Roche Percee Pictures, ca 1940's

Roche Percee, Saskatchewan, Canada

The first 3 pictures where in my Aunt Ruth Fiest's Album, Flooding of the Souris River at Roche Percee in the 40's
  
Roche Percee Elevator
Not a Bad Picture of the Roche Percee, Saskatchewan Pool Elevator #828


  
1940 Street views of the flooding
  


  
Frank Olson (Possibly) in Roche Percee Flood
This last picture was taken in 1942 and I believe this is my Uncle Frank Olson, with his team during the flood, with his dog behind the wagon He operated a dray business I know in the area.



History book says a squatter hermit lived east of Roche Percee
This was actually William Seward Craig who took out a homestead on NE Section 28, Township 1, Range 6, W2
b- May 24, 1829 in England, Single, occupation in 1901 shown as a Trapper
1891 census shows a William Craig in Broadview Assa. area, single, age 63, Free Church religion, b- 1828 in England
1901 census says his name was William Craigh,
1906 census says he was age 80, born in England, living on land described above. So we know he lived after that date.

Aug 20, 1892 article
 
Describes the Roche Percee Rock formations. In the article Professor Bryce writes,
Col. Palliser described and figured them, and also Sir John William Dawson,
and his son, Dr. George Mercer Dawson, described them.


Souris Valley View
From Sandstone Outcropping, Looking North East, Coal Spill Piles in Distance
Road to Pinto in middle (Pinto is a Ghost Town now)
This road takes you to the road to North Portal, it used to be Highway 39 to Portal.  



Souris Valley View, Looking North from Sandstone 



View of Sandstone Cairn, Shand Power Plant in Distance, and Roche Percee in the Bottom of the Valley  



Souris Valley View
Same view as above, Looking North, Spill Piles in Distance 



Looking NE from the Sandstone 



Sandstone June 1999 - Plaque at the Sandstone Outcropping just South of the Hamlet

 


Photos below taken June 1999 by an early sony digital camera, so quality isn't that great.

ROCHE PERCEE, VIEW FROM THE NORTH SIDE OF THE SOURIS VALLEY, LOOKING SE  



OLD BRIDGE AT ROCHE PERCEE
TOP BEAM HAS BEEN NICKED A FEW TIMES WITH HIGH LOADS
THIS USED TO BE THE HIGHWAY TO PORTAL FROM BIENFAIT, AND ESTEVAN  



LOOKING SOUTH FROM NWMP CAIRN
FIELD IN FOREGROUND WAS WHERE THE NWMP WOULD HAVE CAMPED AT THAT TIME 



VIEW OF THE FIRST BRIDGE APPROACHING ROCHE PERCEE FROM THE NORTH  



VIEW OF ROCHE PERCEE CAMPGROUNDS LOOKING EAST FROM NWMP CAIRN  



SE VIEW OF ROCHE PERCEE FROM THE CAIRN LOOKING TOWARDS THE SANDSTONE OUTCROPPING 



SANDSTONE VIEW LATE 60s 



Many people have scratched their names into the soft sandstone
Picture above is RCMP members signature
Same as below 



General Custer (and the 7th Cavalry) was supposed to have stopped here, and signed his name. 


From the 1955 Roche Percee History book-

Report by B. M. Dawson (1875), he says they owe their curious forms,to the weathering away of soft sand from the bed of hard rocks, which is rendered durable by an abundant calcareous cement.
The Pictures below were taken by KEN FRIEDT, and used here with his permission, with Thanks!

Picture of the Sandstone  

Another view with the wonderful Sask Power Line in back

What brain placed the power line next to this ? It drives me crazy that some so called Engineer, has to place a power or telephone line
right in front of a tourist photo op. In this case a Tourist and Native shrine. But I have seen it along a beautiful lake, or river as well.
There should be some law or rule that they have to stay away from these areas.
Can't tell me they couldn't have ran this line 100 ft down the hill, or away from this area.



Ken's picture of the tunnels There are some real neat tunnels and holes in the Sandstone Kids love to play here  



Another great view of the Sandstone,
With the great power line again, there is less and less each year
A shame that a roof can't be built over it, but can't save everything! 



Names carved in the stone
This one from 1886 and 1909 or 1901 above 



Another of Ken's signature in the rock pics
This one is from 1901 for sure  


Thanks to Ken Friedt for sharing his pictures with all of us interested in this area

300
Artifact in Mr Jahn's yard, Grinding Stone?
Do you know what this is?
My guess is a grain grinding stone, possibly to make flour?

500
Sugarloaf Mountain ca 2003
south of Taylorton Cemetery

600
Cement Bridge
The Village is known for it's Bridges.
This is the side view, looking NE of the Bridge heading out of town on the north side of the Village


Roche Percee Recreation Area
Couple nice old coal Cars on display
For a small village, they did a great job on maintaining their parks, and catering to the tourists.

400
Close-up of the Coal Car

100
Roche Percee Hotel July 15, 1910
My Dad was born in a shack, next to this hotel
Julius, Leander and Jens Langen bought the Riverside Hotel In Roche Percee around 1925, and I believe this is the hotel
I am not sure the source of this photo.
I hope it is not a problem using it here.
In 1955, L. Zimmerman Jr. lived at this location

300
The Bowery Advertisement
One Mile east of Roche Percee
John J. Smart, Proprietor
b- Apr 9, 1864, in Birmingham?, England
d- Dec 7, 1949
wife- Catherine Smart, nee ?
b- 1868
d- Oct 28, 1958
both buried in Bienfait Cemetery
Immigrated in 1902
1911 staying at the Taylorton Boarding House, operated by Mary Holley
Occupation- Steam Engineer

400
Roche Percee flood, Apr 1943

600
Old Postcard, labelled Petrified Lizard
donated by Mrs Jean Dornian, Liberty SK, Oct, 2009

900
Buggy Town, Roche Percee
A Picnic Celebration day, date unknown, probably early 1900's,
Picture from Marie Beaulieu's collection, with thanks

From Marie “My grandmother (Mary, wife of Ole Langen) indicated her buggy as the one closest to photographer”
Marie was kind enough to mail me large copies of this picture, and it is amazing.
When I get a minute, I will scan this and add it here. I don't see a union jack flag in the photo, so don't think it was July 1st celebration.
Center of attention is the tent near the train station, which is shown on the right.
Large 3 story building in center with the 3 dormers, was the Riverside Hotel, owned by Julius, Leander, and Jens Langen until 1931.
Bought when Julius returned from WWI


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  • Last modified: 2020/01/10 17:41
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