The Saskatchewan Traveller: Liebenthal to Burstall

By Trudy & Dale Buxton

We continue south on highway 21, the south part of this highway is certainly not as good as the north part, highway is chopped up a bit.

Our first community we run into is Liebenthal.

Liebenthal is named after a German community of Liebenthal and was predominately settled by German settlers, who mostly came from Kansas.

There is a Sacred Heart Catholic Church and a community hall and the community is considered as the southern gateway to The Great Sandhills.

Liebenthal is governed under the R.M. Of Happyland, which is named after a settler in the area who was so happy to be able to live in a free open space that he called it “happy land” and the name stuck.

Just north of Liebenthal is the historic site of St.John’s Separate School and Miniature Church. St.John’s operated as a church run school until it was closed in 1965.

The Blumenfeld Roman Catholic Church, which is just north and east, is a two story church built in 1915 is still used today for weddings and a yearly pilgrimage.

Next up we make a right hand turn on highway 321and head for Burstall.

Burstall is a town of about 300 people and was named after General Burstall who had lost his life defending our country in WWI.

The first settlers arrived in and around 1910 and the village was incorporated in 1921.

The rail line was laid in 1920 and is the last station on the CPR line from Leader running southwest into Alberta.

Burstall has a natural gas company that employ’s much needed jobs in the area.

Burstall is very much an agriculture town and once had as many as five grain elevators to handle the wide variety of crops in the area.

Baseball is a very popular sport in Burstall and the town has a team that plays senior baseball in the Sask/Alta league, the team was West Divisional champs in 2017.

When visiting Burstall make sure you stop at the Burstall antique store. This store is very unique as you find a trinket or two, have a great cup of coffee or even some fresh baking. The antiques in the store are really nice and if you have a chat with the owner, she has stories that will keep you entertained for hours. Brian was happy as he was able to get a Harley Davidson trinket to take home.

Visiting this store was a highlight so far on this trip, a great stop.

As we continue on highway 321 we get into Alberta and hang a left on highway 41.

The first community we pass is the Hamlet of Hilda.

Hilda was named after the infant daughter of the first post master in 1910.

Hilda still has a population of around 45 with not many services left in the community, by the pictures it is certainly looking like a ghost town like other small communities on the prairie.

Stay tuned for more adventures …

The Burstall Antique Store is a must stop on your way through the town!