The Souris was founded in April 1881 when Squire William H. Sowden of Millbrook, Ontario led a group of settlers to the site where the Plum Creek joins the Souris River. He had scouted the area the previous year for the Millbrook Syndicate of which he was a member. It was comprised of businessmen who wished to encourage colonization in the area and who had acquired land grants from Ottawa. The following years saw the arrival of many more settlers and Souris became a thriving prairie town.
The 1,200-pound bell atop this monument was purchased from the American Foundry in 1905 and placed on top of the town hall to serve as a fire alarm. A bell ringer was paid twenty cents per day. He pulled a rope to sound the bell for three minutes at 7:00 AM, noon, and 6:00 PM on weekdays; for five minutes at 10:30 AM and 6:30 PM on Saturdays; and for ten minutes at 10:50 AM and 6:50 PM on Sundays. The bell could be heard throughout the town and even two miles beyond it. Later, the bell was rung at 9:00 PM to sound curfew.
Souris Town Bell (October 2011)
Source: Gordon GoldsboroughSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.61649, W100.26124
denoted by symbol on the map above
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 13 February 2021
Historic Sites of Manitoba
This is a collection of historic sites in Manitoba compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. The information is offered for historical interest only.
Browse lists of:
Museums/Archives | Buildings | Monuments | Cemeteries | Locations | OtherInclusion in this collection does not confer special status or protection. Official heritage designation may only come from municipal, provincial, or federal governments. Some sites are on private property and permission to visit must be secured from the owner.
Site information is provided by the Manitoba Historical Society as a free public service only for non-commercial purposes.
Send corrections and additions to this page
to the MHS Webmaster at webmaster@mhs.mb.ca.Help us keep history alive!
