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Butterfield
Until recently, on section 36-1-29, one could still see the remains of an old sod building by the old rutted trail made by Indians and pioneers. This old sod building was built by Dr. Dann, a veterinarian, and in this building, was established the first post office in this area called Butterfield.
It was kept by Henry Dann from 1884-1889 when it was taken over by C. P. Wilcox until 1892. Then, Andrew Maitland kept it until its closure in 1904. Dr. Dann later moved to Deloraine.
Butterfield then received its mail by stage from a point about 25 miles west. Mail came to this point by stage from either Moosomin or Whitewood on the main CPR line, serving other post offices along the way, as was then the custom.
45. BUTTERFIELD 36-1-29w, Edward Municipality
The last principal historic site in Manitoba along the Trail is Butterfield, once the center of the North Antler settlement. Here a post office was established in 1884. Its first postmaster was a local pioneer, Mr. Joseph Dann, who received the mail from Brandon, 92 miles distant by stagecoach. Three years later, another member of the family, Henry Dann, was the postmaster, and the mail then came from Virden, 65 miles away, the location of the nearest railroad, telegraph and express office. In 1890 a beautiful fieldstone church, consecrated in 1892 as St. Georges Anglican, was built in the nearby Copley district and soon became better known as the Butterfield Church. It is today in ruins.
This map prepared in 1884 shows the region’s Mail Routes. Notice Melita and Pierson are not on the map. Time change.
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