Historical Dates
1871 – Homestead Act was enacted
- Any male 18 years or older or a widow who was the sole head of the family could apply to purchase a homestead for $10.00
1884 – Dominion Land Survey System divided the land into townships, and sections
1902 – 1906 – Great influx of settlers, especially in 1905
1904 – First grocery store in the area, located in Birch Hills
1905 – Saskatchewan became a province
1905 – Canadian National Railway arrived
1906 – Blacksmith shop, lumber yard and harness shop
1906 – First drugstore and practice of medicine opened by Dr. G.N. Giles
1906 – First grain buyer and elevator built to store bought grain
1908 – Birch Hills Echo was the newspaper for the area which was published in Kinistino
1908 – Creamery was built, it was the largest in all of Saskatchewan and was under government supervision. The Creamery won first prize in 1909 for butter in the Regina Fall Fair.
1909 – Wheat averaged 42.5 bushels/acre, oats averaged 90 bushels/acre
1909 – Quarter south of town sold for $4,000.00
1909 – J.H. Snyder hired as constable
1910 – Bank of Ottawa opened
1912 – R.M of Birch Hills No. 460 was formed
- First Reeve – J. Sutcliffe
- First Secretary/Treasurer – J.R. Taylor
- Taxes were levied at 5 cents per acre
- Farmers had option of working to pay their taxes at 12 ½ cents/hour
- Population estimated to be 1,081 of which 309 were farmers
1912 – The beginning of the Winton Park Rural Telephone Company was developed
1913 – Jail was constructed
1914 – Birch Hills Gazette was published in Birch Hills by Harry Ash
1916 – Bank of Commerce opened
1917 – Agricultural Society was formed
1918 – First Fire Chief Bill Blackadder was appointed
1919 – Earl Lumley was the first pharmacist in the area
1924 – High School education was available, J.H. Frazer was the first high school principal in Birch Hills
1927 – Closed in skating rink was built
1934 – Puffed Wheat Plant was in operation on 2nd Street in Birch Hills
1937 – R.M. purchased its first grader for $212.00
1943 – Baby Beef Club (Birch Hills 4H Calf Club) was organized
1947 – John R. Taylor retired as secretary/treasurer of R.M. after 35 years of service
1947 – New England Memorial Hall was built and in 1976 it was destroyed by fire
1951 – Birch Hills Memorial Union Hospital was opened
1954 – Golf course was opened
1961 – Four sheet curling rink was opened
1983 – Birchview Nursing Home was opened with 30 beds available