Wolseley Places Part One

Join us and take in some fond memories of a glorious weekend spent in little Wolseley Saskatchewan, waaaay back in the summer of 2019. It seems so long ago. As it happens, the world got in the way and we had to move on to other projects for a time and only now are we posting about the AMAZING things we saw during our visit. Sometimes we move at a glacial pace here @BIGDoer.com and once again have raised the “damn you’re slow” bar to new heights. But enough of this chit-chat.

In between various adventures in the area, we explored in-town too when the chance presented itself, taking in many of the historic buildings found in the picturesque community. We documented so much that we’ll have to spread it across three postings. Even though we kept busy, we only just scratched the surface. A time crunch meant we had be selective in what we photographed and I guess that’s reason enough to go back. Yes!

All the places seen can be viewed from public streets and you’re all encouraged to take a look for yourself. The simplest way is just to start walking about and you’ll see the stuff. And then tell us about it in the comments below. Many of the buildings seen have some sort of historic designation.

We were so very fortunate to have a local liaison (thanks Stephen), who arranged special entry into a few of the building seen. We’ll say it time and again, it’s a blessing that we get to see the places we do and we love to share it with you. Let’s begin the fun little tour…

1) Wolseley Town Hall from the early 1900s.

1) Wolseley’s former Town Hall, Opera House and Fire Station dates from 1906 (the town itself was founded in the 1890s). It’s an impressive building for such a modest-sized town and reflects the optimism of the time. So many bricks were used in its construction that two suppliers were needed, explaining the bands and patches of that differ slightly in colour. That’s character! It also housed a library and for a time the jail, in addition to those other uses.

The tower was used by the fire department for drying hoses.

2) It was housed in the back of the building.

3) The hall and stage. The venue is still used from time to time for plays, concerts, community events, get-togethers, whatever. The ambience was really quite cool. If our lotto addiction ever has us hitting the jackpot, we’re going to invite you all to big food and music event we’ll host there. Picture snooty butlers in tux & tails (& ruffles) serving little cocktail weenies. A heavenly catered dinner – only the best mushroom soup for our chops. Chilled Pilsner in crystal decanters. We bring in a band and will get a little rowdy, but not too much cuz we’re Canucks to the core.

You think Nickleback’s available?

4) Field Marshal Garnet Joseph Wolseley, 1st Viscount Wolseley after which the town is named. We’ll just call him Lord Wolseley for short. This regal fellow had quite the storied military career and his exploits could fill volumes. He did spend time in the area long ago back when it was part of the North-West Territories. Saskatchewan would not get provincehood until 1905.

5) The cupola is an iconic symbol of the building and houses a bell.

6) Both the bridge and house are still around, although the latter is now located elsewhere in town. We’ll show you both shortly.

7) The Town Hall/Opera House got a full makeover in the early 1990s which this plaque celebrates. Our understanding, the building was always kept in reasonable shape, even if little used at times, but this gave it new life. We can truly say, it’s incredible in every single way. Old style Calligraphy writing is so elegant.

8) Moving on, but not far away, just across the street in fact, it’s the Magee House from the mid-1890s. We got to look inside too! Made of field stones (a not uncommon building material in the area) and a bit of brick, it’s in a style that’d be right at home in the French countryside.

9) The interior is just as impressive. It’s not often we get to photograph restored homes, not that we dislike them, no sir, just the opportunity rarely comes up. Often it’s places decrepit for us, but we love anything old and historic, be they showpieces or basket cases. Here we channel our inner John Sharpe, a pro-photographer friend who passed on some years back, that when shooting interior real estate would do so at twilight so as to get those deep blues in the windows.

10) Sometimes we have to force ourselves to slow down and look at the little things.

11) We dream of moving into this garden shed. No, no, no…shed is not a fitting word, which speaks of some utterly plain utilitarian building. This one is more than that, a garden villa. And yes we’re serious, our house is that sucktacular.

12-13) The Town Hall/Opera House is just a stone’s throw away. Here’s one view of it from the Magee House yard and another from inside through a window.

14) We fell in love here. The building is solid with beautiful design features and so much history. The builder, Robert Magee, was Wolseley’s first mayor (his office just across the street), later an MLA (a Liberal of all things, a swear word on the prairies today) and owned a firm that supplied bricks to the Town Hall/Opera House during its construction.

15) Being shadowed by a cat is something that happens to us a lot. Some are friendly and approachable, others keep their distance, but they always come it seems.

16) There has been a footbridge in Wolseley (“the swinging bridge”) on and off since the early days. It crosses a man-made reservoir put in by the railway in the early 1900s. Water here was once pumped from here down to the tracks not far away, to feed steam locomotives. Now it’s a pleasant natural area and the bridge a must-see attraction in town.

17-21) Here we’re looking at what was originally a court house, the oldest example in the province and the only one still standing from territorial days. Built in the mid-1890s, it served that purpose (with jail) until 1909. Later it was used by the North-West Mounted Police (forerunner of the RCMP) for a time, then was a juvenile detention facility. Beginning in the 1920s it was connected to a nursing home (still right next door), till they vacated it in the 1980s. Later that same decade it was restored to it’s original appearance. On our visit it was empty and being worked on so it can find a use with the local community.

Built of field stone and brick, it sits at the north end of the swinging bridge. Love those old mouldings! In the basement it’s remains of the old jail cells.

Bricks show a distinctive colour change three quarters up the exterior walls. A mid-stream change of suppliers maybe?

From Historicplaces.ca: “Situated on a well landscaped plot of land, the Wolseley Court House is also valued for its grounds. The landscaping reflects the property’s prestigious nature as it is set back from the roadway and overlooks the town lake. The prestige of the property is further enhanced through its connection with the town’s commercial district via a pedestrian swing bridge.”

Setting up the exterior shot, there in the twilight, we’re taken back to the early days. We picture court in session, some grizzled judge that’s seen it all, the sound of gavels and with punishment quickly handed down. Ten dollars for public drunkenness or a week in gaol! We’re lost in yet another mind-play, us as both directors and audience. It’s the early days on the frontier (and photos from the era show the structure pretty much alone on the prairie), here at the centre of a far reaching judicial district where the rule of law is administered.

22) On hearing us all these heads popped up. We left quickly so mom and dad could return with food for their hungry offspring.

23-24) In every town across this great land, coast to coast, be it a farming community, fishing village, mining centre or big sprawling city, there’s a cenotaph. It’s a memorial to the fallen, a sombre listing of those who paid the price during world conflicts so we could all be free. It was not for the glory or fame, money or prestige, but for a singular reason…it had to be done. No hesitation, no questions asked, no reward given nor expected, they volunteered in droves, from every single walk of life and a good many came back broken, if they came back at all. With each name carved in stone came a Mother’s sorrow.

25-26) Finally, a full on view of the Town Hall/Opera House. You knew it was coming and it sure is quite the showpiece. A different take, shot that same weekend: Wolseley SK Then & Now: Town Hall.

27-28) The Magee Place as darkness falls and does it light up beautifully. It’s one of many stone houses we’d view while in the town and area. There’s a fair number of them, many built by Scottish stone masons who settled in and around Wolseley. We actually were to visit more than we did but a deluge of a rain made access to some of the rural ones impossible. We’ll be back!

29) This is Banbury House seen in that painting earlier. It’s now an Inn you can stay at and according to their website “Saskatchewan’s first European style Bed & Breakfast”. We really need to check it out more closely next time. The home dates from 1907 (1905 in some reports) and was built by one Edwin Banbury. In the late 1930s it was a staff residence connected to that nursing home, which the old court house was also part of. It’s all linked!

In the late 1980s, under threat of demolition, it was moved to it’s present location and has operated as a B&B ever since. Did I say we need to check it out? To see another house built in a similar “Queen Anne” style go here: Robertson House/Lana Lang House Superman III.

2) It also housed the Fire Department.

30) Rounding out this lengthy post (remember, there’s two follow-ups to come), and right next door, it’s the 1900 built Elliot House for a time in recent memory a well respected restaurant. Now it’s connected to the Banbury House Inn and is used as additional accommodations. For a time in the 1920s-1930s it was home to a Conservative MLA.

Running out of steam we call it a night. This was just a CliffNote’s take on all we’ve seen. Each and every one of these places has a big story to tell, more than we could ever fit in here. We’re Pop History, quick and easily digestible bites and often lament that we can’t put more depth into it.

Thanks goes out to Stephen Scriver for helping produce this series. The assistance was invaluable.

Here’s some suggested Google search terms if you’re curious about some of today’s subjects: “Historic Wolseley Saskatchewan”, “Banbury House Inn”, Wolseley Swinging Bridge”.

We hoped you enjoyed this piece and know there’s plenty more to come!

They’re saying…

”I always enjoy the well written articles and excellent photography” Darrell Griggs.

The next instalment…
Wolseley Places Part Two.

From the area…
Backroads Saskatchewan – random stuff that’s super interesting.

More SK…
Civil Defence Museum’s Alsask Dome.
Riding the Rails in SW Saskatchewan – Part One.
Riding the Rails in SW Saskatchewan – Part Two.

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

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

3) It’s now used for concerts & events.

4) The town’s named after this regal fellow.

5) Little details everywhere.

6) Both the bridge & house still exist.

7) Celebrating a reopening.

8) The gorgeous Magee House from the 1890s.

9) John Sharpe Blues…

10) The little things.

11) The garden shed is nicer than our place!

12) Just across the street.

13) We fell in love here…

14) So much beautiful history.

15) The cats always find us.

16) The famous swinging bridge.

17) Inside the old Court House.

18) This building dates from the 1890s.

19) It was empty on our visit but being worked on.

20) Downstairs, the old jail cells.

21) So many amazing structures in town.

22) Taking up residence.

23) A tribute to the fallen.

24) So many prairie boys lost to war.

25) And now the amazing Town Hall exterior.

26) What a stately building for such a small town.

27) Looking back, it’s our old friend.

28) We’d see many more stone houses this trip.

29) As seen in the painting earlier.

30) Wolseley is home to so many historic places.