Forgotten Prairie

You’ve probably heard us speak of the film Forgotten Prairie. A number of posts we’ve published over the last few months have touched on it to one degree or another. Now you’ll get to see it. Finally! A production of Rueben Tschetter’s Cache Project, it’s a fine little piece about ghost towns and the people who explore them. That means us in this case, of course, and we rounded up some pals to join us. It’s more fun with friends.

Forgotten Prairie is a good look at why we do what we do, what we get from it all and the people we meet. It’s the profound and meaningful stuff that pulls at all our heartstrings and touches our souls. This is real reason we search out these places. To know, learn, talk and bring awareness to it all. Damn the likes and shares and pats on the back – it’s needs to be done for other, deeper reasons. If but one person sees it and gets something out of it, we’ve done it right.

One April weekend, 2017. It’s damn cold and blustery. Hands freeze, the biting wind, a horrible numbness all around. We must be nuts. Down this rural dirt track, down that. The dust, the mud, scattered snow squalls. It won’t break out spirits. Difficult conditions is where we shine, so bring it on. And what a mood it adds. The stories are sad, the settings doubly so and the gloomy weather adds yet another dimension. It’s dark and moody and that’s where our best work is done.

To see the film, and some choice pics, scroll down a bit. Grab a coffee and enjoy. And when done comment further down. We’d love to hear what you have to say.

But first, here a short summary of the four ghost towns seen in the production…

Fusilier Saskatchewan. Small but incredibly photogenic. There’s a couple former businesses, a falling down theatre/dance hall, one beautiful house, and the showpiece, a fine old grain elevator. There’s no one living here, but you can picture the place alive. Flashback to yesteryear! I can hear the train! The entire town is private property and requires permission to enter.

Get to know the place…
Forgotten Prairie – Fusilier.

Esther Alberta A charming place dating from the 1920s. At the peak several dozen people lived here. There was a store and some other businesses and for a time in the early days things looked real good. Now there’s one couple left in the community (ask them nicely and they’ll let you wander their town). There’s a couple streets with dilapidated buildings, and like Fusilier, an impressive grain elevator towering over everything down by the old rail line. Pure magic.

To know more…
Forgotten Prairie – Esther Alberta.

Loverna Saskatchewan. Just down the tracks from Esther, but a province over. Founded in the 1910s, it held great promise and for a time boomed like there was no tomorrow. But tomorrow came and soon after the community started a downward spiral. Today, it’s got a permanent population counted on one hand and abandoned buildings and empty lots are the norm. The west edge of the town almost touches on Alberta. You are welcome to explore, but please don’t enter any buildings.

Read about it here…
Forgotten Prairie – Loverna.

Hoosier Saskatchewan. There’s a fine old brick school and a quaint little church. Of all the places seen, this one has the biggest population (like five or six folks). There’s even a couple open businesses. Still, it’s no less photogenic. Hoosier dates form the 1910s and did well at first, but soon like so many other prairie towns, things fell apart, farms failed, people left and businesses closed. Rinse and repeat.

Read all about it…
Forgotten Prairie – Hoosier Saskatchewan.

Old Jack’s. A visit with a fellow who collects old cars and machinery and other stuff. Some really cool things here scattered about the huge property. This was an unplanned stop, so we hope to be back! In the meantime take in a few photos of it.

Read all about it…
Old Jack’s.

Connect with Rueben Tschetter…
The Cache Project
The Cache Project Youtube Channel.

And Rob Pohl…
Robert S. Pohl, photographs, travels and stuff.

If you wish more information on what you’ve seen here, by all means contact us!

Date: April, 2017.
Location: Esther Alberta, Fusilier, Hoosier and Loverna Saskatchewan and area.
Article references (and thanks): Rueben Tschetter, Rob Pohl, Byron Robb, Bill Dalton, Old Jack and so many others.
Most of the places seen are private property. Our group was on site with permission.

A cold windy day in Fusilier Saskatchewan.

Lonely Esther Alberta.

Lost in time, Loverna Saskatchewan.

Behind the scenes in Hoosier Saskatchewan.

Hanging at Old Jack’s

Presenting, Forgotten Prairie…