1903 - Data Points by Date/Period

The Montreal Science Centre (French: Centre des sciences de Montréal) is a science museum located on the King Edward Quay in Montreal’s Old Port. Established in 2000 as the iSci Centre and renamed in 2002, the museum is managed by the Old Port of Montreal Corporation, a division of the Canada Lands Company, a crown corporation of the Canadian government. It features interactive science and technology exhibits and includes an IMAX theatre.Originally built as King Edward Wharf between 1901 and 1903 for cargo ships, King Edward Quay saw significant changes as port activities shifted to the new Port of Montreal in the 1970s. By the 1990s, the quay was redeveloped along with the rest of the Old Port area.

Located in Dundurn, Saskatchewan, the Wilson Museum Inc. comprises two buildings: a restored 1903 house and a historic schoolhouse. Exhibits showcase a variety of items, including a collection of school and event photographs, Chief William Littlecrow’s rain dance costume, a fully restored 1929 truck, a unique feather cape, and information about Charles Palmer, an outlaw known for his gun-slinging days before settling locally. The museum also offers an onsite campground with ten full-service sites.Founded by Bob and Maxine Wilson in 1967 and incorporated in 1991, the Wilson Museum Inc. is community-owned and operated. It is open from May 1 to September 30 on weekends and holidays, with winter and weekday visits available by appointment. To arrange a visit, call 306-251-2390.

The Kipling and District Historical Society was established in the early 1970s as part of a research initiative focusing on Hungarian communities in Saskatchewan. One of its ongoing projects is the development of the Kipling Museum, which aims to preserve the history of the community's early pioneers. Visitors can explore an original heritage home—the Ovans family home—constructed in 1903 and bricked in 1906. The 8,000 bricks used cost $100, with Mr. W. Nicholson providing the bricklaying services for $96. When the house was relocated to the Museum site, its exterior was restored to its original appearance. The original owner, Mr. John Ovans, was appointed postmaster at Fitzmaurice in 1895, making the house the first post office in the area. The interior decor remains intact, showcasing various furnishings from earlier years displayed in their original settings.Other buildings available for touring include a schoolhouse, a blacksmith shop, a dental office, and a service station featuring original Esso gas pumps. Churches significantly contributed to the cultural development and diversity of the community, with settlers arriving from various countries. The old Christ Lutheran Church, built in 1905, is now located on the Museum grounds. Additionally, the Museum houses a building displaying artifacts and a pictorial exhibit depicting Kipling's early years. The history book 'Pioneers and Progress' is also available for purchase from the Historical Society or the Town Office for $50.The Museum's open times are June on weekends by appointment, while in July and August, it is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with Sundays also available by appointment. For more information, you can contact Elaine Hamelin at (306) 736-8254.

The Eastend Historical Museum and Cultural Centre Inc. (EHMCCI) is dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of Southwest Saskatchewan. It functions as both a Tourist Information Centre and a resource for the community's cultural activities.The museum showcases life on the Southwest Prairies and the history of Eastend and the surrounding area. One of Eastend's earliest settlers, ‘Corky’ Jones, played a pivotal role in founding the museum, contributing his collection of fossils and dinosaur bones discovered locally.Among the exhibits is the 'Tie Rail Ranch Log House,' constructed in 1909 by Donald Corry and relocated to the museum in 1987. It has been restored with period artifacts. The Machine Shed features a variety of historical items, including a 1903 Case steam engine, 1927 Federal Truck, stagecoaches, a miniature steam engine, and a firefighting water pumper.The museum also includes a schoolroom, a medical room, and numerous collections that reflect significant local history, such as the Wilkinson Telescope, which was hand-built by a local resident. The Brontothere fossil, located near the main entrance, was discovered by Ken Wills while grading a grid road north of town. One of the newer exhibits shares the compelling story of Private First Class Lawrence Samuel Gordon and the efforts of his nephew to bring his remains home to Eastend.The museum is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm, with visits available by appointment during the off-season.

The settlement now known as Kenaston, Saskatchewan, was originally called Bonnington Springs, Assiniboia, in the North-West Territories. It was typically referred to as Bonnington. When Saskatchewan became a province in late 1905, the name was changed to Kenaston in honor of F.E. Kenaston, Vice President of the Saskatchewan Valley Land Company.The railroad reached Bonnington in 1889, but there were no permanent residents until 1902. That year, the Saskatchewan Valley Land Company was formed by a group of wealthy American men. The company's president, Col. A.D. Davidson, and F.E. Kenaston, who also headed the Minneapolis Threshing Machine Company, played key roles.The company purchased 839,000 acres from the railway at $1.53 per acre, along with another 250,000 acres from the Dominion Government at $1.00 per acre. Through effective advertising and land agents, the area between Regina and Saskatoon was quickly populated with settlers between 1902 and 1910.The growing settlement, driven by the needs of new settlers, incorporated as a village in July 1910. Key developments included the opening of the Kenaston School in 1905, the construction of the first store in 1903, and the establishment of a post office and hotel in 1904. The village saw its first grain elevator built by the Canadian Elevator Company in 1906, and the CNR built a 40,000-gallon water tower near the train station in 1910.In 1904, Croatian settlers began arriving in the Kenaston area, mostly from Lovinac and nearby villages in Croatia. These families, such as the Pavelich, Prpich, and Tomljenovich families, were joined by others over the following decade. By 1914, Croatians held 41 homesteads in the area, and by the 1920s, they had acquired 50,000 acres of land. This was a stark contrast to their backgrounds as poor, illiterate farmers in Croatia, where farms were often as small as one or two acres.Many of these Croatian settlers had first worked in railroad gangs in the U.S. and as coal miners in Canada before hearing about homesteads in Saskatchewan. They initially arrived as single men and were later joined by wives and family members. Despite limited education, they quickly adapted, developing large-scale grain farms.The Croatian settlers valued cooperation, reflected in their strong support for organizations like the United Grain Growers and the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool. Their children helped them learn English, and within a generation, some even adopted English names. Community life revolved around church activities, school concerts, fairs, and family events like weddings and baptisms.While Kenaston became the most prominent Croatian settlement in Saskatchewan, smaller groups of Croatians settled elsewhere, including near Leask. Some Croatian settlers also lived alongside Serbian neighbors, such as those who founded Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church in Regina in 1916, the first Serbian Orthodox parish in Canada.

The Village of Theodore is situated about 40 km northwest of Yorkton, along the Yellowhead Highway #16, in Saskatchewan’s parkland region. From its early days, the community has been rooted in agriculture, focusing on grain, beef, and pork production. The first settlers, predominantly Danish, arrived from Scandinavia, Great Britain, Central Europe, and the USA. This area became known as 'Little Denmark.' These pioneers sought to acquire 160 acres of land for $10 under the Homestead Act, which required clearing 10 acres annually for three years to gain ownership.The first settlers, Sorn Peter Sorensen and Ole Frederickson, arrived in 1891, and later that year, Annie Catherina Sorensen, the first white child, was born in a temporary shelter. In 1892, Richard Seeman from London acquired a homestead near the present townsite. He later extended the rail line to Sheho in 1903, which encouraged the development of Theodore. The CPR (Canadian Pacific Railway) station, built in 1902, survived a 1956 train wreck and was later turned into a museum.The post office, named after Richard Seeman’s late father, Nicolaus Theodor Seemann, began service in 1893. By 1904, Theodore had grown into a self-sufficient community with post offices, blacksmith shops, general stores, and other businesses. While the population peaked at around 500 between 1950 and 1990, it has since stabilized at about 345.The village has a vibrant history of community organizations and remains home to active groups like the Recreation Board, Fire Brigade, and regional park authorities. Theodore also has a local newspaper, published for over 25 years, with subscribers across Canada and worldwide. Today, Theodore continues to thrive, honoring the legacy of its pioneers while remaining a close-knit and determined community.

Kamsack, Saskatchewan, Canada, is a town situated in the Assiniboine River Valley, where the Whitesand River converges with the Assiniboine River. Located 56 kilometers (35 miles) northeast of Yorkton, Kamsack is at the intersection of Highway 8 and Highway 5. The town is also near two First Nations: Coté First Nation, 8 kilometers (5 miles) north, and Keeseekoose First Nation, 18 kilometers (11 miles) north, both accessible via Highway 8.The establishment of Kamsack began in 1904 when land was surrendered from Coté First Nation to accommodate the Canadian Northern Railway station and the town site. Additional land was allocated between 1905 and 1907, with some sections later returned to reserve status. In 1913, a two-mile strip of land on the southern boundary was also surrendered but was returned in 1915 when it was determined that the Coté people had lost too much of their prime agricultural land. Further land, surrendered in 1905, was reconstituted as reserve land in 1963. The interest in and surrender of land near the Kamsack town site was driven partly by speculation of its value for settlement.The surrounding area was first settled in the 1880s by agricultural pioneers, and by 1905, the farmland around Kamsack was well established. The early settlers were a diverse group, including Doukhobors, Ukrainians, Europeans, Americans, and Eastern Canadians, many of whose descendants remain in the area today.Kamsack’s growth was closely tied to the Canadian Northern Railway, which led to the construction of the Kamsack railway station in 1903 and essentially spurred the town’s development. The town’s name originated from an early post office located in one of the first settlers’ homes, derived from the Cree word *kamesak kîkway* (meaning 'large, something large'). In the early 1900s, the nearby Doukhobor village of Nadezhda, approximately 15 km northwest of Kamsack, hosted the annual general meetings of Saskatchewan's Doukhobor community. By 1910, these meetings moved to the village of Veregin, about 10 km west of Kamsack, where a permanent Doukhobor central office was established. Kamsack’s early growth was rapid. The first buildings were constructed in 1904 along the north side of the railway, including a general store, drug store, pool room, hotel, and post office. By the spring of 1905, the town’s first school was opened, and by 1911, Kamsack had a population of over 500, leading to its incorporation as a town. The town’s expansion continued, with property assessments reaching $1.2 million by 1913. In the summer of 1914, construction began on essential infrastructure, including waterworks, a sewage system, and an electric light plant. By 1921, Kamsack’s population had exceeded 2,000.Like many other communities, Kamsack faced challenges during the Great Depression, with its population dropping to 1,800. However, the town weathered the downturn better than many others. In the summer of 1944, Kamsack was struck by a tornado known as the 'Kamsack Cyclone,' which devastated 400 homes and 100 businesses, causing over $2 million in damage. The post-war period marked a significant building boom in the town's history, with veterans returning from World War II contributing to the rebuilding efforts.This period of growth included the expansion of business, public, and residential areas, with extended water and sewer systems, paved streets, and cement sidewalks. The boom continued until 1961, when Kamsack’s population reached 2,941. In the 1970s, the town’s business district continued to expand with the arrival of the Royal Bank, the construction of the 'Kamplex' (a dual-purpose hockey and curling rink), and the beginning of construction on a new hospital.According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Kamsack had a population of 1,779 living in 792 of its 903 total private dwellings, marking a 6.3% decrease from its 2016 population of 1,898. With a land area of 5.67 km² (2.19 sq mi), Kamsack had a population density of 313.8/km² (812.6/sq mi) in 2021.

The City of Humboldt is named after Baron Alexander von Humboldt (1769–1859), a renowned German scientist and naturalist who extensively explored Central and South America. The name 'Humboldt' was officially approved in 1875 for a site in the Northwest Territories along the Canadian Pacific Telegraph Line, where a repair station was built 8 km southwest of the current city location. At that time, the only permanent residents were telegraph operators, linemen and their families, and members of the North West Mounted Police. The station played a crucial role in communication for the developing West and during the 1885 Métis Resistance at Batoche. Humboldt secured its place in Canadian history in 1885. During the Métis Resistance led by Louis Riel at Batoche, 100 km northwest of Humboldt, the city became a vital communication link between Prime Minister John A. Macdonald and his forces in the West, making it a site of strategic importance. General Frederick Middleton arrived in April 1885 with 950 soldiers, established a garrison at the station, and used it as a base for scouting operations. At that time, the telegraph line further west was periodically cut, making the Humboldt Station the last secure link to the East. On May 1, 1885, Humboldt became the site of a large supply depot under Major Lieutenant-Colonel G. T. Denison of the Governor General’s Body Guard. A force of approximately 460 men constructed an elaborate series of entrenchments, converting the station into a fortified military encampment to protect the supplies. The troops left Humboldt in July 1885. As Western Canada developed, settlers began arriving in the area at the turn of the century. Humboldt’s history was significantly influenced by the establishment of St. Peter’s Colony by Benedictine monks. In search of suitable land to establish a new colony, Father Bruno Doerfler, O.S.B., and businessmen from Minnesota arrived in Winnipeg in 1902. They traveled as far west as Calgary, up to Wetaskiwin, east to Battleford, and finally arrived in Saskatoon on August 27, after covering 400 miles by team and wagon. In 1903, the businessmen formed the German American Land Company and purchased 100,000 acres of railroad land in the district to sell to settlers who wanted more than a quarter section of land. The company attracted German Catholics living in the United States to homestead in St. Peter’s Colony, promoting the area as offering 'churches, schools, and German neighbors' and highlighting the spiritual guidance provided by Benedictine fathers. The arrival of the Canadian Northern Railway in September 1904 provided a critical route to the new community. By May 1905, the first passenger trains arrived, and the district began to thrive. The name 'Humboldt' was officially transferred to the village in 1905, and it became a town in 1907. Humboldt achieved city status in November 2000, becoming Saskatchewan’s thirteenth city.

Rudolf Park used to be a tranquil retreat for residents seeking relaxation on its benches and walkways, while gazing at a majestic fountain. However, with the construction of the Army House Brasov in the 1940s, this charming park vanished, and the once-magnificent fountain suffered a gradual, piece-by-piece theft. This fountain, dating back to 1885, held the distinction of being Brasov's oldest of its kind. Initially, it proudly adorned the vicinity of the 'Andrei Saguna' school. Yet, some believed that the ornate components of the monument didn't align with pedagogical principles, leading to its relocation after 1910 to its current site in Rudolf Park. The present fountain design is based on an old model depicted in photographs from 1903, standing at 2.5 meters in height with a circumference of 4.8 meters. The artistic elements on its sides are forged from 3.2 tons of bronze. In April-August 2007, the fountain underwent rehabilitation, withstanding the admiration of passersby, whether they be elegantly attired for Army House weddings or tourists seeking respite in Rudolf Park.

Saint George's Church (Biserica Sfântul Gheorghe) in Brașov started as a villa for a Hungarian count in 1903. Originally located in the Blumăna neighborhood, it showcased hunting motifs in its sculptures, windows, and decorations due to the count's hunting interests. After World War I, the count and his family left, and the villa was repurposed as an orphanage and later as a newspaper's headquarters. Rooms on the upper floors were used as a chapel by Orthodox believers. The church was officially established in 1934 and dedicated to Saint George. Due to political restrictions, no new churches were built during the Communist era, so the church continued to serve the Orthodox community. It underwent renovation between 1985 and 1986, resulting in an arch-vaulted nave and the addition of a belfry. Interior painting was completed in 1990. Following the regime change in 1989, new Orthodox churches were constructed in the Blumăna neighborhood.

1903 (21)

Other Dates/Periods

04-10-1910

1223

1235

18-11-1985

1708

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