Fieldstone heritage building being restored

Friday, 01 April 2022 09:41

Fieldstone heritage building being restored

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The only fieldstone building remaining in Deloraine is undergoing some renovations. Originally the Presbyterian Church, but currently occupied by the Prairie Skills Centre, the building was constructed in 1896 and was designated a municipal heritage site in 1994.
According to an article published in the “Deloraine Meets the Millennium” history book, the congregation had decided to build a solid, permanent house of worship in Deloraine. The minister challenged the congregation to bring in stones from their newly broken prairie fields, one stone at a time, week by week, as families came to church. When enough had been gathered, the stone masons set to work and erected the building of their dreams.

The lower level of the building was renovated and for the past 30 years it has been home to Prairie Skills Employment Services Project, the key tenant in the building.
In 2017, an elevator was installed and provided access to all levels of the building. The upper story was used as a school in the 1950s and later housed several offices through the years, including the administration offices of the Rural Municipality of Winchester and Turtle Mountain Conservation District.
This upper level has been completely gutted and will soon be insulated. Grant Cassils volunteers his time and talent in the renovations. Display cases from Den’s Jeweller’s, a former Deloraine business, are seen among the renovation materials. It remains undecided what the upper level will become home to at the time of writing. PHOTOS BY JUDY WELLS

by JUDY WELLS, Recorder staff

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