Oak Lake 100 / R.M. Sifton 125 Centennial Celebrations' Feature

DID YOU KNOW...
            that the very first mayor of the newly incorporated Town of Oak Lake in 1907 was Robin Lewis Hood?
The population of the Town at this time was around 500 people.  In addition to his council duties, on which he served 2 terms, Mr.Hood offered the community a generously stocked general store and also a post office of sorts.  He closed his store in Oak Lake and re-settled in Saskatchewan.  He drowned in 1912 at the age of 45, leaving no descendants.  (March 2007)

DID YOU KNOW...
             that the first co-operative in the Town Of Oak Lake was a grist mill, built in 1885 by David Moore?  In1886, the mill was sold to the four Leitch brothers.  Alas, in 1887, the mill burnt to the ground, but was rebuilt and expanded to include an elevator and lumber yard.  The business employed up to 30 people until 1923 when Leitch Bros. sold out.  Their "Anchor Brand Flour" was famous across Canada and overseas, basically putting "Oak Lake" on the map.  (March 2007)

DID YOU KNOW...
                   that the Town of Oak Lake once boasted a community swimming pool?  Sure enough, it was created from the condensed steam from the power plant that powered  the Leitch Grist Mill.  The "millpond", with its nice warm water, provided a popular swimming pool for the local kids.  It was located just west of where the ninth hole of the golf course is today.  In 1915, a large condenser was built at the mill to condense the steam so the resulting water could be saved and reused in the mill and the swimming hole was no more.  Ah,progress!  (April 2007)

DID YOU KNOW...
                   that the Bell Tower that stands so stately on North Railway Street was once an integral part of the lifestyle of early Oak Lake ?  In those early years, fire was an ever-present danger due to the use of kerosene lamps and overheated stovepipes.  With the creation of the first Oak Lake Fire Brigade in 1912, there came the need for an alarm system.  The bell was purchased by the Town Council in 1913 from C.S. Bell Company of Hillsboro, Ohio.  It measures 44" in diameter and served to call all men to "man the buckets" to fight the fires that plagued the community.  The bell also rang every night at 9:00 o'clock - a signal to all children under 16 to be home and not on the streets, which were in darkness.  Wouldn't you like to hear the bell again?  Perhaps you shall...(April 2007)

DID YOU KNOW...
                   that the first newspaper in the Town of Oak Lake , entitled "The Oak Lake News"was established in 1890 by John Miller Bender?  This newspaper business was to change hands numerous times over the decades,with names such as Russell Hogg, Tony Ducharme, Lloyd Harrison, Jack Ready, Arlie Hogg, George Matheson and Alan Morcombe featured prominently in its history.  The news office closed in 1974.  The original printing press is now located in the the "Homesteaders Village" Agricultural Museum in Austin, MB.
The Oak Lake Town and Country News was started in 1974 .The first printing was done in the boardroom of the Municipal Office.
Thanks to those pioneers of long ago and the foresight of several local citizens in the 1970's we today can be proud of our thriving community newspaper.
Really, can you imagine our little corner of the world without it? (May 2007)