1955 - Data Points by Date/Period

On August 10, 1909, the Government of Saskatchewan issued incorporation papers for the Village of Harris, though its roots trace back a few years earlier. Richard Elford Harris, born in 1847 in Ontario, married Anne Cantellon in 1872. Initially working as a carriage maker and carpenter in Goderich, Huron County, he moved his family westward in 1891 to farm in Morden, Manitoba. In 1904, the Harris family, with two sons and a daughter, journeyed further west from Saskatoon on the Old Bone Trail, settling two miles north of the village's present location, halfway between Goose Lake and Devils Lake (later known as Crystal Beach).As settlers arrived and passed through, the Harris family’s sod house became a welcoming stop known as the 'Harris Stopping Place,' where travelers could rest, enjoy a meal, and shelter their animals. Richard Harris and his sons often assisted settlers in locating homesteads. As the community grew, the need for a post office emerged, and Harris became the area’s first postmaster. Soon after, a store and Methodist church were built, with Harris occasionally serving as a lay minister.The hamlet expanded, eagerly awaiting the railway. When surveyors missed the settlement by two miles, the resilient pioneers purchased land from homesteader Jack Sinfield and relocated businesses, homes, and an elevator near the railway tracks that ran southwest. The first train arrived in the fall of 1908, and another prairie town took shape on mile 52 of the Goose Lake Line.Naming discussions followed, with 'Sinfield' and 'Miscampbellville' as options, but when Harris received permission from the Post Office Department to move his office to the new site, the community adopted his name. The Methodist Church also relocated to the new townsite.In its progressive spirit, Harris established its first telephone company in 1916, added cement sidewalks in the 1920s, and brought in electricity by 1930. In 1955, Harris was among the few villages to adopt a natural gas utility through Sask Power, 25 years ahead of some neighboring communities. A gravity sewer system was installed in 1960, remaining low-maintenance to this day, with land for the lagoon donated by a resident. Street paving began in the early 1970s, completed by 1980, and in 1976, a municipal water treatment and distribution system became operational.

Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral in Montreal, Quebec, is a significant Roman Catholic basilica and the seat of the Archdiocese of Montreal. Built between 1875 and 1894 to replace the burned Saint-Jacques Cathedral, it is modeled after St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Originally named Saint James Cathedral, it was rededicated in 1955 to Mary, Queen of the World, following Pope Pius XII's proclamation. The church honors the 507 Canadian Papal Zouaves who defended the Papal States in the 19th century, with their names engraved inside. Designated a National Historic Site in 2000, the cathedral has undergone various restorations, including a significant renovation of its esplanade and narthex in 2003, and the cleaning of Bishop Ignace Bourget's statue in 2005.Measuring 101 meters in length and 77 meters at the dome's height, the cathedral stands as Quebec’s third-largest church. The construction was initially controversial, due to its location in a predominantly English-speaking part of Montreal. Today, the cathedral remains an important religious and cultural landmark, bridging Montreal’s history with the global Catholic community.

St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, a Municipal Heritage Property, is situated in the Hamlet of Smuts, approximately 45 kilometers northeast of Saskatoon. This designation covers a one-story, wood-frame church and belfry on about one hectare of land.The church holds heritage value for its ties to the local Ukrainian community, which began settling in the Smuts district in 1900. Initially, the settlers built a church three kilometers southwest of the current location. After the original church burned down in 1925, the present church was built and relocated to its current site in 1955. Perched on a hill overlooking the community, the church symbolizes the establishment of Ukrainian Greek Catholic faith in the region.Architecturally, the church is significant for its Neo-Byzantine style. It includes traditional Eastern church elements such as a cruciform footprint, a large onion-shaped central dome with two smaller domes on adjacent towers, and a detached belfry near the main entrance.The church's heritage value is reflected in its Neo-Byzantine design features, including its cruciform layout, onion-shaped domes, front towers, rounded-arch and stained glass windows, and the detached belfry. Additionally, its historical association with the Ukrainian community is highlighted by its original site orientation and prominent location.

Eatonia is a small town in Saskatchewan, Canada, with a population of 498 as of the 2021 Census. Located in southwest Saskatchewan, it sits at the crossroads of Highways 21 and 44, about 44 kilometers southwest of Kindersley and 72 kilometers from the Alberta border. The town's economy is primarily agricultural, and it is served by the Eatonia (Elvie Smith) Municipal Airport.Founded in 1919 as a station on the Canadian National Railway, Eatonia was named after Timothy Eaton, the founder of Eaton's department store chain, and his son, John Craig Eaton. Originally called 'Eaton,' the town changed its name to Eatonia in 1921 to avoid confusion with the nearby town of Eston. The name 'Eatonia' was also used for a brand of clothing and other goods sold by Eaton's.Eatonia was incorporated as a town in 1954. A year later, during Saskatchewan's Golden Jubilee in 1955, the town's train station was featured on the cover of the Eaton's catalogue, making it a well-known image across Canada. Today, the former CN train station houses the Wheatland Regional Library (Eatonia Branch) and is part of the Eatonia Heritage Park. This park, located at the south end of Main Street, includes the station, a train caboose, and a wood-frame house ordered from the Eaton's catalogue in 1917. The park covers 0.6 hectares (1.5 acres) and is designated as a Municipal Heritage Property.

The City Stadium (Stadionul Orășenesc), alternatively known as the Olympic Stadium of Bălți (Stadionul Olimpia Bălți), stands as a versatile sports arena in Bălți, Moldova. Constructed in 1955, the stadium, serving as the home arena for FC Bălți, features two stands with individual plastic seats, accommodating 5953 spectators. The field boasts natural grass, and surrounding the football field are athletics tracks, enhancing the multifunctional nature of this sporting venue.

Kostanjevica na Krki, situated in southern Slovenia's historic Lower Carniola, rests amid the Gorjanci Hills bordering Croatia. Positioned on the Krka River's island (Krka River (Sava)), it's dubbed the 'Venice of Lower Carniola.' Originally named Kostanjevica and later changed in 1955, this town harbors the oldest city history in the region. Dating back to the 13th century, it housed the Fons Sanctae Mariae Cistercian Abbey founded by Carinthian Duke Bernhard von Spanheim. Initially thriving as a commercial hub during the Late Middle Ages, it endured Ottoman assaults, dwindling in significance by the 17th century but retaining its town status. Designated a cultural and historical monument, Kostanjevica na Krki was acknowledged as a city in 2000. Notably, it harbors one of the two mass grave sites from World War II in the Krakovo Forest, where Partisan forces captured and tragically killed thousands of Croatian soldiers and civilians in May 1945.

The fortress on Stronghold Hill (Martinsberg, Schlossberg) dates to 1529, prepared to repel Moldavia's ruler Petru Rareş. In the mid-16th century, after Habsburgic Empire's control in Transylvania, the Citadel became vital for the town's defense. Between 1553-1554, Count Arco expanded the older core with artillery towers, altering initial defensive features. By 1630, under Judge Mayor Cristel Hirscher, the brick-built bastion-style stronghold with a gate tower was completed. In the early 18th century, ditches and embankments surrounded the complex. After 1773, expansions added a hexagonal tower and two-level building, partially integrating with the pre-existing 'castle'. The Citadel later served as a prison and military barracks. Notable visits occurred in 1773, 1783, and 1817. From 1955-1975, it was a State Archives warehouse. Restoration began in 1981, turning the Citadel into a medieval-themed tourist complex.

The Regional Natural History Museum of Plovdiv plays a vital role as an educational environment, offering significant opportunities for learning. The collections on display in the museum provide visitors with a tangible link to various points in time, locations, historical events, and people. They enable individuals to engage with the unfolding narrative of human history and our cultural heritage.In 1951, the Executive Committee of the Town Council of Plovdiv proposed the creation of a Natural History Museum due to the neglect and damage of collections. In 1952, the Plovdiv Town Council decided to establish the museum in a former town-hall building. However, many specimen labels were lost during transportation, making identification challenging. In 1954, the building underwent reconstruction to function as a museum, with a plan approved by the Ministry of Culture. The museum opened as a 'Temporary exhibition' in 1955 but was incomplete. By 1960, the museum displayed sections on Bulgaria's flora, fauna, and geology, laying the foundation for its development. In 1970-71, scientific stocks were established, including a Museum Library. In 1974, the exposition expanded with new sections and a freshwater aquarium. In 1979, new showcases displayed semiprecious stones from the Rhodope Mountains, and in 1985, new halls were added, including 'Fish' and 'Sea bottom.' In 2006, the museum was renamed the 'REGIONAL NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM' and became a methodical center for natural history museums in Southern Bulgaria. It is now the country's second-largest museum with a focus on nature conservation.

Established in 1955, this theater bears the name of the renowned actress Fani Tardini (1823–1908). Annually, the theater hosts a comedy festival called 'Festingal' to celebrate the genre.

The Ioan Slavici Classical Theatre, situated in the western region of Romania within the city of Arad, commands attention. Established in 1874, this theater stands as a testament to neoclassical architectural elegance. The initial design was conceived around 1862 by architect Anton Czigler, potentially in collaboration with his son, Győző Czigler. However, the actual construction commenced in 1869, overseen by the skilled architect Antal Szkalnitzky. Remarkably, the theater derives its name from Ioan Slavici, a distinguished Romanian writer who hailed from Șiria, a neighboring commune to Arad. Above the primary facade, positioned over three gates that grace three arches, stand six grand pilasters adorned with Corinthian-style capitals. These pilasters uphold a triangular triptych. Within the interior, a bas-relief titled 'Construirea Socialismu' finds its place, sculpted from artificial stone and spanning 19 meters in length, with a central height of 4 meters. This remarkable artwork was the collaborative creation of sculptors Valeriu Brudasco, Livia Cernenski, and Emil Vitroel, all guided by the direction of Ioan Tolan.On the 18th of February in 1883, subsequent to a rehearsal of the play 'Henry IV,' a devastating fire razed the building to the ground. The responsibility of reconstruction was entrusted to Arad's skilled architect, Andor Halmay. Emerging from the ashes, the renovated theater triumphantly reopened its doors in October 1885, hosting a play authored by Gergely Csíki.The year 1955 witnessed another calamitous fire that engulfed the structure. This unfortunate event marked the beginning of a comprehensive four-year reconstruction phase, resulting in a complete metamorphosis of the interior and significant alterations to the exterior. This period of transformation also heralded the creation of a new main entrance on the raised facade facing the central square. Spearheading these changes was Arad's architect Miloș Cristea. While the number of spectator seats experienced a notable reduction, a Studio hall emerged on the first floor, augmenting the theater's multifunctionality.

1955 (21)

Other Dates/Periods

01-06-1922

17-05-2024

24-05-1948

1755

1743

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