Saltcoats Cemetery |
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A Walk Through the Historic Saltcoats Cemetery… Cemetery records tell much of the story of a community. Welcome to this walk through Saltcoats Cemetery. This community has served a large rural area in years past. If you don't know the history of Saltcoats you could find some interesting stories in our excellent local history Saltcoats Roots and Branches. Saltcoats was the first incorporated village (1894) in what was then the North West Territories. It was in 1905 that the provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta were formed. As you walk through the cemetery, give attention to names and consider the ethnic origins of the people who came to make this area their home. Included are Scottish, English, Irish, Welsh, Germans, Hungarians, Ukrainians, Icelanders, Scandinavians, and many others. A few Métis family members are buried here. Unlike many prairie communities, no Chinese came until the 1970’s. Inscriptions on the gravestones speak of important relationships and may sometimes speak of the faith or principles that governed peoples’ lives. Newer technologies have made possible the inclusion of personalized photos and detailed scenery. The first recorded burials here took place in 1890. In that year 9 month old Gordon Hallett*, 17 year old John Archibald McLeod and 71 year old Henry Mail were interred here. (*green flag) We note that one marker in the cemetery, nearing the name of Edith Partridge, is dated 1877. Edith was the daughter of Henry Ford Partridge. (*green/red flag) The family had settled in Toronto for a time after leaving England and prior to coming to the Crescent District in 1885. (Charles himself had come to Crescent in 1882) Edith died and was buried in Toronto but her parents wanted her remembered here where they would be buried. As was a common proactive for non-parish owned cemeteries, a cemetery company was formed, shares were sold and with the purchase of a share came entitlement to “100 superficial feet” of land. There were to be 80 shares sold for $5.00 each. The Cemetery Company had to enter into negotiations with the Manitoba and Northwest Railway Company to purchase the land where the cemetery now is located. While the Rail Company insisted that $60.00 was the lowers sum the company could accept for the land, in 1904 they agreed to the price of $10.00. In that year the cemetery company gave over its interest in the cemetery and the cemetery became the property of the Village of Saltcoats to be managed by the Committee of Public Works for the Village. Some early records are missing but an amazingly complete record is kept at the Town Office. Some apparently were lost in a fire so there are graves where the names of the occupants are not known. When checking records it is important to note that there are inconsistencies in spellings of names. Women often were listed using their husband’s name rather than their own e.g. Mrs. Fred Jones. Several burials in the area took place on farm properties. Some of these remain marked but many sites are lost. An interesting compilation done by Paul Koroll is found in the local history book, Roots and Branches. A copy of that book can be accessed at the local library. Early burials include some recorded as “unknown Galicians”. (*purple/yellow flag) Galicia was one of the provinces of the Ukraine, and Galician tended to be a term used to describe many of the immigrants to Canada from Eastern Europe. Sometimes such men traveled without identification and those buried here may have been working in the area or may have died aboard a train. Saltcoats was the destination for many who would settle in the Wroxton, Calder and MacNutt areas. The grave markers and cemetery record books record their own history of pathos and perseverance. From the early years we note the number of children, young women, and generally the noticeable absence of the elderly. In 1891 burials recorded were: Catherine Partridge (21), Mary Morrison (32), Fred P. Trowell (42). In 1892: Eunice Partridge (24), Alexander Thompson (17). The records tell of a burial in 1893-William A. McLeod, infant son of Angus and Annie. In 1895, Katie McLeod (18 days) and in 1907 Kathie McLeod (age 10). Duncan McLeod (1910) age 17. (*blue/white flag) Strange as it may seem today, it was not uncommon to see a child named with the name given earlier to a sibling that had died. Epidemics took their toll in pioneer communities. In 1896, three members of one family were buried - Eveline Teitelbaum (32) Evelina (3) Theodore (14 weeks). (*white/black flag) Mr. Teitelbaum was the resident Anglican minister 1892-1899. In 1897 four members of the Horan family (of the Perley School District) died of consumption (tuberculosis) and were buried here. (*red/purple flag) Their mother had perished in a winter storm two years earlier while walking from Saltcoats to Bredenbury. There are records of other outbreaks of infectious diseases: 1916 - measles epidemic, 1917 - chicken pox, 1918 infantile paralysis (polio), and in 1918-1919 - The Spanish Influenza. The flu epidemic was almost global. The research on community medical history (Roots and Branches) done by Barb Straker and Joyce Morgan, details some of the impact of the flu epidemic and pays tribute to Miss Marjorie Amy, a teacher by profession, who nursed many of the most ill before contracting the disease herself. She died November 18, 1918, in the Saltcoats Town Hall where an emergency hospital had been set up. Marked and unmarked graves lie side by side. Here are buried people little known and here too we find the graves of such personages as William Eakin, the first Speaker of the old Northwest Assemble (*yellow/blue flag) and Thomas MacNutt, (*red flag) first speaker of the Legislature of the Province of Saskatchewan. A marker remembers James Snedker, speaker of the Provincial Legislature (1965-71). He was an ardent student of parliamentary procedure and a strong supporter of the Speakership. On his death in 1981 his body was cremated and his ashes scattered in the Bahamas. (*black/green flag) Again, visitors might refer to Roots and Branches for a history of the Saltcoats Constituency written by Gordon Barnhart, and for family stories of the MacNutt’s, Snedkers, and the Eakins of Eakindale. The Town of Saltcoats has maintained the cemetery through the decades. John Bowness willed the NW1/4-25-23-2-W2 to the Town. The land was to be sold, proceeds invested and interest to be used for the beautification of the cemetery. (His mother had been buried here in 1900 (age 35) and his father perished in an October blizzard 1913 - his body not being found until the following spring.) (*yellow flag) At the urging of George Gunn, (*green/white flag) local funeral director, and a long serving councilor and mayor, a deliberate program of perpetual cemetery care was initiated. (Visitors would enjoy a stop at Gunn Park, located on Crescent Lake Road. This park, honoring George Gunn’s years of service to the community, provides a pleasant rest spot with a wonderful view of Anderson Lake.) Gunn Park adjoins the War Memorial. Here is another place worthy of the visitor’s time. The Veteran's Section of the cemetery is resting place for many who returned after serving their country in military service. (*blue flag) Many would have taken part, year after year, in Remembrance Day Services at the Saltcoats and District War Memorial. Erected in 1920, it honored first the 79 men of the district who paid the supreme sacrifice in the 1914-1918 war. 220 young men from Saltcoats and area had enlisted. Once can hardly fathom the impact of that war and its casualties - on families, communities, country. The captured German gun was given by the Dominion of Canada in honor of the tremendous community support of the Victory Loan campaigns. The cenotaph, of course, also honors those who died in the 1939-1945 war. 12 men and one woman (F. Polgreen, R.N.) have their names inscribed there. Again, Roots and Branches offers additional information. As part of Millennium celebrations, the Fuss 2000-Heritage and Hope Committee, recognizing the increasing popularity of cremation, urged the community to establish a scattering garden and erect a columbarium. (*white flag) Christie-Hill Funeral Chapel and Crematorium contributed generously to this project and installed the columbarium. Many trees were also planted as part of this program. Over the years visitors have often commented on the well kept cemetery. A series of cemetery care-takers have done their job well - and often served as guide to visitors who have stopped because of family connection or our of an interest in history. These caretakers have created a heritage of conscientious service to the community. While here in Saltcoats, or when next you return, check out our Town Office and Community Services Building, the Regional Park and camp grounds, the local museum, our friendly businesses, our parks and arboretum, the Leflay Nature Trail, the post office mural, the lovely gardens and friendly people. Welcome and Come Again!!!
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