Roads less travelled leads to history lesson: Penkill, Saskatchewan
By Kate Winquist
I’ve always said that a person should take the road less travelled and you’ll never be disappointed on what you can find. Back in May, I went on a short drive south of Brock on Highway 30. Anyone travelling that highway knows the grid roads are in better shape than the pavement. I got a few miles down the road when I decided to turn left onto Totnes Road. It wasn't long before I spotted my first point of interest - a cast-iron sign dedicated to the location of the Lovedale School District #838, which operated from 1912-1962. If my memory served correctly, the Lovedale School was now part of the Prairie West Historical Society's Museum in Eston.
I could see a lone elevator in the distance when I made my way east. I had lived in west central Saskatchewan for a good portion of my life, but I had absolutely no idea what elevator it could be. Curiosity got the best of me, and I followed a path to what was the elevator at Penkill.
Wikipedia tells me that Penkill lies within the R.M. of Snipe Lake No. 259 and sits approximately 20 km north of the town of Eston. I snapped a couple of photos of the elevator and made my way back to the grid.
A short distance down the road was a school cairn dedicated to Penkill S.D. No. 2477. It first opened on April 10, 1911, and closed on June 30, 1959. The monument was erected in 1985.
I continued my travels past Richlea and through Eston, of course, but when I made my way back home to Brock, I decided to post a couple of photos of my journey on our Facebook page.
I am always pleased when people can share information on our area's history, and I was not disappointed. I messaged Joan Cooke, who is now 75 years young. Joan attended Penkill country school from 1952 - 1958, and she finished her schooling (Grade 8-12) in Eston.
Looking closely at the elevator pictures, you can see HOLBEN FARMS. Holben was Joan's maiden name. She tells me that her uncle bought the elevator many years ago.
Joan and I carried on a great conversation about several things - my house in Brock (Joan's daughter lives there), our love for cats (we exchanged photos of our pets) and that her brother-in-law lives next door to my cousin in Eatonia. It really is a small world!
Joan went hunting through some photographs and was kind enough to send them to me.
A couple of months have passed, but I reached out to Joan on Sunday (July 10) to tell her that I would be doing a short write-up on Penkill and that I hadn't forgotten about our conversation. Joan replied with more information for me.
"I did find out a little more information from the youngest and smallest little guy that is at the bottom left-hand corner, Joan wrote. He still lives on his farm about 3/4 mile away straight north of the school site.”
The "little guy" in the photo is Richard Pope, who attended Penkill School with his older brothers David and George (sitting on the rail of the step). David and George have since passed away.
Richard said that the new school was built about 1950, and it is now Ridall's shop in Bickleigh.
So thanks to the poorly paved #30 highway, I found out a bit of history and made a new friendly acquaintance in Joan - a great day indeed!
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