When I was in Grade Two my parents moved from their farm in southwestern Saskatchewan to the village of Golden Prairie where my father was the elevator agent for Federal Grain. I had taken Grade One at a one-room school a mile and a half from our farm. The farm was only seven miles from town (we called it a town) and my father was able to farm and raise cattle as well as run the elevator. When I was in Grade 12 my parents returned to the farm and built a new house.
I had been the only student in Grade One in the rural school. As a result of moving to town I was able to attend what to me was a very large school. We had two grades in each room, with approximately fifteen students in each grade. I competed Grades Two to Ten and Grade Twelve there, but went to an even larger school – Maple Creek, population of 2,000 – for Grade Eleven.
I have returned to Golden Prairie for several reunions – and once to speak at the High School Graduation. My message to the graduating students ('Leave for a while, continue your education, then consider your alternatives') was not accepted with great enthusiasm by some of the students and parents.
Golden Prairie School closed on July 1, 2006. There were only twelve students left at the end of June. I presume that they will be bused to other schools in the area.
I knew that this would happen someday but learning about it was a bit of a shock. Villages like Golden Prairie have declined in population over the last forty years. Most of those living in Golden Prairie now are seniors and oil field workers.
My grandparents were attracted to the area because they were offered free land. It was short-grass prairie, with low annual rainfall and periodic droughts. Wheat grows well most years – but the prairie is not always golden and farming is not as profitable as it once was. As roads were improved people went further and further to shop, and many moved to other rural areas or cities. Stores closed. Young people left.
The town now has 67 people living in it, according to the last census figures on the internet. It seems strangely peaceful and quiet. Prairie grass and caragana trees are taking over abandoned lots.
The last time I visited the town I saw two people and six deer: and somehow that was okay.
But I'll miss the school.
Thank you for the article on Golden Prairie. My family settled in that area in the early 1900s and stayed until half-way through the century. I'm not too sure what happened to their land, but I assume they sold it. I am making it a trip out to Golden Prairie to visit what remains of it this weekend and to try to find the land that was once owned by my family. It's a shame that the town is dwindling in size.
Posted by: Sarah Kurtz | August 02, 2006 at 12:55 PM
Thank-you for remembering Golden Prairie! I went to school there, and my sister was in school on the last year..i was there until grade 6, then the school got to small, so all the grade six's had to leave.It was very hard to leave, but i now go to school in Richmound, also a small village.That school is on its final year and is being shut down next year. Then we will go to Fox Valley.(yet another small town!) My grandfathers name was Melvin Herter. He was born and raised in Golden Prairie also. I still live in Golden Prairie, on a farm. There aren't many people liveing in town anymore, most people live on farms. Golden Prairie still holds its many annual suppers and other events, that usually have upwards of 90 people attend. We also host and annual atv and dirt bike rally, this year we had 189 riders attend. Overall Goldn Prairie is still a thriveing community, we are just shrinking in population. I am only 14, but i love this quaint little village, and will never truely leave it.
Frrom, Arielle herter
Posted by: Arielle herter | November 29, 2007 at 07:33 PM
Thank you, Arielle, for your kind comments. I knew your grandfather Melvin Herter and probably many of your other relatives.
I am pleased to hear that Golden Prairie is still a thriving community. Best wishes to you and your family, and to our 'quaint little village.'
Thanks for contributing to my blog.
Posted by: pjmartin | November 29, 2007 at 08:42 PM
MY father built the Golden Prairie elementary school in 1962. I was born in 1948 and I was only 13 when my father and family lived in Golden Prairie. Our hometown was Shellbrook, Sask. My father passed away in 1992 in New Westminster,BC. at the age of 76. I will always have fond memories of being in Golden Prairie and I would love to visit it again. I now live in Edmonton,Alberta. I would be happy to hear from someone who still remembers my father(Erling Senum).
Posted by: Terry | March 02, 2008 at 04:48 PM
Brenda Hall nee Taylor December 7/08
I attended grade one in 1961 and have continued ties with Golden Prairie as my grandfather, Elmer taylor worked the PFRA ( upper and lower V)for many years and My father was born and raised on the homestead in Big Stick. I have great memories of my summers with grandpa and visiting with school friends. I live at Lucky Lake, Sask.
Posted by: Brenda Hall(neeTaylor) | December 07, 2008 at 03:05 PM
I, along with my brother and two sisters were born in Maple Creek but lived in Golden Prairie until 1967.
My dad and most of my uncles were grain farmers near town.
Went to the old school house for grade one taught by Mrs. Upsall. Then went to the new elementary school from grade 2 through 6 then did one year in the high school (grade 7) across the road from the elementary.
As kids we played in the four grain elevators. I watched the lumber yard and then the hotel beside Geiser's
grocery store burn down at night from our kitchen window. I remember the Rex Theatre and Knodel's grocery store and gas pump, the two cafes, the pot belly stove in the skating rink shack. Frank Bosch used to flood the ice rink.
It was strange watching piece by piece the town contract to it's present state. It was a great place for a kid, although we had a lot of farm chores which were a good thing as I got in no trouble that way.
Posted by: Gordon Kohls born 1954 | December 08, 2009 at 10:46 PM
Hi Jerome,
I've just come across your blog when searching for some photos of the region. My grandfather, Conrad Schwab, was granted a homestead including the Northern section of Bitter Lake sometime around 1912, I think. So far I've only found images through Google maps and the land doesn't look too inviting! Germans from Russia (0dessa) they moved on and ended up in Melville by the early 1920s where my dad, my brother and I were all born.
I'm currently reading a Canadian novel titled 'Under this unbroken sky' by Shandi Mitchell which is about Ukrainian immigrants to prairies in the 1930s and your photos match what I imagine the country to look like today.
Though it's now 4 years since you posted it...I enjoyed reading your recollection of the school and the region.
Best wishes,
Jerry Schwab
Posted by: Jerry Schwab | May 03, 2010 at 12:06 AM
Hi Jerry,
Thanks for the note.
There is a short history of your grandparents Konrad and Maria Schwab in 'Golden Prairie Reflections' published in 1999 for a Golden Prairie reunion. It includes a photograph of five daughters, Bertha, Jackie, Winnie, Edith and Joan. If you do not have a copy of this or cannot access it I'd be pleased to make a photocopy of the page and send it to you.
Jerome
Posted by: Jerome Martin | May 26, 2010 at 05:02 PM
To get people to start moving back to the small towns you have to offer them free house's for as long as they stay there. When they move out the house goes back to the town[owner ship], probably with a damage deposit of $2000 to keep them honest. Also no land taxes. I've heard of people driving from Medicine Hat to Empress past Burstall to work at the Gas Plant each day. That's over 90 miles one way.
Posted by: Arvid Ziegler | April 30, 2012 at 11:59 PM
My Mother was a teacher in a one room school in or near Golden Prairie. She boarded at the home of Eddie Pohl. She rode a horse to school. Does anyone know of any history books written for this area.
Posted by: Dennis Love | February 04, 2016 at 04:08 PM
Hi Dennis,
The Golden Prairie Community has published a couple of community history books. The largest and, I think, the most recent is called Golden Prairie Reflections, printed by Friesens (Altona, Manitoba). You could contact the printer or check your library system to see if they can find it for you.
If you can find the name of the school I could look it up for you. There is a large section on the one-room schools and the larger schools in town. Eddie Pohl and his wife lived in Golden Prairie when I lived there (I took Grade One in a one-roomed school east of Golden Prairie before we moved into GP).
Thanks for the note. Let me know if I can be of help.
Posted by: Jerome Martin | March 07, 2016 at 03:11 PM
My Grandfather was David Porter Preston of Golden Prairie Saskatchewan. He and his brother Lee were both killed in WW2 . David ran a section of wasp flamethrowers for the Regina Rifles and Lee was killed shortly after D-DAY , If anyone has any info on where their farm was I would love to take trip down and see it. Anyways . Thanks for all the stories above.
Posted by: ANDREW JAMIESON | September 09, 2016 at 12:31 AM
Hi Andrew,
The Golden Prairie Community History Book, 1968, includes several paragraphs about Roy and Maude Preston, their sons, Lee and David, and their daughter Helen.
'Roy Preston lived on land a few miles from his brother Sol, in 1910, but did not come to make his home there until 1912, when he brought his wife up from Belt, Montana, coming in a buggy. They built a home and farmed for many years.'
Sol Preston, with his wife, son and two daughters homesteaded on a half section of land two miles east of what is now the village of Golden Prairie. That farmstead is, I think, still there, but I don't know the location of Roy Preston's farm. You will likely be able to get that information (legal location, homesteading or purchase) from the Government of Saskatchewan.
The only other information in the book told how Roy and Maude were accomplished musicians (Maude played the piano and he played the violin). They helped put on variety shows.
'Roy was also a good singer and liked nothing better than dressing up like Charlie and singing comical songs.'
The only information on Lee and David was that the joined the army and were killed in active service.
I hope this is of some help.
Posted by: Jerome Martin | September 28, 2016 at 11:05 PM