That's a Wrap! Part 3: The Ranch House

I intended to post Part 3 (of this 3 part series) closer to the first 2 but other adventures happened and more photos got taken and truth be told, I am not very organized. So there you have it.

If you've been reading my blog, you may recall my trip to a western movie set in Southern Alberta earlier in May with the BigDoer team. You can view the previous posts here if you'd like:
Part 1: Outlaw Camp
Part 2: Western Town

Scene from Monte Walsh (Google Images)

The Ranch set was were I took the most photos. The sun was setting while we were there which made for a totally different set of photos from when we first arrived. I got to play around a bit with my camera and try some different settings.

There was a main house, a couple other smaller houses/shacks, a barn and a shed that inside looked like a blacksmith shop. The main house appeared to be a beautiful grand stone building. Upon closer inspection it was a hard foam like material made to look like stone. Well done set designers, well done. Just for fun above is a photo of the house in the movie 'Monte Walsh' starring Tom Selleck. Of course, there have been many movies, TV shows, commercials and music videos filmed here but this is the only still I could find showing the house. I don't even mind Tom Selleck blocking part of it.

There isn't much I haven't already said in the other parts of this series. The backdrop of the foothills and Rocky Mountains will forever take my breath away no matter how many times I see it (and I grew up in the area!). These buildings look like they belong here and it certainly doesn't feel like a movie set. I wonder what it is like when filming is happening? I imagine a lot of people running around making sure everything is just right. Perhaps a director on a megaphone shouting directions and actors and actresses in costume waiting for their scene. QUIET ON SET!

Barn full of prop animal skulls

One of my hosts, Chris of 'BigDoer' in his signature yellow jacket

Thanks again to Chris and Connie for allowing me to tag along on this adventure! I had an amazing time and took a ton of photos and enjoyed the company, hope to do it again in the future!

The Leaning Church of Bresaylor, SK

Bresaylor, Saskatchewan. What can I say about this place that will accurately portray my short time there? I am not a writer, in fact I have always disliked writing. I like to think of myself as a recreational photographer who has to say something about the photos I take. I am fully aware that my writing could be better and I look up synonyms a lot to avoid using the same words over and over. I really hope the pictures tell the story when I cannot.

Photo Courtesy of Sask History Online

A friend suggested I stop and see a church in Bresaylor.  I noticed that it was not far from Paynton, so I added it to my stops. I thought Bresaylor was a town but it's what's left of a hamlet and is now a heritage museum. If you look at the historic photo above, you can see it was a small village with 2 grain elevators across the road and the church in the top right, where it still sits. There is still a grain elevator across the highway, it's privately owned and repainted to read 'Blais Farms'. I read it is the old Federal Elevator as pictured above. It also appears to have been moved a bit west and turned a quarter turn judging by the buildings I recognize in the photo and where I was standing when I took the photo.

There was not a person in sight in Bresaylor but a sign that pointed to a house that said Museum Office and Gift Shop. The door was not open so I looked it up online and called a number that came up...I didn't come all this way to not see the church and I didn't want to go traipsing through someones property. A did get someone on the phone and asked if I could just take photos of the church and be on my way. She offered to come let us into the museum but warned they hadn't been cleaned or made ready for visitors. I didn't want to bother her and make her come from wherever she was but she insisted it was no trouble and to give her 10 minutes. While waiting for her we walked to the church, through a maze of fences and openings, and took some photos. I was instantly infatuated with this old, tilted, quirky looking church.

I assumed the lady I spoke to lived close but she came out of one of the houses in 'town'. I mistakenly thought that no one lived there. Oops. I had just met Velma, the museum curator, resident, groundskeeper and owner of the church. Velma was originally from the area but it was when she had returned to visit relatives that she found out the church was not being used, this drew her back to the area. She bought the church and actually lived in for a time. The church, Ste. Anne's Anglican, was built in 1906, coinciding with the arrival of the railroad, although services had been held in various homes and schools since 1882. The last service was held in 1966 for Joseph Sayers Sr. Velma has had the church foundation repaired but as you can see it has a lean to it due to being it being partially lifted and plopped back down during a tornado! The cost is too much to restore it completely.

The name Bresaylor is a mix of the 3 founding family names, the Bremners, the Sayers, and the Taylors. These Métis families had come here from Manitoba together in 1882. The museum contains artifacts from these early settlers as well as from the Barr Colonists who settled the area a bit later, around 1903. There is a ton of interesting history here!

Office and Gift Shop, former Bresaylor elevator across the highway

The Main museum house is known as the Alex Lennie house and was added to the Register of Canada's Historic Places in 2009. It was built in 1907. You can see this house (and possibly the office) in the historic photo, it is also still in it's original place. More on this house can be found here. Velma let us in through the back of the house. Inside the back entry the floor felt a bit soft under the old linoleum, I am guessing people normally enter through the front door. The museum as well as the office in the other house, were full of photos, old tools, kitchen implements, gadgets, the old post office window, and old Apple Mac computer (like I had in the late 80's at school), cobwebs, memories and history. These kinds of places are the types of places you need to see more than once because chances are you've missed something. I can't believe I didn't take photos inside! I guess I was busy listening to Velma. You can tell how much she cares about this place and it made me wonder what will become of it in the future?

The marker reads: This Plaque was Dedicated in the Jubilee Year 1955 to Honour the Pioneers who
Founded the Bresaylor Settlement in the N.W.T ? to 1905. Year unreadable but 1882 would make sense.

School Marker for Federal School #4048 1918-?

I gave Velma my address (mail not email) so I can receive the Bresaylor newsletter. I'd like to visit again and keep up with the activities. Thanks for reading!

Merna and Giant Mosquitoes

Photo Courtesy of the Sedgewick and Lougheed United Churches 

Merna is an area in Central Alberta, East of Forestburg and South of Sedgewick. I passed this area recently and pulled over to take quick a photo of a quaint looking church and cemetery right beside the highway. I made a mental note to look it up later as it was pouring rain and giant blood thirsty mosquitoes tried to gain access into my car as soon as I opened the windows. I'm not even kidding, they were the biggest mosquitoes I have ever seen. If they were smart enough to organize such a thing, they could've carried my 7 y/o away. Me that's another story, too heavy to be carried away by giant winged things. The moral of the story here is skinny people will be carried away. Go eat carbs, or cake! Also did you know a group of mosquitoes is called a scourge? Fitting.

Courtesy of Google Street View Aug 2013

The research for this one had me a bit puzzled....briefly. I though it was a different church that was also in the area and kept getting confused by a map that showed them in the same general area but the history and descriptions didn't match.  I finally found an old photo that confirmed that it is, without a doubt, Merna United Church, built in 1907.

Luckily the Google car was on this lonely stretch of highway in August of 2013. (How do I apply for that job??). As you can see from that photo to mine below, the church is sporting a spiffy new coat of paint. I kind of like the timeworn look but the bright new white coat of paint means someone is still looking after this place, which is nice too. I wonder what became of the old sign?

**Update** I just heard from the Secretary at of the Sedgewick and Lougheed United Churches, who told me that the Merna Community is alive and well. The church holds an annual service. This years service happened to be yesterday, June 18, 2017, and was followed by a potluck picnic. Sounds lovely and I am delighted to hear that the community spirit continues.

Merna United Church

Merna Cemetery

A neat barn just East of Merna United Church. 

Happy Monday everyone, watch out for scourges of giant mosquitoes.

Finding Salvation in Paynton, SK

Aerial view of Paynton, courtesy of Sask History Online

Sometimes you forget about a place. I had forgot about Paynton.

I had a family friend years ago who was from Paynton, SK. I had not heard his name or the name of the town in years. It certainly didn't occur to me that I would be close to there on my recent trip to Lloydminster. However, when I was looking at my map, I saw it on my route and knew I'd have to stop there. After my stop in Waseca, we passed Maidstone and then arrived in Paynton. Much like Waseca it has a population of around 150 people. Unlike Waseca, it no longer has any grain elevators.

Some history for you! Paynton was settled in 1888 by 3 retired constables of  the North West Mounted Police. In 1903 Rev. Isaac Barr, who had secured a large area of land, brought 2000 colonists from England to settle the area. They are known as the Barr Colonists. Along the journey to the new colony, bickering lead to many of the colonists leaving to form their own communities. Some settled in Paynton and more settlers soon followed. It was incorporated in 1907.

Silver Maple.

I drove the quiet, unpaved streets and took photos of a couple of churches that have been converted into homes. I wasn't able to get in contact with my friend so I did another loop and was about to leave when I noticed someone outside one of the churches. The first person I had seen in town! This church was surrounded by a mix of outdoor decor and what I would call folk art. I stopped to ask the lady about it and she asked if I'd like to see inside the church. Uhhhh, ya I would! Her name is Mariann and she has turned the church into the Salvation Art Gallery. It features some of her art, art work by locals, and some antiques. Most of the pieces are made from recycled materials. I picked out a small metal deer figure and a tea cup and saucer set in my pattern that she happened to have. (Yes, I have a china pattern, see photo.)

Deer?

The church needs some work, and renovations are ongoing (to be expected in a century old building and not cheap I'm sure). The interior though!! (insert wow face). The rich mahogany coloured wood seemed to shine and the vintage pendant lights were gorgeous. From what I read this was originally a Presbyterian Church built in 1909 and turned over to the United Church in 1925. Perhaps they added the lights, if I have my style era right.

I imagine living in a historic building, church or house has it's pros and cons. I could picture myself doing something like that someday and admire the commitment it must take to keep a place like that going.

I enjoyed looking at everything in the church and chatting with Mariann, and because it is a small town, she knew my friend and directed me to of the houses he might be at. Turned out he wasn't in town after all that. Figures.

I heard later that there are 3 former churches that are all homes now. I didn't see the 3rd one. If you look at the old photo at the top you can see the United Church in the bottom right. I think I see the 2 other churches as well but I can't be 100% sure.

Former Catholic Church, now private residence. 

A new history book of Paynton has been written and is being released this fall. I think I will look into getting a copy. Happy travels! Next Saskatchewan stop is Bresaylor!

Friday Foto Frenzy

Butze Elevator. Abandoned. 

Alternate title spelling: Phriday Photo Phrenzy. I am not a fan/phan of either honestly but it's been a long week, I am in a disagreeable mood and I got nothin' else.

I take a lot of photos, some are just shots of things that don't really warrant a whole blog post. Most of these can be seen over on Instagram. I made a deal with myself to post a new photo at least once a day for the entire year. So far so good. If you are on the 'gram, feel free to check my photos out @jennspix.

Here is a random assortment of some recent photos from my travels around East Central Alberta and a shot or 2 across the border into Saskatchewan. In no particular order....

Wimborne, AB

Amisk, AB

Near Provost, AB

Near Consort, AB

Macklin, SK

Are you saying to yourself, 'what the heck is a bunnock?' Well it is a game of Russian origin played with horse bones (bunnocks). The object is to knock over the other teams bunnocks. Think curling/bowling on a field but with horse bones. Fun! Macklin holds an annual Bunnock tournament, If Bunnock is your jam, then get your bunnocks to Macklin in August!

South of Wainwright, AB

North of Macklin, SK

Between Macklin, SK and Chauvin, AB. 

Near Wimborne, AB

Castor, AB

North End School, north of Macklin, SK

North of Czar, AB

Edgerton AB Museum

Battle Valley School now at the Edgerton Museum.

It is almost the end of Friday, I hope you enjoyed the photos and have an excellent weekend! Comments always welcome. I love hearing from you!
I am hoping a good sleep will find me in a better mood tomorrow.  Goodnight!