Glenora
District Borders
Picturesque
Lake Resort
Glenora History Portrays
Early Handicaps Overcome by Pioneers
The origin of the Name
In the early days of the Ogilvie Milling Co. they erected a flour mill
near Montreal which they called the Glenora Mill. Their flour bags were
marked "Glenora Patent". When the Flour Mill was built by Blain and
Reid on the SE ¼ 20-3-13, north of Rock Lake, in 1882, the name
Glenora was given to the mill as a compliment to the Ogilvie Co. which
owned some three sections of land close by. The name was then given to
the post office and later to the school. The sawmill was built by Walsh
and Sons of Montreal and Mr W. J. Porter, now of Baldur, worked in the
mill as manager and Geo. McKnight, early resident of Glenora district,
also worked in the mill and Jim Chester worked in the Flour Mill. Both
the mills were burned down in 1885. The store nearby was then closed
for several years and later used
as a home for the Crayston family who came to the district around 1890.
This was the first store in the district and was managed by Thos. Ro-
gers. Another store was built about 1882 at the N.W. corner of the NE
28-3-13 by Charles Graham. In 1896 he moved the building to Baldur.
Another store reported in the early days of around 1880 was run by a
Jew named Asher on the farm of William and M. Little. There were no
more stores built until 1904 when A. M. Ralston, the first storekeeper
in Glenora built on the present town site. Joe Morrison opened the
first park at Rock Lake in 1904. This park became widely known. Joe
Avery is the present owner who purchased the property from the late Mr.
Morrison
Glenora School District organized
The Glenora School district was formed in April 1892. T. L.
Lawrence suggested it and offered to canvass the southern half while
Alex Brown agreed to canvass the northern part as far as Excelsior. The
meeting was held at the home of T. L. Lawrence and everything was
arranged to start the building as soon as possible. It was
decided to build on the NE corner of sec. 27-3-13 as this was the
centre of population at that time. This building was burned down in
1910 and a temporary building was erected a mile west on the present
site of Glenora. The first sec.-treas. was Arthur Burnett
and trustees were T. L. Lawrence and Sam King.
The first teacher was Miss Irving of Pilot Mound
The first Post Office at Glenora was opened by Thos. Feeley in 1881 on
S ha. 28-3-13. He carried the mail in an oxcart from Pilot Mound, (the
old Mound). After he leift in 1887 the office was kept by M. Little on
NH of same section and two years later he transferred both farm and
post office to George Graham and
|
|
family. Gregory Fraser held the post
office from 1903 to April 1909 when he transferred it to Charles
Lumbers.
We might mention that when Mr. Feeley's daughter came back to Glenora a
few years ago she mentioned a large frame house her father said he
helped to build while here in her childhood days. This was the Fraser
house which was built for Mr. James Fox in 1886 at a cost of $5000.
Another large house was built later on by Ed Crayston but this house
burned down in 1920. M. Crayston and his son, Tom, lost their lives in
the fire.
Church and Council
It seems that the settlers were good law abiding citizens as there was
no police officer until John Harrower of Baldur was appointed in 1890.
The municipality of Argyle including Strathcona was formed in 1882. One
of the first councillors for this ward was John Wilson 21-3-12, and his
son, R. M., served for many councillor.
Religious Services
In the early eighties services were held in the homes of the settlers.
Preachers from other districts visited at uncertain periods. Anglican,
Presbyterian and Methodist churches were represented and all
three held services at various times at the farm now occupied by G. H.
McWilliams of Marringhurst. Mr. W. Watson represented the English
church. Services were also conducted at the farm home of Joseph Stevens
16-4-13 and at Excelsior school 26-4-13. The Presbyterian church was
represented by Rev. J. Cairns 22-4-13 and a manse was donated by Mr. R.
S. Thompson at SE corner of Sec. 35-313. The English church on Sec.
24-3-13 was built in 1888. Mr. George Stewart of Dry River was the
builder. Mr. Joseph Stevens (father of the late editor of the Baldur
Gazette) plastered the interior in the following year. Rev. A. D. Wood
was one of the first ministers to preach in the English
church building. Pastor for the Methodists was Rev. Jas. Hoskins.
Introductory
In the foregoing items given of early settlers, etc., of Glenora and
district it is often my difficulty to find exact dates of the many
different activities performed at the time of happening and I have
outlined a small history gleaned here and there throughout the district
and hope it will meet with the approval of the many readers
and bring back memories of the past days of the early pioneers of this
district.
The early days
Glenora and Maringhurst plains was the name first given to this part of
the country lying north, tributary to Rock Lake. This district boasts
of having the best water in Manitoba and in the early days this
district was regarded as one of the most important agricultural centres
north of the Pembina River.
This district was fortunate in having a plentiful supply of fuel and
timber for log buildings. The timber was large enough to be sawed into
lumber. Saw mills were erected south of the Pembina River in 1882.
|
