User:Headtiffany/sandbox

Facts and tidbits of Willow Bunch between 1945-1960
- After 1943 Sask Power began to supply power to the village from a coal burning plant in Estevan, Sask. Billy Royce was the longest serving serviceman stationed in willow bunch.

- “Overseer” of the village. In 1945, George Martin became Overseer and kept the position until 1955 when he was replaced by Wilfrid Benoit, With Yvonne Dosch as secretary treasurer. On May 20, 1959, Marcel Ingrand became Overseer, with Leopold Sylvestre as secretary.

- In 1949, the Convent and the public school were engulfed in the Larger School Unit, and a new school was built. The Brothers of the Christian Schools joined the teaching staff in 1950; they remained until 1963. 

- In 1926 the long-anticipated and much-delayed Canadian national Railways line finally arrived, and the community’s future prospect. By the mid-1950s the populations was approaching 800. - In 1960 Willow Bunch was incorporated as a town.

- Paul Dupuis ran his café and barber shop until his premature death on August 14, 1952. -European Hotel Fire November 11, 1959.

RCMP Willow Bunch detachment - Different quarters were made available by the town of Willow Bunch; the village supplied three rooms in a house on Central Avenue (now Avenue F South), and Mrs. Mary Anne Capagne agreed to rent to the force space on Survey Road. This location was vacated in 1947. the detachment continued to occupy the three rooms on Central Avenue. In April 1951, The detachment office, single man's quarters, cell room, ad married N.C.O's quearters moved to a two storey building on Legare Avenue (now Avenue "F" North). The building became known as the police building. This building continued to be used until 1966. Pg. 63. By R.C.M.P., & History of W.B. (1870-1970).

- Country life changed with the movement to larger centres and it became necessary in 1957 to close the Hoath United Church and move the small congregation to the Willow Bunch church. Ministers who served in Hoath Church 1944-46 Re. Al Brown; 1946-48 Rev. Vic Wilkinsom; 1948-50 Rev. Gordon Geiger; 1950-53 Rev. Flemming Holm; and 1953-56 Rev. Gavin Kigour. In 1956, Pastoral charges were changed. Willow Bunch was put with Clydsdale and Doronach, Sask. About this time Hoath Church was closed the congregation went to services at Willow Bunch.

– Bellefleur’s Garage: it was built in the Late 1930s by Victor Tesseir, from lumber salvaged in the demolition of Frederic Kreish’s Restaurant & Pool Room, which previously occupied the site, purchased by Francis Bellefleur around 1943, he, as his predecessor, handled a General Motors Agency, Esso gas & oil sales, and briefly, the J.I. Case Agency, Francis ran the Garage until 1959/60, then moved to B.C. It was demolished in the early 1980’s by David Gold.

- H.A. Balthazar’s home. It was constructed in the early 1900s for Louis Beanchesne’s wife, Lodina(Millville), who ran a Ladies’ Hat & Apparel Shop in it. Freddi Desjardins purchased it in early 1950s and occupied the premises for over a decade. It was sold and again then demolished in 1983.

- In 1944, Albert and Violet (Rasmussen) André purchased a house and garage, Albert proceeded to operate the garage as a Machine and Welding shop, in conjunction with the John Deere and Ford agencies.

- In 1956, The Andrés closed their shop and moved to Dawson Creek, B.C. It remained closed and was demolished and replaced in the early 1980’s.