The first Presbyterian and
Methodist services were held in the upstairs of the Stilwell Blacksmith
shop. In the year 1891 a frame church from the Tiger Hills was hauled
to Baldur and church services of all denominations took place there
until churches were built. In 1898 an Anglican church was
erected with Archbishop McRae as dedicator and Rev. Belter as rector.
In 1900 the Presbyterian Church was erected, a solid brick edifice of
ample dimensions, with a basement for Sunday school, all heated by a
furnace, sat a cost of $3,000.00. The dedicatory services were
conducted by the pastor, the Rev. McKay at 11 a.m. and Rev. T. B.
Wilson and the Rev. J. J. Clemens in the evening.
Councillor Graham
Mr. Graham serves the Dry River area of the municipality and is a
strong advocate of good roads.
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Councillor
Sveinsson
Mr. Sveinsson is Argyle’s youngest councilor, replacing Mr. Gudnason.
His broad grin is well known throughout his ward |
Councillor Young
Mr. Young is the second generation of Youngs to serve Argyle ably and
well
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In 1904 the Methodist church was built on
the corner of Second and Carrey at a cost of $10,000.00. It was opened
on October 16, 1904. The Rev. Hamilton Wigle, B.A., of Regina,
President of the Assiniboia Conference, preached the dedicatory sermon.
In 1907 the Lutheran Church was built on the corner of Government Road
and Carey Street. It was a white brick edifice. The dedicatory service
took place on Nov. 24th, 1907. The President of the
Synod, the Rev. J. Bjarnason, and the Rev. F. Hallgrimson
officiated On the following Monday a grand concert was
given under the auspices of the Lutheran Ladies' Aid. The
three churches carried on work actively.
The Anglicans organized Girls' and Women's auxiliaries. The Methodists
formed the Trail Rangers, Mission Society and Ladies Aid. The
Lutherans formed the Ladies Aid and Young People’s Club. During the
Great War the Baldur people organized a Red Cross Societyand sent many
parcels overseas. The Ladies' Aids and W.C.T.U. and other societies
that had formerly been organized contributed large sums of money to
their church and Mission funds by various entertainments and bazaarsThe
following secret societies were represented in Baldur: Black
Preceptory, Loyal Orange Lodge, Independent Order of Oddfellows,
Ancient Order of United Workmen and Knights of the Maccabees. Two of
the lodges, active until the present, are given account of separately.
An Icelandic literary society was formed and a library built at its
present site.
The first town board was formed on May 6, 1906. A meeting of the
ratepayers was called on that date and following were elected: Messrs.
Frank Schultz (chairman), G. W. Playfair, and Alex
Fowler.
Thomas E. Poole, the pioneer hardware merchant and tinsmith, who
erected
his building in 1890, sold his business to Messrs. Hunter & Gemmill
on
June 15th, 1925. When the latter retired on September 25th, 1938, the
store was run under the name of Hunter & Son's Hardware. On Feb.
4th, 1940 this hardware store blazed up in fire, destroying the
contents of the stock 100 per cent and damaging the building to the
extent of $1500.
The premises occupied by Smith & Son till 1899, was bought by Dr.
Cleghorn, built up, redecorated and made into a very attractive little
drugstore and has been a popular store. Besides the drug business, a
soda fountain is a drawing card and many congregate in there for a
refreshing cold drink.. The names of the druggists are: Messrs. Beath,
Finlay, Cleghorn, with Tisdale and Tisdale simultaneously in
opposition, and Murray Cleghorn.
The front section of the J, Breault Tailorshop was originally the
Municipal office, occupied by John Harrower a first secretary of the
municipality, the back half owned by Harrower and Price for their
implement business. In the spring of 1927, Mr. Breault bought the
former municipal building and opened his tailorshop, which he is still
operating. Mr. Breault is the only tailor in Baldur.
Frank Schultz conducted his financial business in what is now the Lee
Foon building until the Union Bank opened in 1903. Mr.
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