Arcola, Saskatchewan
Arcola, Saskatchewn celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2003, marking the fact that it predates the province of Saskatchewan by two years. Arcola is known as Saskatchewan's "Heritage Town" due to its many historical brick and wood frame structures. Settlers in the area originally built a community known as Clare, located two miles northeast of where Arcola exists today, but almost all the buildings of Clare were moved when the Canadian Pacific Railroad announced in the early part of 1900 that the railroad would run south of town. Arcola was the "end point" of the southern branch line that ran west from Souris, Manitoba for four years, during which time it became an important hub for westward migration. At one point it was the 11th largest town in what is now the province of Saskatchewan, but was then known as Assiniboia. With flourishing settlement and economic growth, many thought Arcola would achieve city status. It was during this heyday and using bricks made in the town's own brick plant that many of today's heritage homes and buildings were erected.
Arcola served as the location for the Allan King film feature of W.O. Mitchell's Who Has Seen the Wind. Canadian author James Sinclair Ross wrote his seminal 1941 novel As for Me and My House in Arcola.
According to a 1937 article published in the Arcola newspaper, the first Lutheran Church in the district was built in 1905 about 15 miles southwest of Arcola. There were some ten Lutheran families living in that district, among them was Adam and Katherine Fox (Fuchs) who homesteaded there in 1902.
Debbie Nichol states that the Fox couple emigrated from Neu-Norka, Russia in February 1900 with their small daughter, Maria Elizabeth, arriving in Ontario, Canada in the summer of 1900. They first traveled by train to Oxbow, Saskatchewan where they initially settled. In 1902, the family moved to Arcola to establish homesteads with other German families. Their original surname of Fuchs was changed to its English equivalent (Fox) by an Englishman who worked in the registrar's office in Arcola. Adam and Katherine had eight children.
According to a 1937 article published in the Arcola newspaper, the first Lutheran Church in the district was built in 1905 about 15 miles southwest of Arcola. There were some ten Lutheran families living in that district, among them was Adam and Katherine Fox (Fuchs) who homesteaded there in 1902.
Debbie Nichol states that the Fox couple emigrated from Neu-Norka, Russia in February 1900 with their small daughter, Maria Elizabeth, arriving in Ontario, Canada in the summer of 1900. They first traveled by train to Oxbow, Saskatchewan where they initially settled. In 1902, the family moved to Arcola to establish homesteads with other German families. Their original surname of Fuchs was changed to its English equivalent (Fox) by an Englishman who worked in the registrar's office in Arcola. Adam and Katherine had eight children.
Sources
Arcola Newspaper - 1937
"Arcola, Saskatchewan." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Web. 09 Aug. 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcola,_Saskatchewan>.
Debbie Nichol
"Arcola, Saskatchewan." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Web. 09 Aug. 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcola,_Saskatchewan>.
Debbie Nichol
Last updated August 9, 2016.