SaskUrbEx Blog

These photos are from a trip about a year ago.  During the spring when it was really tough to get anywhere due to the flooding we really didn’t get out too much.  Even this trip was spent dodging impassable roads and mud.  This was a few locations that we visited one evening.  We hit up a couple farm houses and then a former community that only still has a church and a school.

I hope to have another update shortly.


Very large farmhouse - I am not a huge fan of farm houses however this one was very large and interesting


Windmill


Interesting cupboard system with shared cupboards between the kitchen and dining room


Arilem on the stairs


2 room brick school house


Another shot of the schoolhouse


Toilets and desks in the semi flooded basement


The setting sun from one of the classrooms.


Looking out the front door.

Well here we are again – I am way behind on updates.  I have lots of content to share, I just haven’t found the time to process the photos and do write ups.  There will be some updates in the very near future though.  Thank you for your patience. Here are some photos of an undisclosed former medical facility in the province.


Old hospital room


Found on the floor of a former medical facility


Hallway shot

There are literally hundreds of towns that no longer exist in this province.  Many are nothing more than a name on the map and some aren’t even on the maps anymore.  There are very few true ghost towns in Saskatchewan.  I define a ghost town as a site that has at least a half dozen buildings remaining but not a single resident.  The town featured below doesn’t quite fit into what I would consider a ghost town because there are still a few residents however there are less than 10 people living in this town that was once home to around 200 residents at its peak.  The town has become popular and people are coming out to see it due to media attention over the past year and that has also brought pickers and vandals.  I have been aware of the town for several years but never took the time to stop by until this fall.  We found a very decrepit hotel, a town hall, and several houses.  We were watched closely by one resident who has gotten tired of the trouble that the media attention has caused, he finally approached us to ensure we weren’t damaging anything or taking anything.  After speaking with him for several minutes and seeing our professional photo gear he decided we were no harm to the place and only warned us to stay out of the buildings.  I find it kind of humorous because he is tired of people coming out there however he is responsible for the media attention that the town received in the first place.  I am a firm believer that the places that we visit need to be kept anonymous to protect them and that is why we always protect their true identities unless it is a location that is gone all together.  Enjoy the nameless ghost town.


Looking down Railway Avenue


The former school


Town hall


Inside the town hall


Rental rates for the hall - however there is no power to the hall and it hasn’t been used in some time.


This town hall has one of the nicer kitchens I have seen in a rural hall


The bar in the hall


The back alley behind the hall with some other abandoned houses near by


The hotel - by the looks of things it won’t be standing all that much longer


Sidewalk leading up to the hotel


Back of the hotel - most of the top floor is without a roof


One side of the hotel - I believe this was the lobby and perhaps a restaurant


The bar is on the other side with collapsed roof


This massive safe was in the hotel - considering the state of the hotel I am surprised the floor can still hold this safe.