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History of
Wishart
The following stories were
reprinted with permission
from the 1980 history book,
"Emerald’s Past in Prose, Poetry and Pictures".
We
thank the History Book Committee
for their work in preserving our
past.
submitted by Fraser
Hall
Wishart derived its name
from one of its earliest settlers, a Robert Wishart, who in 1880
left Ontario and travelled west and settled in an area a few
miles west of Wishart’s present location known as the Round
Plain area. By this time the Canadian Pacific Railway was built
to Qu’Appelle seventy miles to the south, which meant other
settlers came in search of homesteads in that good grazing and
agricultural land just north of the Touchwood Hills and
established themselves in the Round Plain area.
In 1907, the Grand Trunk
Pacific was built across the prairies passing within about
fifteen miles to the south of the Round Plain. The Canadian
Pacific Railway which passed through Elfros, Mozart and Wynyard
to the north in 1909 was of less importance to the community
because of its greater distance as this area of the Round Plain
was only now starting to become settled.
The Grand Trunk Pacific
Railway which later became the Canadian National Railway had
passed south of the Round Plain through Touchwood Hills, while
the Canadian Pacific Railway to the north had also missed the
good agricultural land and ran a line bordering the alkali flats
of the Quill Lakes.
Not until 1927 was
action taken towards building a railway line to serve the area
between the two existing lines, although the Canadian Pacific
Railways had been granted this right. The community of Round
Plain and others which had been established between the rail
lines by this time, still had the problem of those long hauls to
either line to market their grain or other produce.
It was the farmers of
the Willowbrook area who petitioned Hon. Charles A. Dunning,
Minister of Transport for a railway to serve their area. Dunning,
who grew up on a farm in the Willowbrook area
was sympathetic to their request, so it was in 1928 that the
Canadian National Railway began construction of a railway which
would run from Yorkton through the Willowbrook area, then on
through the Round Plain to join a Regina line at Bulyea.
As soon as construction
on the Willowbrook line commenced the Canadian Pacific Railway,
who claimed a prior right to serve the Round Plain area, began
construction the same year of a line out of Foam Lake. It would
run south to Edmore then in a westerly direction through West
Bend, Bankend and end at what is now the village
of Wishart. The Canadian National line ended at Parkerville still
a few miles short of the productive land west of the Beaver
Hills.
Five elevator companies,
Saskatchewan Pool, Parrish & Heimbecker, Inter-Ocean, Federal
and United Grain Growers immediately started construction of
elevators on the right of way, along with a number of business
places. A station was built east of the elevators in a low lying
area. The Railway showed little interest in establishing a town,
even declining to survey and purchase a town site as had been
their practice on most lines. The weather being especially fine
for October and November, construction moved ahead rapidly. A row
of buildings were being built on the right of way between the
Pool elevator and the station, these were smaller or granary type
buildings to be used as offices for the machine agents, real
estate agents, lumber agents and a shoemaker. Just to the north
of these, on land owned by Lucas A. Kowalski larger buildings
were being erected, such as a two-story hardware store. All
buildings were being built on blocks until titles to the property
could be obtained, so they could be easily moved to another site.
1928 was part of a
period of prosperity before the depression years and there was a
great deal of optimism for the future of the town of Wishart.
A number of firms were
interested in establishing businesses. A Saskatoon partnership
planned to build a large hotel, while representatives of two
large chain stores had made inquiries. However the lack of a
townsite hindered the building of permanent foundations for large
structures. By the fall of 1929 when a townsite with surveyed
lots had been established legally, the economy had suddenly
deteriorated and the depression was making its presence felt.
A number of businessmen
established themselves in Wishart at the same time, but at least
two deserve special mention. Benjamin Jeal had a small country
store in the Round Plain community for a number of years before
the railway came. In 1928 he moved into Wishart, he was also the
postmaster and a leading figure in the community. Herman
Collingwood was a building contractor and with his brothers had
built churches, schools, large barns and houses throughout a
large part of south central Saskatchewan. He played a leading
role in the planning of the village of Leross and was prepared to
put this experience to work in the planning of the new town of Wishart.
As the original site of
the village was situated in an area with low lying land on every
side and unsuitable for a booming town, Benjamin Jeal and Herman
Collingwood along with Harry Butcher of Punnichy as their legal
advisor set out to establish a townsite.
A suitable site could be
found less than a half mile to the west. The railway had bought a
strip of land south of the tracks just east of the line fence
which divided the northeast quarter section owned by Lucas
Kowalski and the northwest quarter section belonging to the D.H.
McDonald estate. On this trip they constructed a Y to provide a
turn around for the trains. To the north of the tracks they had
built an access road to meet up with the east-west municipal
road. It was here that they decided to form a new townsite by
laying out an eighty foot main street using the access road. They
then purchased ten acres of land from Lucas Kowa1ski on the east
side at $95 an acre. Next they purchased ten acres on the west
side of main street from the D.H. McDonald estate for $10.00 an
acre, they then hired a Mr. Harding, a surveyor, from Punnichy to
survey four blocks. These were surveyed into thirty foot lots
facing an eighty foot main street and sixty foot lots at the rear
for a residential area and also set aside an area to the north
for a park. They also registered building caveats on all the
thirty foot lots which meant that livery barns and blacksmith
shops could not be built on main street. Unfortunately, many of
the residents owning sixty foot lots sold half lots which meant
crowding of the homes on first street east.
Before the buildings'
were moved from the former site and off the right of way, a
meeting was held to determine who got which lot. The lots were
being sold at $50.00 each and the corner lots for $75.00. Arni
Jacobson, who owned the hardware store suggested that the hotel
should be situated on a corner lot on the south end of main
street near the railway. Don Y. Sou, who was operating a cafe
agreed to expand his building to include hotel services, while
North American Lumber who needed space for a yard took a corner
lot to the north. John Bazuik, a merchant from Fosston bought a
corner lot across main street opposite the lumberyard, later to
become the centre of the village.
Now came the problem of
moving those earlier businesses which had been started east of
the elevators. Herman Collingwood arrived on October 15, 1928 and
was persuaded by the North American Lumber Co. to manage
Wishart’s first lumber yard. Two other lumber companies, the
Reliance and Security had offices but did not stock lumber,
hoping to get in on the building boom. Benjamin Jeal had set up a
grocery store and the post office as did three other general
merchants. K. Novosad, Juluis Boyko and John Bazuik. Two cafes
had been established, one operated by D.Y. Sou and the other by
George Coles, a poolroom owned by John Summerlidson and a
shoemaker’s shop owned by T. Chornapeski. Arni Jacobson had
built a large hardware store with living quarters above. A.
Jensen had started a real estate business also handling bulk oil
and fuel. One blacksmith shop owned and operated by Joe Karhut.
Two implement agencies with stock, the John Deere with Alvin
Reese as their agent and Massey Harris with R. McRae as agent.
The moving of these
business places was a major undertaking considering the condition
of the roads and the lack of power in some cases. The moving of
the smaller buildings went smoothly with the aid of gas tractors
and horse power. To move the larger buildings, a mover from
Viscount was hired who had the necessary moving equipment but no
power. This meant hiring John Lewandowski with his steam engine
and also a large Sawyer-Massey gas tractor owned by D.H. McDonald
and operated by John Dyck, this tractor broke down later. They
met with very little difficulty until Arni Jacobson’s two-story hardware store was making the turn on the muddy street
at the south end of main street. There, it is said, the steamer
got stuck, the street grew dark and the mover got drunk.
Under the direction of
Herman Collingwood and with the power of another steam engine
belonging to Edward C. Watson the store began to move again. It
was with the dim lights of a number of kerosene lanterns that the
building was moved onto its foundation, its stock still intact on
the shelves and Mrs. Jacobson comfortable in her upstairs living
room.
By now all the business
places had been moved from their former sites and placed on their
own property with the exception of the two lumber companies,
Security and Reliance and A. Jensen the Real Estate agent, who
sold out rather than make the move. It was hoped that the station
would be moved closer to the new townsite but the railway made no
move to do so, claiming that a suitable site could not be found
further west. Mr. Walter Thompson was the first station agent.
Even though the new site
was established just as the great depression of the thirties
began and businesses had to cope with a failing economy, lots
were in great demand as new places of business and homes were
being started almost daily. Possibly one reason for this building
boom, was the fact that this fertile agricultural land of the
Round Plain-Wishart area had always produced a crop and never had
a complete crop failure, as had been the case in other parts of
the province.
Many changes have taken
place since the new townsite was settled in 1929 which was as
follows, yet not necessarily in this order.
Joe Karhut moved his
blacksmith shop onto the corner lot along railway avenue on the
east side of first street east, the reason being that the town
fathers had placed a building caveat on all property in blocks
one and two on main street to safeguard against having blacksmith
shops and livery barns built in these areas. Joe Karhut operated
this shop until his retirement in the early seventies. It is now
the site of Wishart’s new water storage and filtering plant.
Stanley Krenkewich had
purchased the office of E. Jensen and placed it on the corner lot
on the east side of main street, where he set up in business as
an agent for International Harvesters and Imperial Oil. The same
year he built a 30 x 50 foot warehouse and office, selling out in
1940. Owners to follow were: Alex and Mike Dublanica (garage),
Alex Dublanica and Alex Federko (Wishart Farm Service), Alex and
John Federko (Wishart Farm Service) and now it is owned and
operated by Wm. Stephanuik & Sons.
To the north was the
Post Office and grocery store owned and operated by Benjamin Jeal, who passed away in 1936, Owners to follow were: Ruth Jeal
and Fraser Hall (B. Jeal & Co.), Fraser and Barbara Hall (B.
Jeal & Co.), Robert Dawson and today it is the Wishart Senior
Citizen’s Recreational Centre. In 1939, the Post Office was
moved to the McRae home on first street east with Randall McRae
as postmaster.
Next in line came Arni
Jacobson’s two-storey hardware store which was later
destroyed by fire.
John and Linda Bazuik
placed their grocery store on the corner lot, which was operated
by their son Mike Bazuik for a number of years, selling out to
Mike Homuniuk to be followed by J.F. Kischuk, Nick Sulatiski,
Peter Kuprowski and now operated by Jerry and Mildred Wolitski
(Parkland Store).
George Coles established
his cafe and boarding house on first street east, next to T.
Chornapeski the harness and shoemaker.
Don Y. Sou, as was
agreed earlier, had purchased the corner lot west of main and set
up his cafe. In 1935 he added nine rooms, when it became the
Wishart Hotel & Cafe, later adding a beer parlor. Don Y. Sou
sold out to Mike Davinuik and William Martinuik of Ituna, later
selling to William Nakonichny. In 1953 the hotel was purchased by
Joe and Beatrice Dobranski of Wishart, who operated it for the
next twenty years until selling out in 1973, during which time
many renovations and improvements were made. Since then it has
been operated by a number of others, the present owner being John Glushko.
Just north, Karl Novasad
had established his general store, only to sell out to the
Capital General Stores, who also had branches at Elfros and
Perdue. For many years, the Wishart branch was operated by Louis
Silverberg and his son, Harry. Later to be purchased by the local
Cooperative Association, though the original building was sold,
it is the present site of the Wishart Co-op Store. Present
manager is John Szeman.
Next was the site of the
poolroom owned by John Summerlidson, who in 1930 sold out to
George Afish, followed by John Urbanoski, Wm. Roshka, Peter Evanski, the building now being owned by John
Wielgoz.
On the corner of the
same block, Herman Collingwood had moved his small office, but
immediately began construction of a new office and residence for
North American Lumber Co., serving as their agent for the next
twenty-eight years, retiring in 1956. Later this business was
sold to the Wishart Co-op, the present owners.
North across the street
on lot two, Elvin Reese had moved in with his John Deere Agency,
a short time later selling out to James C. Watson (J.C.), who
built a large garage just a lot north in 1930. Taking on the
Cockshutt line of farm machinery and North Star Gas and Oils.
Again the building was expanded and shortly after his death, Mr.
Stanley Karhut became the owner of the property.
Opposite, across main
street, Randall McRae had set up an office with a line of Massey
Harris machinery.
The elevators were in
operation and the records show that Lucas A. Kowalski sold the
first load of grain. The first agents being, Saskatchewan Pool,
Alex T. Hamilton, Parrish and Heimbecker, Hugh A. Cossar,
Inter-Ocean Grain, J. Ternowetsky, Federal Grain, M. Olson and
United Grain Growers, Robert Beckett.
Now that the moving was
over and numerous lots had been sold and the balance of the lots
registered in the name of Herman Collingwood and Benjamin Jeal,
the building boom was on. Wishart was to take on a new look from
1930 on. A number of homes were now under construction, John and
Mary Dyck built a dining and boarding place on first street east.
Alex Yourchuk, a blacksmith shop and Fred Wasylenko, a livery
stable. Just north of the hotel, Don Y. Sou built a butcher shop
which was operated by Sampson Coles and for a short while a
general store operated by G.S. Fishman. Adolphus Spence, who
owned the lot north of the lumber yard sold it to M. Blanchard
for a garage, which was not successful. In 1934 the property was
sold to Harry C. Shevchuk, who erected a new garage, and became
the agent for Massey Harris, and later the Case agency. Harry
Shevchuk was always interested in community affairs, so when the
Credit Union movement started, Harry’s office became the
birth place of the Wishart Savings and Credit Union. As business
increased demanding a new office being built on the former site
of Jacobson’s hardware. Harry, still as manager, was obliged
to move also, later selling his garage to the present owners, the
Wishart Co-op, with Barry Stefanson the present manager.
To the north, according
to the early records, North American Lumber Co. erected a
building which became the Liquor Board Store. Later it became the R.M. of Emerald office with
E.J. Verity and David Moleski as
secretaries. Then it was the Wishart Post Office with Thomas
Matheson as postmaster.
The early thirties also
saw the R.M. of Emerald office moved in and the doctor’s
residence built just north of the Watson Garage.
In 1933, Jack Forgan
purchased the corner lot north of Bazuik’s store and built a
general store and meat market, followed later by Mabel Hogaboam
(Dry Goods), Maggie Evanski (Cafe), Margaret Keller (Cafe),
Robert Beckett and Don Short (Cafe). Then Mac Wasyluk took over,
remodelled the building and started a beauty parlor operated by
Leona Wasyluk. It is now Stan’s Cafe operated by Stanley Dublanica.
Dr. Harry Little started
the Emerald Pharmacy next to the Pool Room selling out to Jack
Davies, who was followed by Larry Gillott, Francis Watson (Dry
Goods), Orest Senkiw (Radio and T.V.), Allan Nordal (Radio and T.V.).
Other businesses started
in the early thirties were; Lucky Stryke Beauty Parlor operated
by Muriel Watson, Harness and Shoemaker’s Shop by A. Drozduik, Livery barn by John
Evanski, and later a Butcher Shop
operated by John Romanowski. Nick Zack built a Theatre on the
corner of second avenue and main, lair remodelling it into an
apartment block, and it’s the site of the present Wishart
Post Office. Just across second avenue Wm. Gerhardt set up as an
agent for Massey Harris, followed by Norman Krenkie.
Since 1929 some of the
businesses have disappeared only to be replaced by others. The
growth of the village has been gradual over the years. From its
two blocks in 1929, the townsite now occupies nearly all the
available land on the N. 1/2 of Sec. 30-29-14-W2nd north of the
railway tracks.
With the town growing so
rapidly, the town fathers faced many problems. The need for many
facilities such as roads, a water supply, medical services,
schools, recreation, electrical power, telephones and others were
required.
The mail delivery
service from Lestock remained on the same schedule that was in
use when the post office was situated on the Jeal farm before its
moving to Wishart in 1928. Mr. George Nofield of Lestock made the
trip with team and sleigh or wagon twice a week regardless of
weather conditions, often late but at least twice a week. As road
conditions improved so did the mail service, later it became a
daily service.
In 1929 they attempted
to get a telephone exchange but failed. They had hoped that West
Bend, Bankend and Wishart could form one exchange, since all were
along the borders of the existing telephone exchanges. All these
rural telephone companies were suffering from the economic
problems of the time, therefore were unwilling to release any
paying subscribers to another exchange, Wishart was to wait
forty-five years for its own telephone exchange.
Wishart was just outside
the boundaries of the Round Plain Rural Telephone Co., so the
Saskatchewan Government Telephones placed telephones in Wishart
and connected into the Round Plain Rural with its central at Punnichy. Elfros Rural Telephone Co. came right to the village
limits on the north. An agreement was later made permitting
Elfros Rural to install a telephone for the local municipal
doctor, this was extended later to include the business places
only, which meant that customers could now phone Wishart from all
areas covered by the Round Plain and Elfros Rural Telephone
companies. This worked well until the mid-sixties when the
Saskatchewan Telephone Company took over the Punnichy exchange
and refused dual service to the Wishart subscribers. Elfros Rural
was therefore forced to remove their lines and phones and we were
back where we started, long distance to all north of the village
limits. This was to last until the early seventies when the
Wishart-Bankend exchange was formed.
The office of the R.M.
of Emerald was built in 1915 by Herman Collingwood some three
miles east of the present townsite on land owned by Stanley
Krenkewich which was supposed to be the exact centre of the
municipality. With the arrival of the railway, it was decided to
move it to Wishart, where it was used as a meeting place for the
municipal council for a short time. On the arrival of Dr. Harry
O. Little, the first municipal doctor, it became the
doctor’s office, later to be added to by the construction of
the doctor’s residence at the rear. Mrs. Little, the
doctor’s mother, lived with the Neelys during its
construction. Wishart being a hamlet at the time and under the
supervision of the municipality the medical needs of the
residents were assured. Even after Wishart was incorporated as a
village the services of the municipal doctor continued in an
agreement with the municipality. Since the disappearance of the
‘municipal doctor’ the medical requirements of the
village residents has been supplied by doctors from the
neighboring towns and villages.
Power lines and
electrical services were being extended in the early thirties to
the towns and villages both north and south of Wishart and were
to bypass Wishart for a number of years to follow. The business
places and homes had to continue using the old kerosene lamp and
gas lamps until early in 1947 when Alex and Mike Dublanica, who
were operating a garage, purchased a generator and extended power
lines to all business places, by December 10, 1947 a few street
lights had been installed and the service extended to include ten
homes. Service was limited to a period from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.
until 1950 when they purchased a new unit and were able to supply
twenty-four hour service. This was to continue until March, 1956
when they sold their plant to the Saskatchewan Power Corporation.
Water, or the lack of
good drinking water was to become a problem for the next thirty
years. A number of wells were dug by machine all with a fair
supply but unfit for man or beast as was the one dug on main
street which was kept in good repair for a water supply in case
of fire. Hand dug shallow wells became the source of a limited
supply of good drinking water, with a number of these wells
situated in different parts and the use of Lucas Kowalski’s
well. Water had to be used sparingly, so much so, that the wells
had to be locked and opened for short periods each day. Another
reason for the wells being locked was that the water was of such
good quality that it was being hauled away in cream cans by
residents of the surrounding district during the night and the
wells were dry in the morning. In 1965 the village installed a
sewer and water system throughout the whole village. The water
supply now coming from a flowing well two and a half miles
southeast of the village. The water system again being improved
in 1979 with installation of a large storage and filtering system
situated within the town limits on a site once owned by Joe Karhut.
It was twelve years
before a school was constructed in Wishart, all students attended
St. Mary’s School, one half mile east. St. Mary’s
School was built in 1923 by Herman Collingwood, then of Leross.
Elected to first board of trustees were; Mike Dobranski, Edward
C. Watson and Lucas Kowalski. By 1931 the student population had
grown to such a degree that a second classroom was constructed,
then in 1939 the name St. Mary’s was changed to Wishart and
a new site purchased from Lucas Kowalski, east of first street
east. Construction of the new Wishart school was completed in
1941 with Steve Siganski, G. Skafel and S. Szostak as teachers.
Since 1941 it has grown into a complex of sixteen classrooms,
with all facilities for students from kindergarten to grade
twelve. Now in 1979 another large extension is under construction
which will improve our educational facilities further. The
Wishart School forms part of the Foam Lake School Unit No. 38.
Recreation in the early
days was at a minimum, but one winter sport became very active. A
curling rink with one sheet of ice, known as the old straw rink
was erected on the east side of the village and became a beehive
of activity, even into the wee hours of the morning regardless of
the weather. Enthusiasm was at a high level, it being just about
impossible to get on as a spare and as is the case in most
curling rinks, the best curling was being done in the crowded
waiting room. Tennis courts were laid out just west of the lumber
yard, these were to give away to a new curling rink. It is said
by many that this rink was colder inside that outside due to the
fact that it was entirely constructed of rough lumber and slabs.
Later this was demolished to become the present site of the
municipal office, the doctor’s office and the fire hall. Our
town fathers had the foresight when planning the new townsite to
reserve an area at the north end of main street as a park, on
which has been erected a two sheet curling rink and a skating
rink.
One of the most
ambitious enterprises undertaken by the village for the
recreation of its residents and the surrounding community,
particularly considering that it was done in the depth of the
depression was the erection of the community hall. In 1935, Dr.
Harry O. Little and others began selling non-transferrable five
dollar shares to raise funds for the construction of a thirty by
sixty community hall with hardwood floors. So great was the
enthusiasm and cooperation of the community and village that it
was completed in record time. All work was done by volunteer
labor with the exception of the supervisor, George Greba, who
received twenty five cents an hour.
Streets and sidewalks
were a great challenge in the newly settled townsite. This became
the responsibility of the municipality assisted by the town
fathers of the day, namely, Herman Collingwood, Benjamin Jeal,
John Bazuik, Randall McRae, Alex T. Hamilton, Harry C. Shevchuk
and others. Many arguments were to follow, as to how, where, and
when this or that should be done. Road building in the
municipality depended greatly on horse and man power, strong men
to operate the two horse slusher or the four horse fressnels. As
many as twenty outfits were employed in a day for the
construction of the main street. A number of volunteers with
teams and wagons were also used for hauling gravel. Most of the
gravel hauled was for the sidewalks which were made of 3 x 6
municipal bridge planks laid lengthways and filled with gravel.
This proved quite satisfactory when compared with the muddy
streets after a good rain. Concrete sidewalks gradually took over
until today, most residents enjoy these sidewalks throughout the
village. Road and street conditions gradually improved with the
use of gravel and a number of carloads of cinders brought in by
train from Wynyard. With the progress of road building and
maintenance equipment, the condition of the streets further
improved. The 1970’s brought oil surfaced streets to most
parts of the village.
In the early days,
transportation in and out of Wishart was a matter of concern
particularly in the winter. Adolphus Spence, Wishart’s first
drayman also supplied a livery service which was utilized mostly
by Dr. H.O. Little, the municipal doctor while making his country
calls. He also made trips to the neighboring towns when
emergencies arose. Travellers, blockmen, and agents got together
and hired one vehicle either out of Lestock or Wynyard to make
their calls. Farmers also joined forces to make their weekly trip
to town for the mail and groceries often taking these supplies
for their whole neighborhood.
The railway was
supplying passenger, express, and freight service on a weekly
basis. Many would gather at the station for its arrival while the
children would board the train for a ride while it made its turn
around on the Y.
Possibly because of this
once a week service by the railway, Mr. A. Rooney of Bankend
started a trucking service out of Yorkton. Yorkton was the main
source of supplies at this date and for a number of years to
follow. Mr. Rooney sold out to Hagen’s Transport, who in
turn sold out to Allan Tourney. Tourney operated till 1952. On
July 1, 1952 Harold Zander of Yorkton purchased the franchise to
serve Parkerview, Jedburg, West Bend, Bankend, Wishart and all
points along the way. Zander Transport has given continuous
service for the past twenty-seven years, even with the most
adverse weather and road conditions, he has always been able to
make his regular two trips a week. Harold Zander, though never a
resident of our village, has contributed a great deal to the
development of our community, this net being fully realized until
the railway discontinued their express and freight service and
Zander’s Transport was the only reliable trucking service
for supplies from Yorkton and points east.
Fire protection in the
hamlet for a number of years was the well known bucket brigade
and fire extinguishers, later by a chemical engine. With the
installation of the water system, Wishart now has a modern and
well equipped fire engine and volunteer fire brigade.
By 1937 the population
of the hamlet of Wishart had grown sufficiently to allow the town
fathers to incorporate as a village and to form their own council
of three members. The first council meeting was held in the new
community hall on July 16, 1937 with Alex T. Hamilton as Overseer
and Herman Collingwood and Harry C. Shevchuk as the other two councillors, with Randall R. McRae as Secretary Treasurer. Those
to serve on council from 1937 to 1980 are as follows:
1937-1943 Alex T.
Hamilton, Overseer; Herman Collingwood, Harry C. Shevchuk,
Randall R. McRae, Sec. Treas.
1944-1945 Frank Maserek, Overseer; Herman Collingwood, Harry C. Shevchuk, J.F.
Kischuk, Sec. Treas.
1945-1948 Herman Collingwood, Overseer; John Urbanoski, Harry C. Shevchuk, J.F.
Kischuk, Sec. Treas.
1948-1949 Herman Collingwood, Overseer; John Urbanoski, Harry C. Shevchuk, Miss
Marion Collingwood, Sec. Treas.
1950-1951 Hermari Collingwood, Overseer; Fraser Hall, Harry C. Shevchuk, Miss
Marion Collingwood, Sec. Treas.
1951-1952 Herman Collingwood, Overseer: Fraser Hall, David Moleski, Miss Marion
Collingwood, Sec. Treas.
1953-1955 Herman Collingwood, Overseer; Fraser Hall, David Moleski, David
Moleski,
Sec. Treas.
1955-1962 Herman Collingwood, Overseer; Fraser Hall, John Pylypiuk, David
Moleski,
Sec. Treas.
1962-1965 Herman Collingwood, Overseer; Fraser Hall, John Pasternak, David
Moleski, Sec. Treas.
1965-1966 Fraser
Hall, Overseer; Herman Collingwood, John Pasternak, David Moleski, Sec. Treas.
In 1966 the work load of
council had increased to such a degree with the installation of
water and sewer and other improvements that a bylaw was passed by
council to increase the present three man council to five.
1966-1968 Fraser Hall,
Mayor; John Pasternak, Leo Kowalski, Peter Kuprowski, Paul Latoski, Dave Moleski, Sec. Treas.
1968-1971 Fraser Hall,
Mayor; Edward Kowalski, Leo Kowalski, Peter Kuprowski, Paul Latoski, Dave
Moleski, Sec. Treas.
1971-1973 Fraser Hall,
Mayor; John Pasternak, Leo Kowalski, Peter Kuprowski, Paul Latoski, Dave Moleski, Sec. Treas.
1973-1974 Fraser Hall,
Mayor; Edward Kowalski, Leo Kowalski, Peter Kuprowski, Paul Latoski, David
Moleski, Sec. Treas.
1974- Fraser Hall,
Mayor; John Senkiw, Leo Kowalski, Peter Kuprowski, Paul Latoski,
David Moleski, Sec. Treas.
1974-1976 Paul Latoski,
Mayor; John Senkiw, Leo Kowalski, John Szeman, James Millham,
David Moleski, Sec. Treas.
1976-1977 Paul Latoski,
Mayor; John Senkiw, Christine Feigel, John Szeman, James Millham,
David Moleski, Sec. Treas.
1977-1980 James Millham,
Mayor; John Senkiw, Christine Feigel, John Szeman, John Prisiak,
David Moleski, Sec. Treas.
It should be noted here
that Herman Collingwood served for a period from 1928 to 1966,
giving freely of his time and effort in the development of the
village with little, if any, remuneration other than the
satisfaction of being of service to his fellowman. Thirty-eight
years of public service should be a record that will be hard to
beat.
Wishart has always been
a progressive and friendly community, wholly dependent on the
surrounding farming area and their prosperity.
The religious needs of
the village and community were not forgotten in its formation, as
today, stand three Churches reminding us of the faith of those of
former years, the Roman Catholic Church, the Greek Catholic
Church and the United-Anglican Church. Fire destroyed the Greek
Orthodox Church in 1964. Religious training for the young, Youth
clubs, Altar Societies, Church clubs have always played an active
part in the life of this community. Social life of the community
is as varied as the people living in the area.
The residents of the
village are proud of the appearance of their yards and dwellings,
having won the award offered by the Saskatchewan Government,
Department of Health to villages with a population under five
hundred in the east central division of the province, on three
separate occasions, which was every time the award was offered.
Recent construction of
ten low rental suites and the Wishart Senior Citizen’s
Recreational Centre has meant a great deal to the senior citizens
of the area.
Many were the changes
and improvements down through the years, each being a highlight
at the time, but the most memorable highlight in the history of
Wishart would have to be their 50th anniversary celebrations in
1978, when hundreds made the trip ‘home’ from as far
away as the west and east coasts, New York state and Yellowknife
to the north, to meet and reminisce with friends and relatives,
who they had not seen for years. The mile long parade was
outstanding as it depicted that period of time from 1928 to 1978.
Celebrations closed with an open air interdenominational Church
service at the Round Plain Stone Church, with Rev. Art Fee of
Washington, D.C. as guest speaker, who was once a resident of the
area.
Wishart, as it is today
has all the services and conveniences required for a good living.
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