Alticane now has a headcount of a handful of people. History should always be remembered and passed onto the future generations.
Would you believe that Alticane boasted of having a TV repair shop in its later years? The last business to close was Porter's Store and the post office in 1986, but this thriving hamlet once had many businesses.
The first store was built by Roy McDowell in 1928 next to the hotel on Main Street and after a few different owners closed in the 1960s. The post office was located within two miles of the present hamlet and established in 1913.
Alex Mckie named Alticane after his hometown in Scotland. After a while the post office was moved right into the town, employing quite a few people as postmasters and mistresses. Lucille Porter was the last one, being employed for approximately 26 years, the longest serving post office employee in Alticane.
Many years ago, Alticane had a population of 100 people. From a town, it dropped drastically to a hamlet. Many of the buildings have been moved away and fell down with "old age" or were torn down because they become eyesores.
Mayfair's Old Mill Players have been very successful with their recent live theatrical performance. Small towns have a lot of talent, just like the bigger centres. It is always a pleasure to be a spectator because you never know what to expect.
Watching TV can be very boring compared to live people on stage when things can go wrong.
Mayfair always puts on a comedy, which goes over well with the audience, not to mention the delicious home-cooked meal with the recreation centre engaged in preparing, cooking聽 and serving the food.聽 Alice Grigor and Leanne Cherwinski dedicate a lot of time to purchasing and packing and unpacking the groceries, calling for kitchen helpers, and other jobs. The liquor bar on the evenings of Feb, 27 and 28 was the responsibility of Kolin Bulmer, David Woloshyn and Paul Cherwinski, who have volunteered for many years.
Sunday, March 1 was considered seniors鈥� day, as a luxury coach from Lloydminster accommodates 52 passengers from North Battleford to Mayfair. Lorna Lavallee, a former resident and actress with the club, arranges for the bus. The passengers paid only $50, including the meal and the show and it was stress-free to not have to drive on the narrow poor highway that is treacherous at times during winter.
Here is a brief description of the play, Jack Benny's Not 39 Anymore, written by Marv Siegel. Two retired, married seniors have different opinions on retirement. The husband, Norman, decides to go into a new sock selling business with an old acquaintance, Harry, but Norman's wife, Edna, isn't too sure about this as he has been very unsuccessful with past ventures. A lonely 70-year-old widow, Rosemary and her son Raymond move in next door. Life really changes when this happens. The two women become fast friends, deciding to match up their adult children, divorced lawyer Marcie (daughter of Edna and Norman) and Raymond.
A shocking revelation causes one of the women to fall victim to irrational fear and begin a campaign to do everything in her power to keep the children apart. Another discovery is that Rosemary and Norman were previous lovers in their earlier days.
Rabi Teitlebaum, a 95-year-old, drifts in and out of reality. The other cast are the quirky Judge Krauthammer and Norman and Edna's old auntie who has stopped to visit for a couple of days. Other mentions are the "old pro" Gordon Sherman doing the lights and sound with the capable Jaycee Bulmer and Esther Welsh, and prompters Elizabeth Ewanchuk and Cheryl Bulmer.
A tradition with the club is to start the performance with a sneak peak of the cast on a slide show, with Ruby Rafuse doing the photography and Lorelee Powers doing the arrangements.
The very charming Delores Buckingham from Rabbit Lake area, and member for years, delighted the audience with her whimsical mannerisms.
Tickets were sold at the door for a basket of goodies arranged by Sheila Bachelder for every show and a free draw on your admittance ticket. Elaine Woloshyn wants to have a one year relief from the club, so decided to donate her own prizes for free draws to people over 80 years old.
A special presentation was made to 97-year-old Sarah Beaudoin hailing from Maymont. Sarah has been a long time patron, only missing a couple of years. Again Elaine donated the flowers and a basket making this presentation special.
The president of the Saskatoon Blades, a well known hockey team and Steve and Buckingham's friend, donated hockey passes for a free draw. Also, Delores Buckingham's guests that travelled a distance are Gary, Brian and Heidi Liddell from Edmonton, Alta., Steve and Cathy Hagel from Saskatoon, Lacey (her daughter) and Joe Hickson from Martensville and Delores's son Aaron and his wife Zander hailing from Lloydminster.
Norma and Gordon's family drove from Saskatoon and Lloydminster. Kolin Bulmer's son and his wife from Nipawin and Sheila Bachelder's granddaughter Jenelle, husband Bruce, and their children from Kitscoty, Alta. also came. Sheila's friends from Nipawin, Jake and Evelyn Warkentine, have supported our club over the years.
The above are only some of the spectators that we are aware of who have travelled a distance. Hopefully we will have them all next year.
聽Speers is in close proximity to Mayfair, with many former residents growing up in or nearby. This year is Speers鈥� centennial celebration, which includes the surrounding area. Everyone has been receiving information in the mail and in order for this project to succeed, they need a lot of volunteers, partakers and spectators.
I saw on a poster at Mayfair's outdoor bulletin board that they were requesting photos accompanied by some history to be submitted and dropped off at the Oasis Care Home in Speers (Sheila and Delbert Miller at 306-246-2026). A few other names include Diane Jones and Colleen Wicks who will answer any questions.
The celebration starts in the morning with a pancake breakfast, parade, vintage tractor pull, ball games, musical entertainment, children's activities so they don't get bored with "adult stuff,鈥� beer gardens, and a concession on the grounds. In the hall there is to be displays of Speers鈥� past. Towards the evening, a catered pre-registered supper and dance and finally fireworks will end the fun-filled festivities. Hopefully the weather will co-operate on Saturday, July 18.
The committee is wanting a response and commitment from Mayfair and the surrounding area. So mark your calendars, everyone! They are also advertising on Facebook at Speers Centennial 2015 for pictures, activities and updates. Also for more information I've noticed you can go to [email protected] or call 306-246-4214.
Centennial celebrations are always a fun-packed day, reacquainting almost long-forgotten friends. As we age, we don't even recognize someone from decades ago and our memories have to get re-channeled!聽
