The beautiful Yorkton station of the Canadian Pacific Railway -- one of several buildings missed by long time residents today.
On Apr. 7, 1910, one headline of the yorkton enterprise’ was: “C.P.R. Station plans arrive in town.” The plan showed “a building 70 x 30 feet of red Menomonee brick” was to be erected by the company at the cost of $12,000. The plans were taken to the office of Logan and Black contracting builders. At first, some of those examining the plans thought the building was not impressive enough in keeping with Yorkton’s importance as a railway, commercial, distributing, educational, and farming centre. However, after a closer study better opinions were formed. “ The specifications call for red Menomonee brick with white Bedford stone to be used in its construction. The appearance from the track side and street side was almost identical. There was only one floor, it being covered with a cottage roof, in the gable of which are three Gothic windows, which add greatly to its appearance.” The interior is divided into six rooms: Express, Baggage, General Office, General waiting room, Ladies waiting room and Men’s waiting room. There was to be only a partial basement. They had not decided yet on steam or hot air heating.-- For decades it was a bustling place. Then, on June 1, 1960, the Editor of THE YORKTON ENTERPRISE Sam Winn, published a lament about the last passenger trains having passed through Yorkton, one doing its last run to Winnipeg, and the other to Saskatoon. He was very dismayed that the C.P.R. station was practically deserted and to quote him” Passenger trains pass away unwept, unhonoured and unsung.” --The station was to remain open with freight and telegraph services until the mid-1960s when the building was demolished.
We welcome photos and stories associated with Yorkton railways history.
Photo: Donation of Lorraine Downing, Otterville, Ontario
Therese Lefebvre Prince
Heritage Researcher
City of Yorkton Archives
Box 400 37 Third Avenue North
Yorkton, Sask. S3N 2W3
306-786-1722
heritage@yorkton.c
