NARRATIVES OF SASKATOON

1882-1912

Genealogy, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, Pioneer,Saskatchewan history, Temperance Colony, Temperance Colonization Society, Pioneers,John N. Lake, John Lake, Saskatoon history, Saskatoon Gen Web, Genealogy, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, Pioneer,Saskatchewan history, Temperance Colony, Temperance Colonization Society, Saskatoon history, Saskatoon Gen Web

on these trips, having to get out to shovel snow. One train took three weeks to go from Saskatoon to Regina! The trail followed from Saskatoon, during Leeson and Scott's was on the surveyed trait laid out by the government. The first was to Henrietta (1), the station where the Government telegraph line re- pairer lived. It was about 28 miles, and in winter was a long drive I tell you. The house was a very comfortable, warm log building, and it was a com- paratively good place to stay over night. The next stopping place was the Round Lake. This was kept by Charlie the Swede, who was transferred from Eagle Creek. The stage only rested here for a meal, and the horses. were changed. The next on this route was Baljeanie, at the farm house of a genial Scotchman called Sandy Warren. Here you got decent ac- commodation and the finest of meals to be got anywhere in the country, Starting next morning one reached Battleford at noon. The trail all the way was through very fine country, but without any settlers. Now travelling: this route you are never out of sight of a house. BATTLEFORD MAIL, STANDING AT THE BADGER HOUSE In 1896 the contract was thrown open, owing to political exigencies Leeson and Scott's contract having expired. The contract was awarded to Thomas Dewan, of Battleford. The route was changed. The first stopping place erected by Dewan was about 25 miles from Saskatoon, called the "Badger House". The way it got the name arose from a joke played upon some lady passengers. One evening when there were so many passengers that to accommodate them all there had to be two sittings at table for supper. When the second table was ready, one of the passengers, a regu-. lar joker, remarked to the man in charge, "Mo (his name was Moise) I would like to get a bit of that nice badger you had at the first table." One of the lady passengers, hearing this, imagined she had supped on badger meat, got up and went outside. She had just come out from England, so was easily fooled. Only after a long explanation was she persuaded it was only common bacon she had partaken of. Ever after the place got the name of Badger House. The trail then followed a route more to the south of the river. The next stop was overnight at the centre station, which was called the Red Fox. It was a log building with a sod roof. When it rained (1) Henrietta was on the North Saskatchewan near the Elbow, and about 3 miles east of Telegnaph Coulee. Baheannie Station was at the cross- ing of the Creek of that name (Twenty-one Mile Creek) near the meeting point of Secs. 21, 22, 28, 29, Two. 41, R. 14, West of the 3rd Mer. Page 50

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