65+
Years of Collecting
Pion-EraBoomtown Street - Buildings
Over 30 buildings make up Boomtown Street. Check out a few of the highlights below.
NEW - Edwards Funeral Home
The addition of the Edwards Funeral Home, with its roots dating back
over 100 years, is in keeping with the Boomtown theme. Like museums
everywhere, the WDM strives to present historically accurate exhibits –
even when the subject matter may be complex or difficult. Dealing with
death and grief is a universal experience, and death was an ever-present
reality in 1910 Boomtown, as it is today.
Find out more about Funeral Home exhibit -->
Boomtown Favourites
Blacksmith Shop
Members
of the Western Canadian Blacksmiths Guild can often
be seen at work at the forge. Look for hand-forged items for sale in the
Museum Gift Shop.
The blacksmith sharpened plowshares, replaced horseshoes, repaired wheels
and shaped iron into tools and replacement parts. Metal was heated in a
forge, where bellows forced air through the fire to heat the iron. Tongs
were used to hold each malleable, red hot item on the anvil while the
blacksmith hammered it into the desired shape with his sledge. It was then
plunged into a nearby tank of water to harden it.
If you are interested in learning more about blacksmithing, sign up for the WDM Introduction to Blacksmithing course.
To find out more about blacksmithing in Saskatchewan, you may also contact
the
Saskatchewan Chapter of the Western Canadian Blacksmith Guild.
General Store
This building represents a typical general store where folks could
receive or send mail, buy a wide variety of goods, or visit, have coffee and
socialize. Very little was prepackaged. Items had to be weighed and bagged.
RNWMP Detachment
From this detachment, two Royal North West Mounted Police
officers patrolled the surrounding rural area. They lived and worked in
this building.
Their main job was the investigation of crimes and accidents, but they
also watched over settlers who were coming to Saskatchewan in large
numbers at this time.
The jail cell held people charged with various crimes. It was purchased
by the town of Watson, Saskatchewan in 1914 for $135.
Boomtown Photo Studio
Visit this working exhibit to dress in period costume and take
home a souvenir of your visit!
Find out more about
Boomtown Studio -->
Boomtown Café
This working exhibit is open to the public. A licensed
facility, it offers delicious home cooking and old fashioned hospitality
in a comfortable and appealing atmosphere.
Stop in for lunch, coffee, or a delicious snack.
Take a peak inside -->
Boomtown Church
Originally a school house, this building was converted to St.
Peter's Anglican Church in 1913 in Young, Saskatchewan. Individual
families donated a total of 21 chairs to be used in the church. This
church, moved to Boomtown Street in 1972, is the only original building
on the street.
Rent this building.
School
Labour was often pooled to build the one-room schoolhouse,
along with a woodshed, board, outhouse and well. The school room was
often poorly lit and somewhat chilly. The only way of adjusting the heat
was to move closer to, or farther away from, the stove. Most students
walked, rode horseback or arrived by horse and buggy. Schools were
usually the social centre or recreation centre for the community. They
were used for Christmas concerts, church services, dances, meetings and
other events.
TEACHERS:
Looking for education programs? Visit our
Education Homepage.
Wm. Bentley Dry Goods
Most of the fixtures and some of the stock came from the Bentley
store which William Bentley operated in Delisle, Saskatchewan from 1909
until his death in 1963.
Craft Parlour
On special occasions the WDM Women's Auxiliary volunteers use
the parlour beside the Bentley Store to demonstrate pioneer home crafts
like spinning, rug hooking and quilting.
