The following is an assignment from journalism class. We were assigned to travel to a small town and write a story about something interesting. We were given no contacts or additional information. Here's what I came up with...
Many Manitobans associate the town of Russell with winter sports and summer fun. It’s a great place to go outdoors and get dirty. But in addition to the appeal of physical activities, Russell contains a wealth of hidden historical locations just waiting to be explored.
As a serious history lover, I yearned to find something unique when I visited Russell. I searched the town website, and stumbled across the email address of a woman who owns a ranch nearby. Hoping she could help me, I contacted her.
Marsha Trinder, 57, wanted to do more than simply provide me with information, and decided to give me a personal tour of historical sites around the area. We drove to the nearby village of Binscarth, and met the elderly yet exciting George Bouscher. He agreed to open up the Binscarth Museum, which is closed every winter, and provide us with a private tour.
Everything imaginable is housed inside what used to be a hardware store. Some of the contents are from the seventies, and other relics date back as far as 1870. One highlight is a collection of First World War uniforms and ration coupons.
Bouscher explained that he is a volunteer who donates his time to organize and preserve the large museum.
“If somebody doesn’t keep up with this stuff, it will be lost,” he explained. “There is so much history to keep track of.”
Next, Trinder drove me to the Millwood Bridge in the Assiniboine Valley. It was built in 1920, spans the Assiniboine River, and attracts hundreds of visitors every year.
“It’s an important piece of the past, and I’m proud to say that my grandfather helped build it,” Trinder explained.
Last, we visited a field that used to be the site of the Russell Barnardo Farm. Between 1869 -1948, 100,000 orphaned or destitute children were sent to Canada from Britain. Many were housed on farms and worked as indentured servants. Dr. Thomas Barnardo – a British philanthropist - picked Russell as the location for one of these farms. At its peak, it covered over 8,000 acres.
Mina Laycock has lived in Russell all her life. Her great-uncle was brought to Canada from Britain by Dr. Barnardo, and lived and worked on his farm as a boy.
“I don’t know much about it, because it was so long ago,” Laycock explained. “So many people aren’t aware this happened in Russell.”
Russell is located four hours from Winnipeg on the Yellowhead Highway. The town and surrounding municipality are packed with interesting places waiting to be explored.
For more information about Russell, visit the town website at: http://www.russellmb.com.
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