Arcola, Saskatchewan
Every so often I pull a photo from my father’s collection and take a close look at it.
Dad had a fantastic archive of photos from the turn of the 20th century, each with a story to tell. This one caught my eye today.

The photo was taken by professional photographer Donald Buchanan, in about 1907.
The central subjects of the photo are anonymous pre-school children. They are squinting to avoid the sun which is shining brightly from their left side. The east sun suggests that the photo was taken in the morning. Dead grass, leafless trees, and long shadows imply that it might have been taken in late fall, or early winter of a dry year.
The image was captured on Manor Street, a residential road, looking north. Recently completed Arcola School is on the right.

There is a two-horse team pulling a dray wagon through the intersection of Manor Street and Souris Avenue. The wagon undoubtedly came from the rail station at the south end of Main Street. The driver would have turned right at The Town Hall and is proceeding eastbound on Souris. The wagon might be loaded with building supplies, on its way to the courthouse under construction a few blocks east.


There is one adult and a gaggle of children on the sidewalk on the opposite side of the street in the photo, but no activity around the school, implying that the photo was taken on a weekend.

The photo has the central children in sharp focus, with surroundings blurred. The kids are posing, but there is an “impromptu” aspect to their stance and location. I don’t think the photo was prearranged, Buchanan may have encountered the children and took their photo randomly.
The girl in the photo is clutching a well-loved bear. She seems more interested in the stuffed animal than the photographer.
The boy is happy to be photographed. He is proudly wearing a police uniform complete with a Billy Club and seems ready to use it if need be. The uniform might be a hand-me-down or last year’s Christmas present, the sleeves and pant legs seem one year too small for the growing boy.
There is a family resemblance, they are probably siblings.
You can almost hear the sound of the children’s boots on the heavy plank sidewalk.
Manor Street lacks pavement. It seems to be passable on the day the photo was taken, but the dirt road would be an obstacle course in rain, snow, or wind.
I attended Arcola School for three years before it was torn down and a modern school built at the same location.

100% of my formal education happened at the corner of Manor Street and Souris Avenue, in Arcola, Saskatchewan, starting in this building.
The old school was still being used while a new one was built on the same lot, which accounts for the “L” shape of the new building. The old school was torn down when the new one was completed in 1964, leaving vacant space in the southwest corner of the school yard.

This photo was pulled from Google Maps. It depicts new Arcola School in 2013.
The old school occupied the green space where the sign and flagpole are today.
If you look on the right side of the photo above, you will see the tailgate of a white Dodge pickup truck. My brothers Kevin and Brad both live in Arcola, and both of them have owned white Dodge trucks at one time or another. The vehicle is parked facing the wrong way, on the wrong side of the street, so that doesn’t narrow it down much – this could be either brother’s illegally parked truck.

Parking the wrong way on the street must be an “Arcola” thing. Note the dray wagon facing upstream at the corner of Souris and Main in 1934.
The cars on the opposite side of the street also seem to be parked haphazardly, …
… Welcome to Arcola!

Arcola, Circa 1905
Arcola School isn’t the only interesting building in town. Click the link below to view an outstanding collection of images from the turn of the last century.
http://www.prairie-towns.com/arcola-images.html
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Dean Sinclair
I love the old pictures too. Many of the structures in Arcola were built to last and the pictures of them bring back great memories from the past. I too remember the old school from Grade 1. Thanks for taking the time to help an old guy recall his childhood.
Russ Paton
Good to hear from you Dean. Arcola is a special place, lots of character (and characters).!
Kevin Paton
I think he is picking on us Brad!!
Russ Paton
No more than you both deserve!
Keith MacDonald
I love looking at old pictures and the stories behind them. Thanks Russ.
Russ Paton
Yes, I never tire of looking at old photos, especially if they have a story or personal connection attached.