About This Project
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The Rural Municipality of
Prairie Lakes was created on January 1, 2015 via the amalgamation of
the RMs of Strathcona and Riverside.
Strahthcona, incorporated in 1906, was originally part of Argyle
Municipality, which was incorporated in 1881. Riverside was
incorporated in 1883.
The history of the region is well documented in the volumes of local
history produced some time ago in each of the founding municipalities.
This project aims to enhance and accompany those volumes with
additional visual elements that an online project allows.
If you have something to contribute: additions, corrections or
especially, photos or documents, please contact me at:
kenstorie3@gmail.com
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An Introduction to Our Region....
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The Municipalities were formed before the railway lines arrived. The
names on this map indicate post offices rather than towns.
Rowland had a store and a Stopping Place. Roseberry had a sawmill.
Note that although Ninette is on the map, it refers to a post office
quite a distance from where the village would later be located.
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The villages we know today were all created in the 1890's. In 1890 the
Canadian Northern Pacific Railroad (a branch of the American company),
completed a line linking Morris with Brandon and passing through the
center of what was then Argyle Municipality. Belmont and Hilton were
created almost overnight. A few years later as we approached the end of
the 19th century, another branch, beginning at Departure (also called
Hartney Junction) provided service to the west. Ninette, Dunrea and
Margaret were created.
The name Prairie Lakes reflects the presence of Grass Lake, Overend
Lake, Bone Lake, Lorne Lake, Louise Lake, Lloyds Lake, Noble Lake and
many more including, of course, Pelican Lake.
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A Brief Look at Origins
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Belmont
When the railway arrived, a town site was chosen on a quarter section
owned by Mr. John O. Bell. The land was purchased from Mr. Bell and in
deference to this early pioneer; the town was named Bell's Mount. This
was later abbreviated to Belmont. The Post Office was moved from
Craigilea to the new settlement and Craigilea was destined to disappear
from the map. Belmont, however, flourished, as stores, homes,
businesses, railway buildings and elevators were built. The new railway
brought prosperity and growth.
Belmont became a junction point in 1898 and was the junction of the
Belmont-Virden extension of the Canadian National Railway. The railway
offered free return trips to Winnipeg to celebrate the event. For many
years there was a return daily service both on the
Brandon-Wawanesa-Hilton-Belmont-Baldur line and on the
Hartney-Ninette-Belmont line.
Dunrea
The village of Dunrea was created in 1898 when the
Northern Pacific and the Manitoba Railway built a rail line from
Hartney Junction through Ninette and westward. It was surveyed in land
owned by John N. Dunlop and Thomas Rea...thus Dunrea.
Prior to that. a small hamlet had grown up around St. Felix Church and
Rectory west of the current town.
Hilton
As with every other town in Prairie Lakes, its
origins are tied to the railway. The village was created in 1899 and by
1895 it had about 200 residents. The community and the name did however
exist before that - Hilton School was established in 1885, a bit west
of where the town would be located.
Margaret
In 1891, pioneer John Magwood applied for and
received a Post Office, which he named Margaret after his mother. It
was located in his home, about a kilometre north of the current
village. Margaret was registered as a village in 1900. The first
business was a store built in 1899 by John Dalgliesh.
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Photo
from the Municipality of
Grassland Collection
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