TORQUAY — The community of Torquay has experienced a lot in its 100-plus-year history.
The village celebrated its centennial from June 27-29, with many people flocking to the village for the festivities. Committee chairwoman Cindy Daae read off a history of the village prior to a June 28 supper and community celebration at the Torquay Community Centre.
"The changes are evident from its early farming roots in the 1900s, when Torquay wasn’t much more than a settlement of early pioneers, to a well-established agricultural and oil-rich community which Torquay is today," Daae said in her speech.
If one turns back the pages of time, she said they can see how the railroad, the farmers and the business owners came together in good times and bad, with the common goal of establishing a community. In 1923, the hamlet of Torquay was incorporated as a village, and Daae said it earned its name from the wife of a railroad superintendent who thought the water's taste reminded her of home, which was Torquay, England.
Businesses and buildings in the early years had rudimental beginnings and frequently changed ownership, she said. For example, the Shier homestead shack was opened as the General Store by W.A. Wolsely and housed the first post office. In 1914, Daae said this building became the Walker Lumber Company, and in 1915 it was sold to W.A. Macilrath and moved to the north end of Main Street as the Macilrath Lumber Yard with Roy Toovey as manager. Matt Glomstead bought the Wolsely Building and it became the Glomstead Hotel.
In 1947, the Macilrath Lumber Yard was sold to the North American Lumber Company. Years later, Daae said it became the 50-and-Over Club and now is the Whisked Bakery and General Store.
She noted history books, such as Our Diamond Heritage and Our Prairie Heritage, are a great resource for this kind of information.
Banking in the early years was done by bonded elevator agents who had access to a safe, or in some cases, a cigar box. Arsene Marcotte was one of the first directors of the credit union. In 1959, an old post office was converted to the credit union building, and in 1973 a new credit union was built on the east side of Main Street. In 1999, the present credit union building was constructed, and in 2014, Torquay Credit Union became part of Radius Credit Union.
Country schools were organized before the village was established. Daae said Torquay used the hall and the United Church to house students before the red brick school was built in 1924. It was followed by the white school in 1946, and then in 1953, Torquay School, a large, modern facility was constructed.
The country schools in the area fed into Torquay School, and in 1959, an addition with a gymnasium was built. The largest school population was 287 in 1966. But Daae noted as student enrolment declined, so did the small businesses in the village; 2002 was the final year with 60 students from kindergarten to Grade 12. Torquay School closed its doors in 2003 with 31 students from kindergarten to Grade 8.
She added Torquay was well-known for its celebrations. Parades usually accompanied sports days which were held annually throughout the years.
"Torquay’s community spirit was second to non, with plenty of volunteers to help. The village of Torquay put on major celebrations to commemorate milestones of the village, province and country."
The most recent were the Muster Up re-enactment for the North West Mounted Police in 1999 and the province's 100th birthday in 2005.
The June 28 supper was one of many activities to commemorate the village's centennial. Â鶹´«Ã½AV will have coverage of the event.
