Data Point related to: CITY/TOWN
Zealandia
The Town of Zealandia is located in the northeast corner of the R.M. of St. Andrew, on NE 34-30-13 W3. It was surveyed in 1904 by A.N. Swetman, Fred Engen, and Mr. Turner, and incorporated as a village in 1909.
The name 'Zealandia' was suggested by Mr. Englebrecht, inspired by New Zealand and the S.S. Zealandia. Early settlers included the Ed Kidd family, whose son Hadden was the first white child born in the district. In 1904, A.D. Fletcher opened a blacksmith shop in a sod shack half a mile from town, while A.N. Swetman established a general store and post office. Mail arrived weekly from Hanley, with groceries delivered twice a month from Saskatoon via the Rudy Ferry on the Saskatchewan River. Swetman’s sister, Mrs. Hodgson, served as the first postmaster.
In 1909, the Canadian National Railway’s Goose Lake Line was completed through the town.
In 1910, the Zealandia Board of Trade released a brochure to attract settlers, proclaiming Zealandia as the center of the renowned Goose Lake District, 'the largest and best wheat-growing area in Canada,' and highlighting the area’s 'healthy and pleasant' climate. In March 1910 alone, 19 carloads of settlers arrived, followed by an additional 100 train cars that week. Land prices ranged from $15 to $30 per acre.
Zealandia experienced its greatest growth from 1910 to 1918. However, the neighboring town of Rosetown began to draw residents and businesses due to its hospital and additional amenities, leading to Zealandia's decline after 1918.
In 1919, a severe flu epidemic swept through the area, with typhoid fever proving especially deadly.
The fires of 1923 and 1931 destroyed all buildings on Main Street. Despite attempts at rebuilding, Zealandia never regained its former prominence, though its resilient spirit remains.
While the town has faced numerous challenges, Zealandia’s greatest asset remains the optimism of its citizens. As in many small towns, the community is friendly and welcoming, making it a wonderful place to raise a family.
Type of Data Point - Website/Blog Post
Town of Zealandia - History - Village of Harris
Visit page of City/Town - Zealandia
Inserted: 27-10-2024 17:10:13
Questions related to this Data Point
No Questions found
Contexts related to this Data Point
Cities - Villages and Towns in Canada
Historical information about Canadian towns and villages
Map of Saskatchewan
Villages and Towns in Saskatchewan
People related to this Data Point
No People found
Entities related to this Data Point
Words related to this Data Point
Dates/Years/Periods related to this Data Point
Image Gallery
Credits: Canadian2006, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Other Data Points
The NWT Brewing Company, established in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, is the northernmost brewpub in Canada. Founded by Fletcher & Miranda Stevens in 2015, it houses The Woodyard Brewh ...
Al Safliya Island (Arabic: اَلْجَزِيرَة اَلسَّافِلِيَّة,) is an island located off the coast of Doha, the capital city of Qatar. The island is located 3 miles north of Ras Abu Aboud. A popul ...
Square21, a residential and service structure with ten to eleven floors, two underground levels, one parking lot, and one floor (underground) devoted to entertainment and relaxation. SQ21 pr ...
The Peek&Poke Museum in Rijeka is an acclaimed and award-winning establishment, distinguished not only for its focus on computers but also for encompassing all technology related to data pro ...
Vjetrenica Cave, the largest and most biodiverse cave in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in July. Nestled in the Popovo field in Ravno, East Herzegovina, wi ...
