Arcola, Saskatchewan
Encyclopedia
Arcola is a town
in southeast Saskatchewan
, Canada
, approximately 60 kilometres (37.3 mi) north and 40 kilometres (24.9 mi) east of Estevan.
Settlers in the area originally built a community known as Clare, located two miles northeast of where Arcola exists today, but almost all the buildings of Clare were moved when the CPR announced in the early part of 1900 that the railroad would run south of town. Arcola was the "end point" of the southern branch line running west from Souris
, Manitoba
for four years, during which time it became an important hub for westward migration. At one point it was one of the 11 largest towns in what is now the province of Saskatchewan, but was then known as Assiniboia. With flourishing settlement and economic growth, many thought Arcola would achieve city status
. It was during this heyday and using bricks made in the town's own brick plant that many of today's heritage homes and buildings were erected.
, the Southeast Saskatchewan Photo Museum
, a full range of stores and services, a hospital, doctor's office, a K-12 school and pottery studio, as well as full service restaurants, a laundromat and a motel. Following the destruction by fire of the skating and curling rinks in 2001, the area residents banded together to rebuild the rinks next to the Prairie Place Hall, to create a multi-use community facility comparable to that in most cities. A fair and rodeo, town wide garage sale day, Robbie Burns' Night, Co-Op Equity Days, a Skidoo Poker Derby and Canada Day Celebrations are among the town's regular events.
film feature of W.O. Mitchell's "Who Has Seen The Wind". The town has the distinction as well of being the place where Canadian author James Sinclair Ross wrote his seminal 1941 novel As For Me and My House
.
Ken Sluzalo, known better by his stage name Kenny Wade is a local celebrity. He is a famous recording artist who has recorded in Nashville. Wade does live performances on the Pheasant Rump Indian Reservation, located west of Arcola, every Tuesday night.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in southeast Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, approximately 60 kilometres (37.3 mi) north and 40 kilometres (24.9 mi) east of Estevan.
Demographics
History
In 2003 Arcola proudly celebrated its 100th anniversary, marking the fact that it predates the province by two years. Arcola is known as Saskatchewan's "Heritage Town" due to its many historical brick and wood frame structures.Settlers in the area originally built a community known as Clare, located two miles northeast of where Arcola exists today, but almost all the buildings of Clare were moved when the CPR announced in the early part of 1900 that the railroad would run south of town. Arcola was the "end point" of the southern branch line running west from Souris
Souris
Souris can refer to several things:* The Souris or Mouse River in Canada and the USA* The Canadian Souris * The town of Souris, Manitoba, Canada* The town of Souris, North Dakota, USA...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
for four years, during which time it became an important hub for westward migration. At one point it was one of the 11 largest towns in what is now the province of Saskatchewan, but was then known as Assiniboia. With flourishing settlement and economic growth, many thought Arcola would achieve city status
City status
City status is the national recognition of an area as a city. Specifically, "city status" may refer to:*City rights in the Low Countries*City status in Ireland*City status in the United Kingdom*City status in the United States of America...
. It was during this heyday and using bricks made in the town's own brick plant that many of today's heritage homes and buildings were erected.
Education
Arcola has one school that covers Kindergarten through grade 12 in the School Division. Enrollment for all grades is around 200.Attractions
Today, the town is home to three antique shops, an art galleryArt gallery
An art gallery or art museum is a building or space for the exhibition of art, usually visual art.Museums can be public or private, but what distinguishes a museum is the ownership of a collection...
, the Southeast Saskatchewan Photo Museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
, a full range of stores and services, a hospital, doctor's office, a K-12 school and pottery studio, as well as full service restaurants, a laundromat and a motel. Following the destruction by fire of the skating and curling rinks in 2001, the area residents banded together to rebuild the rinks next to the Prairie Place Hall, to create a multi-use community facility comparable to that in most cities. A fair and rodeo, town wide garage sale day, Robbie Burns' Night, Co-Op Equity Days, a Skidoo Poker Derby and Canada Day Celebrations are among the town's regular events.
Notable people
Arcola served as the location for the Allan KingAllan King
Allan Winton King, OC was a Canadian film director.-Life:During the Depression, King attended Henry Hudson Elementary School in Kitsilano, Vancouver...
film feature of W.O. Mitchell's "Who Has Seen The Wind". The town has the distinction as well of being the place where Canadian author James Sinclair Ross wrote his seminal 1941 novel As For Me and My House
As for Me and My House
As For Me and My House , by Canadian author Sinclair Ross, was first published by the American company Reynal and Hitchcock, with little fanfare. Its 1957 Canadian re-issue, by McClelland & Stewart, as part of their New Canadian Library line, began its canonization, mostly in university classrooms...
.
Ken Sluzalo, known better by his stage name Kenny Wade is a local celebrity. He is a famous recording artist who has recorded in Nashville. Wade does live performances on the Pheasant Rump Indian Reservation, located west of Arcola, every Tuesday night.