User:Alec Salloum/sandbox

Prior to September 17, 1913
Shaunavon's earliest development as a civic center began in 1912 when the Canadian Pacific Railway bought the land as "a divisional point on its Weyburn-Lethnridge line" going west to east. At the time there were 9 surrounding townships to the site. CPR would build tracks through the current site of the town mainly for its bountiful water supplies. As such, prior to the railroad being laid temporary shacks "sprung up around the Hipfner farm just north of the town site" as people speculated as to where the railroad would go. The exact spot of where the railroad would go was unknown so many pre-incorporation buildings were built on skids along Government Road.

Initial land sale and development
On the morning of Sept. 17, 1913 51 kilometers north in Gull Lake the sale of lots in the new CPR town site began. The Shaunavon Standard, established 1913, published its first issue the next day. It reported that "approximately 125 people” were in attendance, and that many had been waiting for "13 days a 13 nights" for the sale to begin. In the same issue the Standand reported that “within eight hours 370 business and residential lots had been purchased”.

Early buyers spent $1,000, present day costing $20,966 CND, per residential position number, with some buyers buying multiple plots. The name of the town remains a source of much debate.

From this initial purchase approximately 370 business and residential lots were bought and by Nov. 27 1913 Shaunavon was incorporated as a village. Following the initial purchase of land Shaunavon witnessed incredible construction, within the first few months of its history Shaunavon expanded and came have several buildings addressing the needs of its people. These include: Brown-Naismith Hardware, the Kennedy Hotel (destroyed in 1918), Merchants Bank (now Royal Bank of Canada branch), the First Baptist Church and the Empress Hotel (renamed ‘The Shaunavon Hotel in 1915). All but the Kennedy Hotel stills stand to this day. Also, in 1913 five grain elevators were built 1914 also saw continued growth in the village, with several more buildings popping up.

World War 1
Though World War I broke out in 1914 Shaunavon did not send a division until 1916, this is simply because Shaunavon, and Swift Current, did not have their own detachments until 1916. Early that year the battalion began recruiting and by April 27 the Shaunavon Standard reported that “124 officers and men” had joined and passed military inspection, while “nine more (had) signed up but have not yet passed.” Members of the 209 reported to the Swift Current barracks on Sept. 15 1916. Many had been on leave helping their respective families on their farms.

Expansion
By 1916 Shaunavon had grown to 897 people, keeping with its reputation as a boom town considering. Years after the war in 1922 Shaunavon appealed to the Employment Bureau to make Shaunavon a port of entry for American workers to help with harvest that year. From its inception agriculture was a major component in the Shaunavon economy but 1922 saw a shortage in helping hands.

Early Mineral Development
Later that year lignite, a form of coal, was found south of Shaunavon and was soon after mined and heavily developed. Lignite had always been present in the region and in some cases it was close enough to the surface that farmers could pick it up by hand and, for some time, had been using the lignite to heat their homes.

Prior to great depression
The late twenties again saw a boom in development leading up to the great depression. In 1928 several new developments began in Shaunavon. In facts from April 24 to June 27, 1928 considerable funding went in to the town. In subsequent years several buildings were erected. 1928 saw the completion of the King’s Hotel. In 1929 the Shaunavon Service Station was built, later that year Crystal Bakery was built.