Outram, Saskatchewan Explained

Official Name:Outram
Website:www.rmcambria.com
Blank1 Info:Long Creek Railroad
Blank1 Name:Railway
Blank Info:Highway 18
Blank Name:Highways
Area Code:306
Coordinates:49.15°N -103.3167°W
Timezone:CST
Other Name:Outram Station
Pushpin Map:Saskatchewan#Canada
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Type:Country
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of Outram
Pushpin Label Position:right
Subdivision Type3:Census division
Settlement Type:Unincorporated community
Subdivision Name3:2
Established Date:1914
Leader Title2:Governing body
Established Title:Post office Founded
Subdivision Type4:Rural Municipality
Leader Title1:Administrator
Leader Title:Mayor
Subdivision Name4:Cambria

Outram is an unincorporated community in the Rural Municipality of Cambria No. 6, Saskatchewan, Canada. It is located at NE Section 19, Township 2, Range 10, W2, just north of highway 18 between Estevan and Torquay, Saskatchewan along the Long Creek Railroad.

History

In 1912 the Estevan Neptune Railroad branch (originally called the Estevan and Forward branch) of the Canadian Pacific Railway passed through what was to become Outram. The first train to run on the line was on Sept.24, 1913.[1] The following year, Outram Station 49° 8′ 42″ N, 103° 19′ 32″ W became the name of the second railway station west of Estevan. In the years following, an elevator was built. A post office (May 1, 1914) was established at Sec 19, Twp 2, Rge 10, W2 in a private residence, a general store opened and in 1957 a curling rink was erected. Outram was also the original home of the R.M. of Cambria municipal office before being moved to Torquay in 1915.[2] In 1914 the Outram Rural Telephone Company was formed.[3] Outram was also home to a United Church which closed in 1966.[4]

On July 17, 1916, a tornado swept through Outram and several other communities, causing extensive damage and killing a man on a farm near Outram when he was caught under the falling roof of a barn.[5]

The Saskatchewan Water Safety Agency's oldest observation well in Saskatchewan is located in Outram.  The well was completed in 1961 to depth of 111.25 metres.

Relief landing field – RCAF Station Estevan

A Relief Landing field for RCAF Station Estevan was located northeast of Outram.[6] The airport was built by the Commonwealth Air Training Scheme for the purpose of training pilots during World War 2 and operated from 27 April 1942 – 11 February 1944.[7] The Relief field was constructed in the typical triangular pattern. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed as RCAF Aerodrome - Outram, Saskatchewan at 49°08′N 103°15′W with a variation of 16 degrees east and elevation of 1,895 ft (578 m). Three runways were listed as follows:

Runway NameLengthWidthSurface
18/362,700 ft (820 m)150 ft (46 m)Hard surfaced
12/302,700 ft (820 m)1,500 ft (460 m)Hard surfaced
6/242,700 ft (820 m)150 ft (46 m)Hard surfaced
A review of Google Maps on 5 June 2018 shows a triangular pattern consistent with a now cultivated BCATP Aerodrome. But the coordinates stated above appear to be slightly off. Corrected coordinates are 49.130406°N 103.265059°W[8]

WWII Veterans

George William Boyer (Royal Canadian Navy)[9]

Louis Blondeau (Aircraftman 1st Class)[10]

WWI Veterans

Archibald Christopher Murray[11]

Local Inventors

Outram inventors and entrepreneurs Sidney Ellis Turner, store owner and postmaster, as well as the local grain buyer for the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool Elevator, Harold L. Tilley, were granted Canadian Patent no 286355 in 1929 for a new locking nut and bolt.[12]

List of Postmasters

The following is a list of postmasters at the Outram Station Post Office (1914-1956) and the Outram Post Office (1956–81)[13]

NameAppointedVacancy
E. C. Erickson1914-05-011915-05-13
Mrs. Olga Crave1915-05-151915-10-04
Edwin C. Erickson1915-11-151919-09-27
Halvor O. Moe1920-11-291922-01-26
Kristian Kittelson1922-05-041923-03-19
Sidney Ellis Turner1923-05-111945-03-31
Dmytro Rudy1945-04-30Acting
Dmytro Rudy1946-05-081946-10-21
John Kiniak1946-11-01Acting
John Kiniak1947-02-031981-01-19

Cemeteries

Bethel & St. John's Cemetery

Bethel Cemetery, located 10 km south of Outram Sk, in the RM of Cambria, is home to approximately 60 graves. It was established in 1910 by Norwegian homesteaders. A church, St. John's, was later established (1948) by German immigrants after they had purchased the land.

Schools

Over the years, the Outram area was home to several schools, including;

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Our History. 2022-01-07. Torquay. en.
  2. Web site: wedowebsites.ca. RM of Cambria #6. 2022-01-07. www.rmcambria.com. en.
  3. Book: Electrical news and engineering. 1914. Don Mills, Ont. [etc.] Southam-Maclean Publications. Fisher - University of Toronto.
  4. Web site: ONDS 509 UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA BOARD OF HOME MISSIONS FONDS. United Church of Canada Archives.
  5. REPORT ROYAL NORTHWEST MOUNTED POLICE 1916. SESSIONAL PAPER No. 28. SESSIONAL PAPER No. 28. 25.
  6. Web site: Admin. Site. No. 38 SFTS, Estevan – Saskatchewan Virtual War Memorial. 2022-01-07. en-CA.
  7. Web site: Relief Landing Field-Outram. 2022-01-08. RCAF.Info. en-US.
  8. Web site: GHOSTS OF SASKATCHEWAN. 2022-01-07. Vintage Wings of Canada. en-CA.
  9. Web site: George William Boyer. War Museum of Canada.
  10. Web site: Canada. Veterans Affairs. 2019-02-20. Louis Blondeau - The Canadian Virtual War Memorial - Veterans Affairs Canada. 2022-01-08. www.veterans.gc.ca.
  11. Web site: Murray. Archibald Christopher. 1917. Soldiers of the First World War: 1914-1918. Library and Archives Canada.
  12. Web site: Government of Canada. Innovation. Canadian Patent Database / Base de données sur les brevets canadiens. 2022-01-07. brevets-patents.ic.gc.ca. en.
  13. Web site: Item: 7905. Library and Archives Canada.
  14. Web site: Saskatchewan Gen Web - One Room School Project - Regional or Placename Schoolhouse Listing. 2022-01-07. sites.rootsweb.com.