History of Saskatoon

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Saskatoon Population

Land Annexation by Decade

[edit] Saskatoon History

[edit] Temperance colony

The first permanent settlement of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada occurred in 1883 when Toronto Methodists, wanting to escape the liquor trade in that city, decided to set up a "dry" community in the rapidly-growing Prairie region. As of 1882 this area was a part of the provisional district named Saskatchewan, North West Territories. Their organization, the Temperance Colonization Society, first examined this area in 1882 and found that it would make an excellent location to found their community based on the ideals of the Temperance League. The settlers, led by John Lake, arrived on the site of what is now Saskatoon by traveling by railway from Ontario to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and then completing the final leg via horse-drawn cart (the railway had yet to be completed to Saskatoon). The plan for the Temperance Colony soon failed as the group was unable to obtain a large block of land within the community. Nonetheless, John Lake is commonly identified as the founder of Saskatoon; a public school, a park and two streets are named after him (Lake Crescent which was developed in the 1960s and Eastlake Avenue, which was originally named Lake Avenue on the first map of Saskatoon in 1883 but later changed for reasons unknown).

In 1885, several houses on 11th Street East were used as military hospitals during the North-West Rebellion. One house, the Marr Residence, is currently a heritage site run by the Meewasin Valley Authority. The first school, Victoria School opened for classes at the corner of 11th Street and Broadway Avenue in 1888. This small school, now called the "Little Stone Schoolhouse", now sits on the campus of the University of Saskatchewan.

[edit] Hub City and Agricultural Boom

The Qu'Appelle, Long Lake and Saskatchewan Railway reached Saskatoon in 1890 and crossed the South Saskatchewan River, causing a boom in development on the west side of the river. In 1901, Saskatoon's population hit 113. A third settlement, "Riversdale", also began just southwest of Saskatoon.

1903 saw an economic boom for Saskatoon with the encampment of Barr colonists on their way to the Brittania colony. A town charter for the west side of the river was obtained in 1903 (Nutana became a village in that year).

April 1904 saw the collapse of the QLLR bridge due to spring melt and ice flows on the South Saskatchewan River.^[2] The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway system survey proposed Hanley as its northern terminal between Regina and Prince Albert.^[3] Saskatoon's Board of Trade sent delegates from Saskatoon to Ottawa to discuss the river crossing and proposed city bridges. Their mission resulted in the formation of Saskatoon as the divisional point for both Canadian Pacific Railway and the Grand Trunk Pacific.^[4] QLLR bridge or CNoR Canadian Northern Railway bridge was rebuilt and remained standing until March 1914 when a train crashed through this bridge. (It was rebuilt and remained standing until 1966 when the Idylwyld Freeway Bridge was opened... later named Sidney L. buckwold Bridge) ^[5]

In 1906 Saskatoon became a city with a population of 4,500, which included the communities of West Saskatoon, Riversdale, and Nutana.

Following the formation of the Province of Saskatchewan September 1, 1905, premier Hon. Walter Scott focused on the created of a provincial university and agricultural college. Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Saskatoon, Regina, Qu'Appelle, Indian Head, and Battleford were all under consideration for this location. President Walter Murray, and the Board of University Governors voted in favour of Saskatoon on April 7, 1907.^[6]

1907 saw the completion of the Traffic Bridge, as well as the Canadian Pacific Railway CPR Bridge and Grand Trunk Pacific GTP Railway Bridge.^[7] The geographical barrier: South Saskatchewan River between Nutana and West Saskatoon was overcome with the building of the Traffic Bridge which opened in 1907. The physcial barrier of the CNR rail yards isolated Riversdale and West Saskatoon. Road underpasses below the rail line, and wooden pedestrian walkways over rail lines.^[8]

From the end of the Louis Riel Rebellion to 1913, Saskatoon was celebrating boom years. ^[9] The main contributing factors of the exponential growth were:

• Temperance colony settlement of the late 1800's.
• Economic surge created by the Barr colonists 1903.
• Saskatoon becoming western Canada's railway network hub.
• Acquistion of the University of Saskatchewan.

[edit] Post War Years

After World War I dirty thirties and depression years saw migration away from bankrupt farms and towards a hope of employment in the cities. The socio-economic changes brought about by World War II and the industrial revolution saw a shift from rural life to urban living. Saskatoon was not only a centre for the British Commonwealty Air Training Plan during the 1940's, but also became a major regional distribution and service centre. Saskatoon experienced a severe shortage of residential dwellings between 1945 and 1960.^[10]

• Substinence farming on quarter sections gave rise to modern agricultural machinery capable of farming large acreages. The family farm is declining.
• One room school houses close down in favour of larger consolidated schools.
• Rail lines decline being replaced by vehicular traffic on highways.
• Mining industry is stimulated by new growth.
  • Uranium mining in Northern Saskatchewan
  • Potash mining in central Saskatchewan.

During this time Saskatoon moved the CNR rail yards to Chappell Drive and began the first Saskatoon Down Town revitalisation project. Several new neighborhoods sprung up.

In 1906, the boundaries of Saskatoon were; Clarence Avenue on the east, Taylor Street demarking the southern perimeter across to the South Saskatchewan River. On the west side of the river, Avenue P marks the furthest western boundary, and 33rd Street East the northern. This area encompasses the core neighborhood suburban development area. These remained basically the same for approximately 40 years until Saskatoon reached financial stability during World War II. ^[11][12] The following suburban development areas saw neighborhoods come to fruition between 1940 and 1980. Nutana SDA on the east side; on the west side Confederation SDA and Lawson SDA In 1955 Montgomery Place and in 1956 the neighboring town of Sutherland were annexed by the fast growing City of Saskatoon^[13] This growth continued until the mid 1980's.

Technological, educational and cultural amenities meet the increased demand in this fast growing city.

(Rosewood)

[edit] Sask-A-Boom

Saskatoon's first growth spurt gained Saskatoon the nick name Hub City, whereas the latest growth phenomenon has been termed Sask-a-boom. The 10-year capital deficiency discussion paper for 2007-2016 has recently been updated for 2007. The new priority for the civic government are infrastructure needs and proposed new capital projects for the population increases and for the physical geographical growth. The phenomenal retail sector increase, new neighborhoods and communities place a demand upon the city to provide additional firehalls, transit buses, police headquarters, libraries, water plants, electrical power plants, bridges interchanges and roadways. Briarwood, Brookside, Rosewood, Stonebridge, The Willows, Arbor Creek, Willowgrove, University Heights Suburban Centre, Hampton Village, Hudson Bay Industrial, Marquis Industrial, Blairmore Suburban Centre, and another 10 unnamed proposed neighborhoods are being developed or are currently under construction. ^[15]

[edit] Location in relation to Neighboring communities

Saskatoon became a city with the amalgamation with the above 3 communities, however the current size of Saskatoon has meant that the geographical presence of Saskatoon has encompassed several other early communities.

[edit] Train Bridges

• North Saskatoon (west side) is across the CPR McDonald Bridge from Sutherland. The bridge arrives presently between North Park and City Park (west side). ^[16]

• Nutana is across the CNR Bridge ( present day site of the Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge or Freeway/Idywyld Bridge ) from West Saskatoon (presently Central Business District (west side). ^[17]

• The Grand Trunk Bridge connected the early communities of Yorath and South Saskatoon. The bridge currently connects the city of Saskatoon neighborhoods known as Sask Power Management Area (west side) and Diefenbaker Management Area (east side) respectively.

[aside] The QLLR Qu'Appelle, Long Lake and Saskatchewan Railroad and Steamboat Company ws assumed by CNoR Canadian Northern Railway.

[aside] The CNoR Canadian Northern Railway merged with the GTP Grand Trunk Pacific during World War I becoming the CNR Canadian National Railway.

[aside] The GNWC Great NorthWest Cenral Railway Company was assumed by the CPR Canadian Pacific Railway

[edit] West Side

• West Saskatoon was a post office of 1900 which changed names to Saskatoon in 1902. This area is currently referred to as the Central Business District. ^[18].

• Chappell was west of Saskatoon; a CNR station. It is now known as a neighborhood of Saskatoon called CN yards Management Area Chappell Drive

• There was also a community known as Brownell near North Saskatoon, it was a community which would be presently a part of 51st Street and about Miners Avenue making it a part of the current neighborhood of Hudson Bay Industrial. ^[19]

• McNab Park was built 1967 as a RCAF Station and is located west of the industrial area in North of Saskatoon presently. ^[20]

• The Magic City of 'Factoria' is now the neighborhood of Silverwood Heights. Billy Silverwood, a horse breeder and spring water bottler owned land 2 miles north of the Saskatoon of 1912 (present day down-town area City of Saskatoon). The enterprise of horse breeding where an uncontaminated water supply was needed was not a good combination. R.E. Glass, a Chicago Enterpreuner had a vision of an industrial community and purchased the Silverwood Bottling Company. He foresaw extending the rail line to service factories, breweries, flour mills, expanded bottling works. The rail line came in 1913, and the beginning of businesses lined the track, however WW1 and the coming of electricity in 1918 made the venture unsuccessful.^[21]

• Robert Caswell homesteaded on this hill which is often visible in early photographs of West Saskatoon.

• Hebrew Cemetery is located in a 1912 proposed subdivision of the name Crescent Heights. This location is on Battleford Trail Road and is northwest of present day Dundonald.^[22]

• Farley is located between Saskatoon and Grandora on the CNR track. It is nestled south of Highway 14 (22nd Street) and 11th Street, just on the outskirts of Saskatoon to the west. Whereas the same distance west of Saskatoon was Cory on the CPR line. Hawker was the station after Chappell on the CNR branch between Saskatoon and Vanscoy. ^[23]

• Eaton was between Saskatoon and Vanscoy on the N.O.R. The name Eaton was changed to Hawker as the post office found confusion with the name of Eatonia. During World War I this location was used as an internment camp briefly. ^{[24] [25]} Eaton or Hawker is located just to the west of the new Blairmore Suburban Centre and houses the Saskatchewan Railway Museum.

• West of Saskatoon, Cory was between Saskatoon and Dunfermline, Asquith next on the CPR line. ^{[26] [27]}

• Newcross and Duro are CNR stations between Saskatoon and Clavet. ^[28]

• Garfield was west of Saskatoon between North Saskatoon and Cory. ^[29]. Garfield was just to the north of Yorath. ^[30]

• Smithville Cemetery is just west of Saskatoon on 11th Street just west of AgPro Industrial. ^[31]

• Another neighboring community was Leisureland also called Maple Grove which was developed into an amusement park in the 1960's. It included a part of the South Saskatchewan River island, Yorath Island. Travel south of Saskatoon along Spadina Crescent. ^[32]

[edit] East Side

• Nutana is across the Qu'Appelle, Long Lake and Saskatchewan Railway (later the CNR Bridge) ( present day site of the Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge or Freeway/Idywyld Bridge ) from Central Business District. Next was Farley on the way to Grandora and Diova. Hawker is between Yorath and Vanscoy. ^[33]

• In 1904, the Grand Trunk Railway GTR built a station named Earl 3 three miles south of the Exhibition Grounds. This is presently the CN Industrial ^[34]

• South Saskatoon is between Saskatoon and Clavet along the CNR line. ^[35] South Saskatoon is also listed between Nutana and Duro. The Grand Trunk Bridge connected the early communities of Yorath on the west side of the river and South Saskatoon. The bridge currently connects the city of Saskatoon neighborhoods known as Sask Power Management Area (west side) and Diefenbaker Management Area CN Industrial (east side) respectively. ^[36]

• On the CPR, between Sutherland and Floral is Engen. ^[37]

[edit] Legal Land Locations

^[38]

• Haultain Sec.36, Twp.34, R.5, W3 (post office of 1916)^[39]
• Smithville NE Sec 28, Tsp 36, Rge 6, W of the 3
• Garfield Tsp 38, Rge 7, W of the 3
• Diova Tsp 36, R7, W of the 3 -school (Sec.24, Twp.36, R.8, W3 - P.O.)
• Grandora Twp 36, R.8, W3 -school (Sec.19, Twp.36, R.8, W3 - P.O.)
• Brownell SE Sec 16, Tsp 37,Rge 5, W of the 3
• West Saskatoon Sec.28, Twp.36, R.5, W3
• Sutherland Sec.35, Twp.36, R.5, W3
• Nutana Sec.28, Twp.36, R.5, W3
• Beckett Sec.25, Twp.37, R.7, W3
• Hawoods Sec.20, Twp.36, R.8, W3
• Dunfermline Sec.35, Twp.36, R.8, W3
• Little Stone SD #13 Sec. 33 Twp. 35 R. 5 W3
• Nutana SD #869 Sec. Tsp.37 R. 5 W 3
• Montgomery Place #5526 Tsp. 36 R. 6 W3
• Gardenvilla SD #963 PT`NE 13 Tsp. 37 R.5 W3

^[40]

Currently Saskatoon is considered to be located encompassing townships 36 and 37, range 5 and township 36, range 6, west of the third meridian. (See also Dominion Land Survey - Each township is 6 miles by 6 miles in area) ^{[41] [42]}

[edit] Location relative to other Historic communities in Saskatchewan

• On the west of Saskatoon and travelling east on the CPR would be these stations: Biggar, Neola, Mead, Normanton, Leney, Kinley, Juniata, Diova, Farley, Saskatoon.

• On the west of Saskatoon and travelling east on the CNR would be these stations: Biggar, Vance, Keppel, Perdue, Kinley, Rhyl, Asquith, Dunfermline, Cory, Saskatoon.

[edit] External links

• Saskatoon Gen Web Project - Saskatoon Dominion Land Grants Original Homesteaders Townships 36, 37. Ranges 5,6. West of the Third Meridian
• Populace Spring 2006]
• City of Saskatoon - City Planning
• City of Saskatoon ; Departments · Community Services · City Planning · ZAM Maps
• The Saskatoon Heritage Society old site
• The Saskatoon Heritage Society new website
• Saskatoon Heritage Guide* City of Saskatoon · Departments · Community Services · Development MUNICIPALLY DESIGNATED HERITAGE PROPERTIES
• Saskatoon Gen Web Project - Narratives of Saskatoon 1882-1912

[edit] Footnotes