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Archives come back to life in the June 16 Western Producer on Page 22. A small wagon train in 1983 sparked my interest. After looking up some dates in my diary I found a related item dated the end of May 1983. The small wagon train was put together by some interested horse people of Baljennie, Spinney Hill and Sonningdale. The train ran from Saskatoon Auction Mart to Fort Battleford following the old Battleford - Saskatoon Trail. They followed it as close as they could, following along the North Saskatchewan River and the original old trail.

There were six covered wagons and 15 horseback riders. My husband Stanley Mills happened to be one of the horseback riders. The trek was met well in each community they passed through with a prepared hot meal ready for them. They had a small campsite and a big campfire along the way. And the last one was at what we call the halfway house area between Battleford and Baljennie. Campfire and a good sing song kept people about until the wee hours of the morning. Lots of friends came to join in. They went through many pastures and then followed close to the river from Denholm to Battleford on the south side of the river going by Snake Hill, a hill of interest. It used to be the mail road to the Battlefords. The old trail dates back to the fur traders, settlers and the Barr Colonists.

Summer is here and that is holiday season as schools are closed. It will be a nice time for them all to enjoy. The last part of June means a lot of graduations taking place at all the local schools. Lots of good luck to you all in your new ventures. Tori Custer from Baljennie area was among the grads at North Battleford Comprehensive High School.

It has been so dry. Everyone is watching the skies for some good rain clouds. There were a few spotty thunder showers, but did not amount to much moisture. It will rain really hard for a few minutes then the wind blows it all away. At last the sky did change and some heavy clouds brought a good rain — close to an inch.Ìý The rains came just as most farmers are starting to do the haying. Some hay fields have been cut and baled up. The hay crop is slow and not as plentiful with less moisture falling to keep a steady growth.

The pulse and grain crops are holding their own and were in need of the rain.

A big thank you goes to all those people that have been taking turns to help keep St. Bridget’s Cemetery grounds cared for. The main body of grass is cut and trimmed around the grave sites. There are not as many helpers since we are not able to help out anymore.

July 1, Vernon Custer of Caleb Village in North Battleford, formerly of Baljennie, celebrated his 95th birthday. A come and go tea was held hosted by his family. Vernon was a great horse lover in his farming years as he followed in the footsteps of his father David Custer. Vernon was born and raised on the Baljennie farm with his brothers and sisters. He attended the old Baljennie School. He married Joyce Besse of Wilson Lake and they raised a family of six children. They farmed where they raised cattle and horses until health problems caught up to them and they retired to North Battleford. Joyce passed away a few years ago and now Vernon makes his new retirement home at Caleb Village. The tea was well attended by his family, relatives and close friends. Happy birthday, Vernon.Ìý

Dwayne and Cheryl Bater have made a recent move from the farm in Baljennie to North Battleford. Both Dwayne and Cheryl have jobs in North Battleford. They did live on the old Lloyd Saunders yard where they moved in a house trailer when he married Cheryle Jonson of Arberg, Man in 1987. They raised a family of three children. They ran a small market vegetable garden for a few years. Good luck, Dwayne and Cheryl, on your move to a new home.

Visiting with the Rowlands family of Rural Battelford and Dorothy and Stanley Mills of Battleford were Neil and Fay Rosethof Rocky Mountain House, Alta. Neil’s mother was Barbara Bremner of Baljennie.

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