few kilometers east of Craven. It can be reached by taking highway 99, which starts in Craven, or the Russell Hill Road, which starts opposite the entrance to the Craven Jamboree grounds. When taking the Russell Hill route, cross the valley and the railway tracks and then turn left on the road at the bottom of the hill. This valley road will take you on a pretty eight-kilometer ride to the church. Town of Lumsden There are three sections of the Trans-Canada Trail in the Lumsden area: The Lumsden Trail, which starts in town at River Park; Saw-Whet Trail, which starts on the Pense Grid west of town and over the Wascana Creek; and the Deer Valley Trail, which starts in the Wascana Valley beside the Deer Valley Estates and Golf Course. The latter two trails provide panoramic views of the Qu’Appelle, Wascana and Cottonwood Valleys. Five kiosks with large display boards have been installed at the start of the trails explaining the routes and the basic “rules of the road”. The Lumsden Heritage Museum was established in 1987 to help preserve the history of the town of Lumsden and surrounding area, including the plains above. Among the museums structures are five historic buildings along with a large shed that houses the A. Robinson John Deere tractor collection. St. Nicholas Anglican Church Open July and August from 10 am - 5 pm; other times by appointment. See map for location. For more information: (306) 731-2434 or (306) 731-3191.

2012 Lumsden & District Chamber of Commerce Members

Accent Roofing Dr. J. Ken Goldie, Chiropractor Lumsden & District Heritage Home Over The Hill Orchards - Prairie Cherry Royal Canadian Legion Lumsden Branch # 234 B COOL Air Conditioning Dr. Susan MacDonald, Family Practitioner Lumsden Florist etc. Parity Consulting Schandre Estates Inc. Barbeau Painting Eclectic - Lumsden Valley Antiques Lumsden High School Pattison Chiropractic Centre & Massage Sinclair’s Plumbing & Heating Beaver Creek Ranch and Horse Centre Evan’s Towing Ltd. Lumsden Historical Society Pillar to Post Home Inspections Snack Shack Brickhouse Bistro Fine Frame & Print Lumsden Home Centre Plain & Valley Anglican Church Special Needs Equipment Installations Cameron’s Pharmacy Fitness Down Under Lumsden Hotel & Steak Pit Planet Scuba SportLogo Cary’s Trenching & Trucking Ltd. Fourth & James Bakery Lumsden Park Manor (Housing Authority) Prestige Wealth Management Manulife St. Michael’s Retreat Central Mechanical Global Property Inspections Lumsden Store-It-All Self Storage Securities Incorporated Stewart McCord & Associates Clarke’s Appliance GV Drums Lumsden Subway Pumpkin Hollow T.U.F.F. Exteriors Inc. Cloverleaf Developments Heartland Agro Services Lumsden Supermarket - Bigway Foods Purebody Conditioning & Wellness The Natural Look Conexus Credit Union Hibbard Equipment Ltd. Lumsden Valley Restaurant Queen City Sewer Service TM’Z Veterinary Clinic Conexus Insurance Ltd. Hummingbird Manor Bed & Breakfast M.I.S. Machine and Welding RBC Royal Bank Town of Lumsden Corn Maiden Market Ltd. IKS Media Technology (2001) Ltd. McCoy Solutions & Sweet Treat Realty Executives Faith Realty Two Spirit Country Care Home COTA Construction Jerky Boys Meats Muziek Art Gallery (Coffee & Tea Bar) Reinhardt Plumbing & Heating W.I.T. Services Ltd. Cottonwood Dental Centre K Family Kitchen My Music Room Reinhardt Plumbing & Heating Wainwright Glass & Door Inc. Craven World Campground Klempp Plumbing & Heating New Millennium Renovations By Design Waterfront Press Regional Dextec Consulting Inc. Letterbox Gallery & Gifts No Comparison Home Cleaning Results Renovations Wolf’s General Store Dial-a-Maid Lumsden & District Arts Council Noble Johnston & Associates Rock Of The Valley Community Church Zebra Crafts We would like to thank the following for the research and development of this brochure.

Special thanks to John Sled, the Town of Lumsden, and the Waterfront Press Regional.