Elfros History Page

 

The stories and photos featured here are reprinted from the 1983 Elfros history book  "From Prairie Trails to the Yellowhead" with the permission of the History Book Committee.  We thank these people for their work in preserving our past.

 

 

 

From Prairie Trails

     The transportation routes of the early NorthWest Territories were the Cart Trails, "so called because the chief form of transportation was the Red River cart... The carts, pulled by oxen were adapted from Scottish vehicles-light boxes each perched on a single axle with wheels six feet high. The one difference, they contained not a single nail nor indeed, a scrap of iron. Instead tough strands of buffalo hide, the all purpose "shaganappi" were used. The axle could not be greased because the thick prairie dust would quickly immobilize the carts; as a result the wheels emitted an infernal screeching, "the north west fiddle" as some pioneers dubbed it.

     The carts usually traveled in brigades, some of which were as long as freight trains. Other vehicles that were used were Prairie Schooners, buckboards, wagons, or occasionally, a buggy. On some trails a stage coach made a regular run to carry mail and passengers.

     Along the eastern sections (Range 13) of the Rural Municipality of Elfros, traces of the Fishing Lake Cart Trail may be seen. This trail was shown on the earliest surveys linking Fort Touchwood Hills with the Fishing Lake Reserve, and extending to the Nut Lakes Reserve. This was used by the Indian people, later by the Northwest Mounted Police, the freighters, traders and settlers.

     Not far to the west was 'the most famous trail of all, the Carlton Trail, the aorta of the plains, winding for 1160 miles from Fort Garry to the Yellowhead Pass in the Rockies by way of Fort Ellice, Fort Carlton and Fort Edmonton. It took a good forty days for an ox-cart to negotiate the 479 miles to Fort Carlton, the halfway point, where the trail branched off for various destinations.'

     Along this trail, extending from Humboldt through Touchwood, then going south to Qu’Appelle was the telegraph line built in 1883. This was often referred to as the Old Telegraph Trail.

     The North West Mounted Police, and later the soldiers under General Middleton used Trails passing through Touchwood Hills.

     Another trail marked on early surveys was the Pelly Trail. It branched off the Fishing Lake Trail at about township 30 and "followed the ridges East to Fort Pelly," had been an important Hudson Bay Post on the junction of the Assiniboine and Swan Rivers. Fort Pelly’s popularity faded quickly when it was by passed by the railway surveys.

     One of the most frequently mentioned trails was the one that came through Yorkton. Many homesteaders used this route, or a portion of it, depending on the year of their arrival. Ranchers used this trail for the annual round-up and cattle drive. Though more recent, it served this area well.

     "With the passage of time and the demand for more wheat fields and straighter roads, the old trails have disappeared."

     But the vision lives on-the vision that became a reality in the railroads; the vision that continues to grow in highways like the Yellowhead.

 

Post Offices and Trading Posts 

      When the early settlers came to the area, one of their greatest needs was a place to buy supplies and get their mail. Histories tell of trips made to Saltcoats and later to Yorkton for six months' supplies of essential food and footwear, or to Qu’Appelle for a load of flour. A traveler sometimes brought the mail, thus assuring himself of a place to stay the night.

     The Milligans had come to their homestead on N.E. 12-33-13 near the Fishing Lake reserve. As well as ranching, Joshua Milligan Sr. was a freighter on the Fishing Lake Cart Trail. He established a trading post at their home; with a good supply of knives, ammunition, and trade goods, as well as clothing. He took in trade furs, fish, feathers, and other marketable products.

     Fishing Lake Post Office, Assinaboia, N.W.T., was the first post office in this area. Mr. Ed Field was the postmaster from 1894 to 1902. It was then moved to the Milligan homestead with Miss Sarah Milligan as postmistress until 1921. Others who served were Ambrose Hilts 1921 to 1933, John Elchuk 1934 to 1944, Mrs. Carrie Wikeruk 1944 to 1945, and finally, Mike Strembicki, who operated it until it closed in 1961.

     In 1904, James and Jessie Bole had a country store at the homestead on the S.W. 6-33-13. They sold clothing, groceries, and gave services at prices listed below. These were taken from a 1905 to 1907 ledger:

     The ledger gives examples of wages; a dollar a day during busy seasons; fifteen to twenty dollars during the winter. Female help was eight dollars per month during June.

     Haglof Trading Post was operated by Eric Haglof on the N.W. 32-31-14. In 1905, he applied for and received permission to operate a Post Office in the same building. The mail came on Saturday. This was a very busy day as everyone came for mail, for supplies, and to spend a social hour with friends.

     His shelves held groceries, cloth, boots, nails, fencing material, and small tools. Anything else that was requested would be ordered.

     The children appreciated the Haglof Store, for it was near the school. Many pennies were spent following serious deliberations at noon hour.

     Eric kept the Post Office until his death in 1918. After that, people got their mail at Mozart.

     In 1907, the Laxdal Post Office was opened by T. S. Laxdal on their homestead on 4-33-14. In two years the railroad came to Mozart and the Post Office was moved into town with Mr. Laxdal as Postmaster until 1918.

     Rushville was another rural Post Office. This was opened in 1913 by Rudolf Olson on N.E. 19-31-15. Mail was delivered from Wynyard weekly by Bill Luke, who had the Krasne Post Office. The second Postmaster was Robert Olson in 1916, followed by G. A. Hanson in 1920 at N.W. 17-3-15, and Ole Linder in 1923 at N.W. 31-30-15. The Post Office was closed in 1932.

     In 1903, Olifur O. Johannson came to his homestead on N.E. 30-32-13. Sometime later he opened a store in his log cabin on the homestead. When the railway came to Elfros in 1908, he and John Gudmundson opened a store under the name of Johannson and Company – but usually referred to as Oli and John’s.

     Elfros Post Office was opened in the store in 1909 with John Gudmundson as Postmaster. When he enlisted in the First World War, Miss Thruda Jackson became Postmistress. She continued to serve in that capacity after her marriage to John Gudmundson, until her retirement in 1952. The location of the Post office has changed three times.

     The store changed hands several times, last operated as the Capital Supply by Wilfrid White. It was bought and converted into an autobody shop, and is still contributing a service to the community.

     Leslie Post Office was opened in 1909. At that time, and until 1962, it was known as Leslie Station. Mr. C. A. Clark was the first Postmaster.

     Fairland was another rural Post Office. There were other post offices that served the people of the Elfros Rural Municipality; Edelstone, located at 24-30-13 in 1908, had mail delivered by Jack Wilson from Leslie. Others were at Kristnes and Holar.