Winter In Renown Saskatchewan Photo Gallery by Mike Stobbs at pbase.com

Winter In Renown Saskatchewan

A little over 30 days from my last visit and it's -17c and a wind chill of over -37c. This is Renown in the middle of a Saskatchewan blizard. This town has changed from the fall, cold, windy and the snow is starting to collect in the buildings. These places are for the experienced Ghost Town Hunters only.
I hope you enjoy the images .....Mike

The Road To Renown	DSC_8843	DSC_8846	DSC_8851
DSC_8852	DSC_8854	DSC_8855	DSC_8857
DSC_8859	DSC_8860	DSC_8861	DSC_8862
DSC_8864	DSC_8866	DSC_8867	DSC_8869
DSC_8871	DSC_8872	DSC_8875	DSC_8879
Renown Dec 2008

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Janis		25-Sep-2025 14:19
I own this property. Former market garden. 8 lots, gas at property line, new meter for electricity at pole, lagoon sewage,geothermal unit in need of $5000 in repairs. House not worth repair. Newish garage with power. Waterline study complete and waiting board approval. 2 years in and my current health has me questioning life expectancy compared to project completion. Buyer beware SK. Serious inquiries only to tarpapershack@live.ca.

Guest		25-Sep-2025 14:11
I own this property and it has been a 2 year long nightmare. I would happy to sell at a loss now that finally has a tax assessment closer to real value. Buyer beware SK. Comes with free geothermal system. 🤣. Repairs cost $5000. But you can turn electric service off at pole now, new meter. Gas at property line, lagoon sewage, and maybe it can access rural water line maybe not, awaiting board approval. Offers to: tarpapershack@live.ca

Kelvin Leake		28-Aug-2025 22:29
So neat to see, on your site, posts from my family, (Aunt-Joan Potter, and second cousin- Lawrie Huck),14 years later. Have never visited the community, but is on my bucket list. Kelvin Leake

Patrick Mickler		28-Feb-2023 03:17
The Mickler’s lived in Renown from 1958 to 1967 Peter Mickler was the section Forman living in the train station was quite an adventure for a kid I was Known as the dog catcher I would capture stray dogs put them in the freight shed and collect a nickel or quarter when the owners would come looking for them one time a farmer said if you would leave them alone they would come home. I enjoyed very much reading Sylvia Madison‘s history my fondest memories were of Don Madison trying to keep me out of the garage and getting into trouble Mrs. Davis was a wonderful lady I remember mom driving over to the co-op and knocking the flower box off of her house with the front end of her car it was quite a joke in town for quite a while. I remember my first day of school taking the bus from Renowen to Watrous once in a while Don Madison rounded us up in the Bombardier. I miss not seeing any pictures of the train station I believe there is one in the Renown room at the swimming pool in Watrous.

Mary Mellesmoen Rogers		25-Apr-2016 03:24
I believe my mother Marlene, for at least a year, taught at this Hawkshaw School - does this ring a bell with any of you that have lived in the area? I think my Aunt Darlene Mellesmoen was in her class circa 1959?

Lynne Marie Burger Andrews		14-Mar-2014 15:33
My mom was born there Elnore Armstrong Feb 1921. Was wondering if the Grain Elevator is still standing

marnie unger gawehns		11-Aug-2013 20:51
my dad was cpr agent in renown in 1947 - 1948.I went to school there and dated Harris Reid.I remember his wonderful model A ford and going to Watrous in the winter in a horse and cutter with a stove in it.I have several great pictures of those memorable old days.My dad'name was Harry Unger.He died in 1986 in Kelowna,B.C.

Guest		13-Jun-2013 17:21
BOB SLAWSON MY FAMILY ARE THE HILLS ART AND NEL THIER CHILDREN ELLA,BILL,FRANK,GRACE & GLADY ELLA MARRIED HERB SLAWSON. BILL MARRIED MARY MCKENZIE.FRANK MARRIED ELEANOR DEANOR GRACE MARRIED VERD ALLAN GLADY MARRIED ARCHIE LAIRD ,

Guest		09-Oct-2011 03:59
What a find! Hi to Lawrie & Ron. My parents Rue & Edith Leake rented a farm near Renown, before moving to BC. This was 1934 to 1937, non of you will remember those days, Oh! to be young! We, my brother Doug and Sister Doris attended a country school called Hawkshaw. I remember lots of family names in the district. Good photography. joan (Leake) Potter

Lawrie Huck		21-Aug-2011 02:33
My dad , Lawrie Huck (b 1925) and his three siblings (Art, Eileen and Dale) were born in Renown in the '20's. I visited Renown this past summer. Turned off the highway from Watrous at the Renown 6km sign. From there, no more signs and just a few old farm houses. All in all though, a very wonderful experience to see where my dad and his family came from.

burny		16-Aug-2011 19:41
my "ex"and i purchased a house across from the old school from,(CHRISTANSON)don,t remember his first name.in april of 2006.unfortunatly we broke up and she took everything.needless to say i was always curious on the history of that place.it was comprised of 7 lots all in one package.on google earth you can see the shelterbelt as i don,t remember the legal land descripstion.located about 2 city blocks south west from the community hall.unfortunately the photographer did not take a picture of it.(curious to find out why)?

sharon holst		27-Apr-2011 18:00
My great grandfather Ole T. Anderson his wife Anna homesteaded in Canada. They lived in Renown. My mother Alice was born there in 1917 first daugter of John and Selma Anderson. Ole and anna stayed in Canada, John and Selma came to the states in 1927. Alice is still alive at 94.

Hope mcnabb '' patrick ''		28-Feb-2011 00:28
HOW VERY INTERESTING ,I AM DOING A DEAR GRANDMA BOOK FOR MY GRANDDAUGHTER.I have to tell were I WAS BORN I started out saying Renown went with the passing of time . Than I thought I better check my history in doing so I found all you intersting people and that renown is very much a live ,I WAS BORN mARCH 26TH 1936 AT HOME INTO A FAMILY OF SEVEN MY DEAR MOTHER HAD NO LUXERY OF A HOSPITAL . THE ONLY ONE I can be sure was thrilled with my birth was my second oldest sister as she got to name me Hope! after her school teacher Hope Campell my mother had three more children after me she lived to young age of Fifty She grew our food and and sewed our clothes she is now an angel that I AM Sure of she gave me ten great friends to grow up with I still have my five sister but just one brother the other four followed my mother .

Mac Laird		15-Sep-2009 18:23
I did spend a few of my early years (1950's) in Renoun. Many good memories. The brick school, the outdoor skating rink, dances in the town hall, playing in the freight shed at the train station. My Dad drove the fuel truck for the Co-op for a couple of years. I still get the occassional chance to play golf with my Renoun friend-Ron Gross...

Mac Laird		15-Sep-2009 18:23
I did spend a few of my early years (1950's) in Renoun. Many good memories. The brick school, the outdoor skating rink, dances in the town hall, playing in the freight shed at the train station. My Dad drove the fuel truck for the Co-op for a couple of years. I still get the occassional chance to play golf with my Renoun friend-Ron Gross...

Guest		07-Jun-2009 06:27
My dad (Ron Munro) also drove the fuel delivery truck for the Co-op, and later for the Watrous Co-op. I remember going out on the fuel truck with him occasionally, and can still see a lot of those places in my mind quite clearly--the Renown Co-op, the community hall, the three elevators (two Federal, one Pool)...I even remember the Gray stone house, and the Hawkshaw school house, out near the Mellesmoen homestead.

Sylvia Maddison		19-Apr-2009 03:40
Sad, but interesting too, to see how the little town has all but returned to nature. My father once had a garage there, above which he, my mother, my sister and I, had small living quarters. We moved into another Renown home once owned by Harris Reid. Times got tough and Dad and Mom moved on to Elstow, where he worked as a foreman at the potash plant. My grandfather, Herb Reid was a farmer of long standing in Renown, where he raised a large family, one of which was my mother. I've not been back for many years and it would seem that if I did return now, it would be difficult to orient oneself with the way it used to be. Wnoderful job on the photos

Sylvia Maddison		19-Apr-2009 03:39
Sad, but interesting too, to see how the little town has all but returned to nature. My father once had a garage there, above which he, my mother, my sister and I, had small living quarters. We moved into another Renown home once owned by Harris Reid. Times got tough and Dad and Mom moved on to Elstow, where he worked as a foreman at the potash plant. My grandfather, Herb Reid was a farmer of long standing in Renown, where he raised a large family, one of which was my mother. I've not been back for many years and it would seem that if I did return now, it would be difficult to orient oneself with the way it used to be. Wnoderful job on the photos

Sylvia Maddison		19-Apr-2009 03:38
Sad, but interesting too, to see how the little town has all but returned to nature. My father once had a garage there, above which he, my mother, my sister and I, had small living quarters. We moved into another Renown home once owned by Harris Reid. Times got tough and Dad and Mom moved on to Elstow, where he worked as a foreman at the potash plant. My grandfather, Herb Reid was a farmer of long standing in Renown, where he raised a large family, one of which was my mother. I've not been back for many years and it would seem that if I did return now, it would be difficult to orient oneself with the way it used to be. Wnoderful job on the photos

Sylvia Maddison		19-Apr-2009 03:38
Sad, but interesting too, to see how the little town has all but returned to nature. My father once had a garage there, above which he, my mother, my sister and I, had small living quarters. We moved into another Renown home once owned by Harris Reid. Times got tough and Dad and Mom moved on to Elstow, where he worked as a foreman at the potash plant. My grandfather, Herb Reid was a farmer of long standing in Renown, where he raised a large family, one of which was my mother. I've not been back for many years and it would seem that if I did return now, it would be difficult to orient oneself with the way it used to be. Wnoderful job on the photos

Brad Claypole		10-Dec-2008 21:52
Way to brave the elements. Nicely captured. V

Ron Huck		09-Nov-2007 17:51
Great photos - hard to believe Renown was once billed as "the fastest growing little town in the west". The photos illustrate the hardships of the prairie winter on pioneer life. My dad, Lawrence Huck, and his siblings were born on the family farm at Renown. The family moved to BC in the early 1930's.

Guest		01-Sep-2007 15:31
Its looking cold! We have our cold weather too, but not like that in my part. Thanks for sharing the beautiful photos. Dirk from South Africa (louwcc@ananzi.co.za)

Linda Watson		21-Aug-2007 06:27
I enjoyed the pictures and remember going to Renown as a young girl. My grandparents Edgar and Estelle Gray had a farm near the town of Renown. They had two sons, keith (still alive and well at 93, and presently living in Vancouver) and Edgar Milton("Bud") who passed away in the 70's. My father Keith still holds title to the farm. He and my uncle built the little stone house which is still on the land and probably worthy of a photo to add to your beautiful collection. Dad and my uncle hauled the rocks (which were plentiful) from the land to build the little house. O so many memories. I will try to print some of the photos for my father to enjoy. Thank you

Ron Asp		28-Jan-2007 16:05
Its always interesting going into the past. Really enjoy going into old building and looking around..Makes us feel how lucky we are today.

Ken Furber		18-Jan-2007 21:53
My uncle (George Dering) owned a store in Renown in the 1950s and my dad (Fred Furber) drove the oil delivery truck for the co-op (which I believe is the picture DSC 8866) for a few months in the late 1940s. Although I grew up in BC, my family visited the area -- where many relatives lived -- when I was young (in th e 50s and 60s) and these pictures bring back lots of memories, and more than a few tugs at the heart. Oh well, these pioneer towns just weren't meant to last forever.

Ken Furber		18-Jan-2007 21:53
My uncle (George Dering) owned a store in Renown in the 1950s and my dad (Fred Furber) drove the oil delivery truck for the co-op (which I believe is the picture DSC 8866) for a few months in the late 1940s. Although I grew up in BC, my family visited the area -- where many relatives lived -- when I was young (in th e 50s and 60s) and these pictures bring back lots of memories, and more than a few tugs at the heart. Oh well, these pioneer towns just weren't meant to last forever.

Guest		08-Dec-2006 19:45
Wonderful gallery. Reminds be of abandoned buildings I've seen in BC. I see them less frequently now. vote.

Guest		04-Dec-2006 04:59
Fantastic images! You must have been half frozen when you left there (makes me cold just looking at them). Angie.

Ghosttowner		02-Dec-2006 13:19
How does a ghost towns die naturaly in Canada? Definately through it's winters. The wind, the ice, the snow, the cold, and the inevitable rot that will spell their demise.

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