source: Farm and Food Report
The Wilkinsons’ old farmyard hasn’t seen this many visitors in years.
Bus and Audrey Wilkinson had been quietly fixing up the 1912 family house for some time, with the intent of allowing town visitors through the place for the first time in years on the Canada Day long weekend.
The large two-storey red brick house is magnificent, with its glorious front porch and second floor sunroom with windows on three sides. It still needs work, but it sure looks good enough to figure on the Yellow Grass Homecoming program.
The smiles, the feelings of wonder participants experienced as they witnessed the Friday parade of old cars and farm machinery down the streets, and the pride in showing everyone those old things brought out for the occasion was just like balm for the soul.
In the Community Hall, a display of quilts from various periods chronicled the joys and sorrows of a rich history. Among all those quilts was a yellow one made up of over 400 small patches, each embroidered with the name of a local pioneer. The caption beside it indicated it was made in 1903. The same year, the massive stone, two-storey public school was erected on Souris Street.
In its shadow, sheltered from the rare sun this early summer, town visitors and residents were all gathered in the public park for a Saturday evening community meal crowned with a giant Centennial cake.
For the brief spell of a weekend, the town population had doubled. Everywhere around, one could hear greetings like: “How long has it been? Thirty years? It is so nice to see you!” Hugs and kisses.
Kids played on the swings innocently unaware of history, while a local band pulled out all its musical instruments from an old decommissioned ambulance from the 1970s that hadn’t seen a fresh coat of paint since it came out of the factory. “It works great for us,” quipped one of the band members. There would be a street dance that night.
What might strike a city dweller about life in small towns is likely the way in which people help each other in times of hardship. Those stories may lay buried in memory for years until gatherings like this one bring them out, as a commemoration of pioneer drive, selflessness and co-operation.
Yellow Grass has changed, but some things remain. The town still holds the record for highest temperature in Canada. It was 45°C there on July 5, 1937.
However, there are now fewer grain elevators along Highway 39. As a Centennial project, a few enlightened townspeople figured it was worth it to built a scaled-down row of elevators for everyone to see just how important to the town’s identity farming has been and still is.
As one walks through town, one notices the discreet signs on individual lots. Some lots have a house or a building on them. Others are empty. On each sign, the names of families that lived there are inscribed. Political correctness yields way to research accuracy, as instances of multiple spouses listed per individual are plainly noted. It is, after all, a sign of the times. The intent is to be inclusive, to recognize that all who have lived in Yellow Grass have contributed to giving the town a reason to celebrate.
This is an exceptional year for Saskatchewan—and rural communities in particular — for those who inhabit our province this year celebrate roots, friendships and relationships under the auspices of the Centennial. The celebration may be one of pride, but also perhaps one of the legitimacy of hoping for a promising future.
For more information, contact:
Claude-Jean Harel
Great Excursions Co.
(306) 569-1571
www.greatexcursions.com
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