Hoosier United Church set to lose its Municipal Heritage Designation

By Joan Janzen
joanjanzen@yahoo.com

A long-standing structure in the Hoosier area has witnessed much activity throughout the past decades. The Hoosier United Church, although no longer in use, was a municipal designated historic building, up until the present time.

Located in the Rural Municipality of Antelope Park, Sask., the R.M. of Antelope Park intends to repeal the building’s Heritage Property designation. According to Robin Busby, Administrator of the R.M. Of Antelope Park, the decision came following a request from George Thurlow, of the Living Skies Regional Council, requesting the municipality remove the Municipal Heritage Designation.

Thurlow explained that the United Church has done some restructuring so that the seven Presbyteries and Saskatchewan Conference has been replaced by the Living Skies Regional Council. Therefore all property matters have been assigned to a six-person volunteer commission, of which Thurlow is the cemetery conveyor. This position has been expanded to include derelict buildings and vacant lots.

Thurlow offered reasons as to why the church is no longer a designated historic building. “We have a policy not to recommend our buildings be declared heritage properties, as a manner of general practice, for several reasons. We’re in the business of looking after people, and heritage property takes our focus away from that. It also ties up our property, so it’s not easy to use for ongoing purposes,” he said, noting heritage property can’t easily have elevators installed or comfortable seating added.

“The grants available are counterproductive because the standards and prices of things go up when it concerns heritage properties,’ Thurlow further explained.

The church was built in 1916, with the construction period extending from Jan. 1, 1916, to Dec. 31, 1916, with Jim Cameron as the carpenter’s foreman on the project. The structure’s Gothic Revival characteristics are evident in the building’s proportions, massing, tower and windows.

After completion, the wooden structure was used for church services and as a community centre from 1916 until 1966. During this time, the building witnessed numerous weddings, funerals and christenings throughout the years, as well as club meetings, concerts and community suppers.

Many communities shrank to the point where there weren’t enough people to support this church. Consequently, it was repurposed solely as a community centre. This facility’s use continued until the 1990s; however, now Robin Busby noted that the church is in a dilapidated state.

Thurlow thought the Hoosier church may have received its designation as a heritage site after the congregation was disbanded, but he isn’t certain of the exact time period that occurred.

“We are seriously afraid of people getting hurt inside the empty building or the building being vandalized and starting a fire which could cause damage. It could be a liability,” Thurlow said. “We hate to be hard-hearted, but we do not want anyone injured.”

Thurlow explained that pulling a heritage designation is a two-stage process. The process was started in January, after which Living Skies Regional Council needs to advertise and give everyone 30 days notice to object or comment.

“Once the designation goes through, we will put it up for sale,” Thurlow said. “We would prefer to sell it where it is with the land but would sell it to be moved or torn down to use the lumber. We thought it would be easier to sell without the designation.”

The Hoosier United Church sits in a dilapitated state. In the background is the Hoosier School which was built in 1930 and closed in 1966.

PHOTO BY KATE WINQUIST