NO Reproduction in Whole or in Part, on ANY, and ALL of these Pages, may be made without the express Written Permission of Web Editor, Doug Gent © 2012

 

My Genealogy and History Page of
 BIENFAIT
 SASKATCHEWAN
&  AREA
 Main Index Page

 


     Web Site Index    

Maps (2)
 1915 Town Maps (5)
Bienfait ca 1920 (new 2012)
 Library
Social Life
 Census Results
 Church History (5)
 Museum Pictures (5)
 Post Office History
Picture Album (3)
 Telephone History
 Rum Runners
 Hospital History
Elevators 
Train Info (4)
 Police History
War Memorial-Legion-Cadets (3)
 Miscellaneous History
Town Memorabilia (7)
 Business Receipts 1925-50 (11)
 Books, Music, Plays, Videos
 Main Street Videos
Trade Unions
 Bienfait Cub Pack ca 1957
 Area Memorabilia
 School History (10)
 Homecoming 2005
 Links
-------------------------------
Famous / Infamous /
and or General People in Town
 Lee Leander Dellage- 1922
Paul Matoff- 1922
Dr. Starling Morris- ca1924-25
 Gov Gen Byng Visit- 1925
Allen Erwin, "The Calgary Kid"
 Doerr Family
 Cuddington Family
Maurice Hawkinson
--------------------------------------
 Dwayne Walliser's Site &Tour
---------------------------------------
Area Coal Mine Info

SE Saskatchewan Coal Index Page (new)

Note- All Coal related Links
are now combined and revised
 in this new
SE Saskatchewan
Coal Index Page above


 ---------------------------------------
Area Schools
 Lignite School History
 Bienfait Rural School
 Rich Prairie School
---------------------------------------
 RM of Coalfields #4
---------------------------------------
Area Links
 Estevan
Hirsch
 Roche Percee
 Taylorton
 ---------------------------------------
General SK. Info.
SE SK. Index Page
Ken Friedt 1910 photos
 ---------------------------------------
 My Personal Home Pages
Recent Changes to this Site
 
 BIENFAIT
 SASKATCHEWAN
 
Located in SE Saskatchewan,
Canada

Map Showing Bienfait in Saskatchewan Map showing Bienfait's Location in Canada
 located at:
Section - Township - Range
      19 - 2 -  6
West of the 2nd Meridian   
Latitude / Longitude-
49° 09' 00" N  / 102° 49' 00" W
Alt= 1902 ft or 579m
_____________________________

Dec 29, 1904

The Village of Bienfait
was Incorporated Apr 16, 1912
by Archibald "Archie" Peter McNab, (1864- 1945)
Minister of Municipal Affairs
Government of Saskatchewan
became Lieutenant Governor  of SK
__________________________
vote to Incorporate as a Town
was passed Apr 25, 1956, by 268 to 71.

Officially Incorporated as a Town
Mar 1, 1957

The Town with the 100 ft wide Main Street!
Other streets were surveyed at 66 ft wide.
But you can turn a semi around in Main Street.


 Main St. looking North early 1950's
Photo from Alex Wilson Collection
sent by Margaret Cuddington
The Town is located between
the CNR tracks to the South,
and the CPR tracks to the North.
On the East of Town was the M&S Mine tracks
It is almost surrounded by the railroad!
Bisected in half, east to west by Highway 18
Which in town limits, is called Souris Ave.,
Today the Town has expanded north of the tracks,
and that is the location of
The Town Cemetery as well.
Population in 1915 was 150 persons
2006= 986 persons
Antoine Charles Bienfait
 Antoine Charles Bienfait
Born July 6, 1857
in Amsterdam
Died in Paris in 1899
Picture sent to me by
Dirk Hoogeveen, Regina,
with Thanks!

 

 

 Meaning of the Name
 BIENFAIT

The Town of Bienfait got it's name
from the Railroad.
Same as just about every other settlement
back in the early 1900's 
Contrary to the popular belief
that it was named by a French Railroad worker
when he pounded in the last spike of the day 
at the town location and was heard to say
 "Bien Fait" 
or "Well Done" in French. 

This was the belief for many years,
but it is false. 
The true meaning of the origin
 is found in CPR files
They reveal that Bienfait
was named by the railway 
for a member of a Dutch Banking firm, 
based in Amsterdam Holland, 
named Adolphe Boissevain & Co. 
This banking firm played a large part 
in introducing CPR shares 
to the European Money Markets
to finance the construction of the 
Railroad to places like Bienfait and Estevan. 
 The person who Bienfait
 owes it's name is
 Antoine Charles Bienfait
(born in 1857)
now you know the rest of the story!

Info above Copyright and Courtesy of:
 Bill Barry's book, People Places

   
 Small Towns
Small towns are an attitude
Toward helping one another.
Where each man finds special joy
In making glad the other.

A small town thrives on kindly words
And kindly deeds to share.
The essence of each day is this
Capacity to care.

Yes, small towns are an attitude
Toward loving simple things.
Like quilting bees and church bazaars,
And Christmas carollings.

A small town thrives on hayrack rides
And programs in the park.
With picnics and school affairs
And bonfires after dark.

The attitude is one of peace
From deeply thankful hearts,
Who saw the deeds that must be done
And gladly did their part.
                              (Author Unknown)

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 DISCLAIMER

I do NOT live In, or Near Bienfait.
I am in NO way affiliated
with the Town Office,
or Any Local Business.
 Only the Past Great History
 is presented here.

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No Reproduction in Whole or in Part may be made
without the express Written Permission
 of Doug Gent

Page created by Doug Gent © 2012
Created July 2, 1999
Revised Jan 7, 2012

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