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| History | There are several theories about the origin of the name Mortlach. Some say it was named after an English Village; others claim it is a Gaelic translation of 'low hills'; it may be a French term for 'dead lake' or Lac du Mort; Scottish people claim it was named for a church in a Dufftown in Banffshire, Scotland. The Scottish church dates back to the seventeenth century and is called the Church of Mortlach.
In 1904, the Canadian Pacific Railway's (CPR) new line became operational and the Village of Mortlach came to life on land originally homesteaded in 1902 by Mr. Khamis Michael, previously of Iraq. By the spring of 1905, many people who had homesteaded the summer before along with new homesteaders began building. The first store, post office, and lumber and coal supply would be owned by Mr. E.B. Tedford. Scribner and Wheeler built the first hotel in 1905 and the first school was built that fall.
At only 1 year old, in 1905, Mortlach already had a Board of Trade with a strong business district including two businesses, three general stores, lumber and coal suppliers, post office, livery, hotel, meat market, and an implement and harness dealer. In the fall of 1905 there was a section house but no station until 1906, built along with an elevator. The first Royal North West Mounted Police were stationed here in 1905 the same year that the Province of Saskatchewan was created. These were exciting times. The first weekly Mortlach newspaper was printed in Caron and the Methodist Church was also organized that year. The first doctor came to town that year and Mortlach fast became a popular place to stop and visit. 1907 saw many additional businesses grow, more hardware and implements, dry goods, general stores, harness shops, butchers, tinsmith, livery, real estate and insurance, and a hotel with a restaurant.
1907 was also the year of a small pox epidemic so a new house that was being built became an isolation hospital. The Bank of Hamilton opened a branch on Rose Street and Khamis Michael built a rink on Dean Street. The first exhibition was held in that rink on August 4, 1908. Mortlach incorporated as a Village in 1909 with about 700 residents. The Star Theatre was built in 1910 by A.C. Baker and soon there were many more businesses in this thriving community: a Red and White Store, two restaurants, blacksmith, grocery store, two cobblers, butcher, baker, undertaker, embalmer, flour miller, electric repair shop, Chinese laundry, veterinarian, Beaver Lumber, Imperial Lumber, Bank of Toronto, photo studio, newspaper publisher, livery stable and auto garage, and another implement shop.
| | Attractions | Looking for that special place, where everybody knows your name and greets you with a friendly smile...take a tour through Mortlach, Saskatchewan! Enjoy our churches, parks, and restaurant, library, museum or just the scenery...you'll never forget us!
We are very pleased to be able to offer many big town conveniences in the comfort of a small town. Our businesses include Wagons West Cookhouse, Crocus Ridge Gallery, Mercy River Antiques, KJ & Co Store, with a bakery and coffee shop, and Kutt'n Koral Hair Salon with tanning beds and a fitness centre. Tilley's Insurance fills all of your licensing and insurance needs. Two new businesses in Mortlach include the Mortlach Sweet Shoppe and www.photoArtCanada.com (visit the website).
We are very proud of our K-12 School which boasts a strong academic record with a healthy mix of sports, cultural, and social aspects. We have a busy rink and community schedule sure to please the most active of you.
Mortlach is proud to boast about the talent in our community - from the Mortlach Old Time Fiddlers to our Community Choir. On Sunday you are sure to find some peace at one of our fine Churches and why not end the day with a trip to beautiful Vimy Park or the hidden Besant Park just down the road. Words can't explain this place we call Mortlach...why don't you stop and see for yourself!
A longer-term beautification project, just in the formative stages, is a community orchard. This undertaking by the Environmental Committee and assisted by the PFRA saw a fruit orchard planted in a 3-acre plot of land to the east of the arena in the summer of 2000. The community orchard will compliment the wildlife habitat shelterbelt started in 1998 by the Scouts, 4H, the Environmental Committee, and the Kinsmen.
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