Wolseley Places Part Three

Winding down this three-part series, here’s a final look at Historic Wolseley Saskatchewan. Over a wonderful summer weekend, we randomly walked about taking in what ever old buildings caught our eye and there’s certainly no shortage here. This installment has us taking in the area in and around downtown, a picturesque couple square blocks full of charm and character.

The old Hotel is a standout, but truth is there’s something interesting at every turn. In spite of the time spent, it felt as though we hardly scratched the surface in terms of capturing it all. Wait, we could go back! Yes, we should go back!

Wolseley had us keeping busy and not only did we get to know the town well, but place and things in the surrounding country side. We suggest you go down the rabbit hole and search the term “Wolseley” on this site, but only after you’re finished here. FYI, there’s more pieces from this visit waiting in the wings – stay tuned. Now let’s explore!

1) We’re in fabulous downtown Wolseley!

1) In back it’s the south of side of the Perley Block while an old John Deere looks on. There’s something about this scene that really does it and for us it just says Saskatchewan. There’s more Perley Block later in this write up.

2) We’re drawn to back alleys, odd as it sounds. Often the haunt of old cars or other strange wheeled conveyances, there’s also this: many buildings are fancy up front but utilitarian in back and we like seeing the contrast. Plus there’s always the chance we’ll spot a Boler, even if it didn’t happen here (back lanes are often a gold mine for these). Yeah, that’s the reason. This is the backside of the Leland, which we’ll be chatting about in a bit.

3) Here’s a miniature replica Captain America motorcycle made famous in the film Easy Rider (1969). Peter Fonda’s ride in the counter-culture flick, the real Captain America (or purportedly real – some question it) sold a few years ago for a princely sum of over a million US. Cha-ching!

4) A man made lake put in by the railway separates the town (more in moment) and so a couple streets and alleys nearby dead end due to this.

5) One of many murals in town. I think we missed some other, but then again, we’re getting dense.

6) A little downtown vignette, demonstrating well the diversity and unity needed to build a successful country. Everyone’s welcome to play for Team Canada.

7) The building housing Tara’s Lil’ Rascals (a daycare) is colourful one. There’s a handy guide published by the town that discusses most of the old buildings here but this one doesn’t seem to make mention. We’re the BIGDoer guys and we approve that yellow.

8) The Leland Hotel goes back to 1906 and when built was called the Empire. When sold in the 1920s, it was renamed the Leland, after another hotel not far away that burned down and which the new owners had earlier had run. We had dinner one night at the pub here (Lucky’s) and were taken aback.

From a previous post of ours: “Let me tell you about the best Butter Chicken the Team has ever had…served on an army style mess tray and cooked by a little elderly lady from the old county…”

Paired with a cold one (Pilsner of course, because we’re in Saskatchewan) and given the historic setting the experience was about perfect. We’d sell our souls from just one more bite.

9) Across the street, it’s the Canada Cafe and similarly a purveyor of yummy eats. Think Wor Wonton to die for in bowl big enough to float the Queen Mary. It seems every single prairie town has an restaurant like this serving Chinese and Western Cuisine (as many advertise). We love eating local when on the road and rarely is the experience a bad one. Two thumbs up here!

10) This building is from 1910 and while originally a store, since the 1920s it’s housed different financial institutions. Credit Unions are popular on the prairies and tend more in tune with the needs of rural customers. The building to the left was where the earlier Leland Hotel was located.

11) Here we’re along Front Street, so called as it faced the railway (behind the photographer’s position). Trains meant the world back then. This street was at one time the main alignment of the old #1 Highway, before it was the Trans-Cannda, which today is a bit south of town. Highways of old often went directly through the communities they severed, but mostly these have been bypassed for convenience and safety reasons. With that, however, the downtown business districts often suffered (or even died) so at best, it was a trade off.

12) Wolseley present day has two old grain elevators down by the tracks. The building that defined a province, every Saskatchewan town had some kind of elevator row. Wolseley was no exception and at one time there were seven in total here. Both seen today (one’s hidden by that tree) date from the 1950s and so by the standards fairly modern as wood Prairie Sentinels go.

There used to be thousands of these across the west and even thought many have been torn down as surplus, there’s more remaining in Saskatchewan than anywhere else. Some are still used to a degree but a fair number have a questionable future. They’re not getting any younger either, with many fifty or eighty or even a century old.

13-14) The Perley Block dates from 1906 and an example of the archetypal small town business block, designed for mixed use with business frontage below and apartments above. Perley is a name that shows up a lot in Wolseley with the family the driving force behind many buildings in town. This includes the Leland next door (called the Empire then, recall) and a grain elevator, now gone.

Constructed in the Edwardian style common at the time for commercial blocks, large windows and broad and open interior spaces were a typical design elements. Generally sensible and reserved tones (although not always), were another often seen trait. A great addition to downtown Wolseley, we’re glad they’ve been able to keep a lot of the old stuff here like it

15) Downtown Wolseley stole our hearts.

16) The Leland is a treasure and we might just have to stay there next time. Brick hotels hold a special place in our hearts. Unnoticed at the time but found while processing the photos, is a curious detail up high. Is that an eagle with a shield? There must be a story here and so it begs closer inspection when next we visit. A quick and dirty online search online turned up nothing, so now we’re really intrigued.

17) The number of people that have passed through these pub doors over the years must be staggering (and some must have been staggering). Look, we made a joke and didn’t even realize it until the reread. Anyway, a quick cyphre suggests millions over the years is realistically possible.

18) Insert heart emoji here.

19) The Cat in the Hat knows a lot about that. A beloved character from Dr Suess, there’s not a kid alive who doesn’t recognize this iconic character.

20) Sometimes it’s the little details.

21) Sherbrooke Street runs through the centre of of downtown and here’s a nice broad view. It seems like an eternity ago we shot these and in a way was, with this visit happening in 2019. These posts were delayed time and again to due to you know what and only now being (cautiously) released. Strange times are these.

22) This kid has the entrepreneurial spirit, which we applaud.

23) Wolseley’s got an honest to goodness old school drive in theatre, the Twilite dating back to the 1950s. Tonight’s film is Crawl and wouldn’t you know it, Team BIGDoer will be there! We’re shooting a piece which presently we’re working on and soon to be published, after being delayed for well over a year. The film was a stinker but it didn’t matter as we kept busy capturing the event and chatting with locals.

24) The town’s famous suspension bridge, a block from downtown, crosses a reservoir put in by the railway in the early 1900s. This lake supplied water for their steam locomotives which need a regular filling. There’s been a bridge spanning water here on and off since the early days and should the subject of Wolseley come up in idle chit-chat the structure is sure to make mention. It’s often seen as a symbol of the town along with this building: Wolseley SK Then & Now: Town Hall – Time has stood still!

25) We’ll see you later! What’s the odds we’d randomly stumble across their truck the day we were due to go in? We were there not to partake in a movie, but rather soak up the fun. Let me tell you it was everything we hoped it would be and epic in every way. We captured a bunch of happy folks having a good time watching a God awful movie (not that anyone cared it was a steaming pile) and that’s what it’s all about. We just processed the photos (they’re great) and presently working on the story to accompany them. Till it’s published, take in this other drive-in we visited a few years back. This: The Clearwater (Kyle Saskatchewan).

2) Back Alley roaming.

Wolseley dates back to the 1890s and present day has a population of around eight hundred and fifty. I think we met most of them that weekend! The town also sits along the Canadian Pacific Railway’s busy east/west mainline. This series could not have been done without help from the community and its residents (Stephen especially) and for that we thank you all.

We can’t wait to do another series like this with another small Saskatchewan town. Plans are in the works as soon as Covid’s in the rear view mirror.

Here’s a few Google search terms if want to know more: Historic Wolseley Saskatchewan, Leland Hotel Wolseley and Canada Cafe Wolseley.

Till the next posting, keep curious!

They’re saying…

”I enjoy history so really enjoy the pictures and back stories.” Ted Swanson.

The others in the series…
Wolseley Places Part Two – Stone House alert!
Wolseley Places Park One – Stone House alert (again)!

We’re crazy about the province…
Wandering Shaunavon – Things seen on an evening stroll.
CNR #1158 at the Western Development Museum – Before the work begins.

If you wish more information on what you’ve seen here don’t hestitate to contact us!

Date of Adventure: August, 2019.
Location(s): Wolseley, SK.
Article references and thanks: Stephen Scriver, Town of Wolseley and Author Dennis Fjestad.

3) A mini Captain America.

4) No Thru Road.

5) Always love small town murals.

6) Go Team Canada!

7) Tara’s Lil’ Rascals.

8) A cold one & Butter Chicken = heaven.

9) The Wor Wonton is recommended.

10) This building goes back to 1910.

11) Along Front Street.

12) A building that defined a province.

13) The Perley Block from 1906.

14) Everything in Wolseley is so picturesque.

15) We simply fell in love.

16) The Leland Hotel is over a century old.

17) Through these doors…

18) The streets are beautiful.

19) “…but we can have lots of good fun that is funny.”

20) The little details.

21) We’re along Sherbrooke Street.

22) Love that entrepreneurial spirit.

23) Tonight’s movie – Crawl – we’ll be there!

24) The famous Swinging Bridge.

25) We’ll see you later that night…