Wandering through Waseca, SK

I had reason to visit Lloydminster this weekend so I figured, why not? I haven't ever been to that area of the province, so this blogger left the familiar Alberta backroads and took the show on the road. Lloydminster is an interesting place, it has the distinction of being part in Alberta and part in Saskatchewan, earning it the nickname of the Border City. Fun fact....the border between the 2 provinces is also the 4th Meridian.

I knew I wanted to explore in Saskatchewan but didn't have a lot of time, so between visiting and doing fun stuff with the kiddo, I found a few hours and headed east on Highway 16. You may think driving through Saskatchewan is boring but there seems to be enough little towns along the way to make it interesting. I always say I will stop in every new town I pass but this weekend didn't allow for all of them. I passed Marshall and Lashburn, but stopped in Waseca (upon recommendation from a friend, but I would have stopped there anyway after seeing the unmistakable shapes of some interesting looking prairie skyscrapers in the distance). The village of Waseca has roughly 150 residents, 2 cool old grain elevators and some seriously bumpy unpaved roads. I loved it.

Here are a few images of Waseca:

Welcome to Waseca!

Waseca 1911-2011. Found along the rail line.

On the corner of 1st Ave NE and 1st Street E, you'll find the Waseca Fire Hall. The old fire truck has Humboldt written on it. Humboldt is a town about 3.5 hours SE of Waseca.

Waseca Fire Hall

On the other corner of 1st and 1st is the Christ Anglican Church. It was built in 1907 and added to the register of Canada's Historic Places in 2010. It is one of the oldest buildings in Waseca and is at it's original location. It was used over the years by Anglican, Presbyterian and United Church congregations. Services stopped in 1979. The Waseca Heritage Committee maintains the building and it is still occasionally used.

Christ Anglican Church 

My main reason for visiting was to see the grain elevators. A Saskatchewan Wheat Pool and a Federal Grain Ltd. You can still make out the words on the front and sides. The rest of the town was a bonus! From what I can gather the elevators are privately owned, not sure how much they are used. There was no activity when I was there, anywhere. I saw no people the entire time I was there. Also faint but legible at the top of the Wheat Pool elevator are the words, "Use Pool Co-Op Flour."

I enjoyed Waseca, now onto the next stop down the highway.