Travel back in time to the bustling village of Broadacres

By Joan Janzen

Broadacres is located twelve miles northeast of Kerrobert. Besides the RM of Mariposa shop, all that remains at Broadacres is an old community hall, a dilapidated municipal office and the remnants of three houses. One of the houses looks like the owners left suddenly, leaving all their belongings and furniture behind.

Broadacres, Saskatchewan was once a thriving village located 12 miles northeast of Kerrobert. Photo (Wilkie & District Museum, courtesy of Brian Towe)

Broadacres School was built in 1926. Photo (Memoirs of Mariposa)

St. Lucia School was moved to Broadacres in 1947.

However, according to information obtained from Memoirs of Mariposa and the Wilkie & District Museum, the village was once a thriving community. Like most Saskatchewan communities, it began when small stations and section houses were built while the rail line was being laid. Since the beginning of the rail line in 1912, there has been a long succession of station agents posted at Broadacres throughout the years.

During the village’s peak period, Broadacres had three stores, three elevators, a garage, an RM office, a lumber yard, two churches, three schools, a curling rink, two filling stations, two oil companies, a cemetery, a post office, a small cafe, a large community hall, and accommodation for a population of 110 souls.

The British American Oil company was in business from 1945 to 1965. Joe Obermeyer handled Imperial Oil, and after his death, Mel Mullin took over and delivered gas to farms.

By the 1970s, all the rural schools were closed, and pupils were taken by bus to Kerrobert, Luseland, or Tramping Lake; however, many students graduated from Broadacre’s small high school.

Broadacres Cemetery is dotted with a dozen or so wrought iron crosses that may have been crafted by a blacksmith. The first burial recorded was Margaret Frehlich in 1930, and the most recent burial was Michael Meier in 1973. That year may indicate when the community began to decline.

The post office closed on June 6, 1975, after operating since March 21, 1914. The first postmaster, William Woolley, remained until 1950.

The three elevators at Broadacres were originally labelled Federal, McLaughlin, and Co-op, but eventually, the Pool owned all three. The history book said the list of elevator agents reads like a telephone directory.

Now all that remains of the once bustling village of Broadacres are the memories preserved in history books and museums.