Monday, November 9, 2020

Netherhill

West of the 5th went West of the 3rd this summer on a brief trip to the capital city of Saskatchewan. Yes, my summer vacation was in Regina. Not the summer one dreams of but with travel and gathering restrictions in place we couldn't just jet off somewhere exotic, not that we had planned to anyway but the point is we could have in any other year. We did get to meet up with some family and I was able to explore. Win/win under these circumstances. 

I had nodded off while on the road (something I can do within a block of leaving home, it's like my superpower when I am a passenger), and missed Netherhill on the way. I declared that we would be stopping there on the way home. 

I had seen pictures of this school many times and could not simply pass it by! View a great article and more pictures HERE by my friends over at BigDoer.com. 

I had been watching the weather and was hoping for some cloudy skies, because I love a cloudy dramatic sky and that it is how I pictured this school in my head. It was not meant to be.


From the book, 'Memoirs of  Hillsburgh Rural Municipality No. 289', it states that Netherhill School was built in 1912, and received additions. Miss Railton was the first teacher and it was later consolidated with Eagle Lake School.  I have no dates of when it closed as a school, but above the door is the IOOF logo, so it became an Independent Order of Odd Fellows hall for a time before it was boarded up.

I found an image of the school prior to the additions at pararie-towns.com:

Looks incomplete after seeing how it looks now!

Once you pass the school, there is a town, population of 25 according to the 2016 census. It was pretty quiet and we did not see another person. We found the hotel next to the railway tracks though....which is almost a given in most of these prairie towns. 

It looks like it may be lived in? 
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29 comments:

  1. TomNovember 9, 2020 at 4:01 PM

    ...it still looks beautiful.

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  2. RedNovember 9, 2020 at 4:02 PM

    Ghost towns! There are many of them in Saskatchewan including my village Esk.

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    1. JennNovember 10, 2020 at 9:32 AM

      Hi Red, I wish I had time to see them all. The town my grandpa grew up in, in Southern SK is also a ghost town now too. I did visit a neat one near Netherhill that I will be posting soon.

      Delete
  3. Gorges SmytheNovember 9, 2020 at 5:46 PM

    Interesting.

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  4. Debra She Who SeeksNovember 9, 2020 at 6:21 PM

    Beautiful photos! Damn that Saskatchewan blue prairie sky and sunshine!

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    1. JennNovember 10, 2020 at 9:33 AM

      I had to leave Alberta to find some nice weather this summer lol!

      Delete
  5. David M. Gascoigne,November 10, 2020 at 3:09 AM

    These tiny settlements seem only to reinforce the sense of isolation that must have been oppressive on the prairies. They were hardy people who braved a Saskatchewan winter.

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    1. JennNovember 10, 2020 at 9:34 AM

      Very true! My maternal grandparents both grew up in Southern Saskatchewan and the stories are fascinating!

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  6. DebbieNovember 10, 2020 at 3:57 AM

    the first image is such a keeper. the structure itself, the colors and the way the grass is blowing over itself, there is so much to love!!! the brick work is incredible for the time!! 25 people, that sure is a sleepy town, i can't even imagine!!

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    1. JennNovember 10, 2020 at 9:35 AM

      Thanks Debbie! I can't imagine small town living...my hometown has a million people. My current town has approx 14,000.

      Delete
  7. PerthDailyPhotoNovember 10, 2020 at 6:14 AM

    I have that super power also Jenn, I'm no company at all on a long trip 😉 The school looks wonderful under the blue skies surrounded by green grass. A population of 25, I can't imagine that 😊

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    1. JennNovember 10, 2020 at 9:37 AM

      Thanks Grace, I could never be a long haul driver...I'd be too sleepy!!

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  8. RedPatNovember 10, 2020 at 9:58 AM

    I never sleep in the car or on a plane - I have to be ready for anything. ;-) I like your shot of the school with the blue skies and fluffy clouds.

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    1. JennNovember 19, 2020 at 12:58 PM

      Thanks RedPat! I try really hard to stay awake lol

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  9. Marie SmithNovember 10, 2020 at 12:08 PM

    Love the skies. But I know what you mean about the drama of a cloudy day. Beautiful photos. Fabulous header.

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    1. JennNovember 19, 2020 at 1:10 PM

      Thank you! Might need to add a winter header since we have so much snow here!!

      Delete
  10. William KendallNovember 10, 2020 at 3:14 PM

    Terrific shots!

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  11. RosieNovember 11, 2020 at 1:07 AM

    Thanks for the great photos. My mother went to school in Daysville, Sk. Her father and mother came to Australia in about 1924. I love the old school buildings there with so much history. I have cousins who live in Mervin Sk.

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    Replies
    1. JennNovember 19, 2020 at 1:12 PM

      Thanks Rosie! Saskatchewan sure has a lot of interesting places!

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  12. BillNovember 11, 2020 at 11:43 AM

    Wonderful shots, Jenn. Love the first one, it's a beauty. If I'm a passenger in a car, my camera is already ready for anything. I can enjoy the ride so much more than driving. Have a great day!

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    Replies
    1. JennNovember 19, 2020 at 1:12 PM

      Thanks Bill, glad I was able to check this one off my list!

      Delete
  13. Michael TrumanNovember 12, 2020 at 8:49 AM

    That one is a beauty!

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  14. Rain November 14, 2020 at 6:49 AM

    That's a beautiful building Jenn!

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  15. Glen BoweMay 21, 2021 at 7:27 PM

    That's a fine image of Netherhill. I stopped in there for the first time this April. It is a very quiet area just as you said.

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