The Barr Colonists - Lashburn, Saskatchewan, Canada
N 53° 07.462 W 109° 36.999
12U E 592567 N 5886999
An historical marker about the Barr Colonists is located in the Centennial Garden along the access road adjacent to Trans-Canada Highway 16 in Lashburn, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Waymark Code: WMHPX1
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
Date Posted: 08/01/2013
Views: 7
The historical marker reads:
THE BARR COLONISTS
March 31, 1903: two thousand British Immigrants departed Liverpool, England; caught up with Reverend Isaac Barr's vision of founding a British Colony in Canada's North West Territories, with a prize of 160 acres of land for $10.00 and homestead obligations. Men, women and children followed Barr and Rev. George Lloyd on a trans-Atlantic voyage; by rail from Saint John, N.B. to a tent city in Saskatoon, where they were outfitted with wagons and oxen to make the 200 mile journey to what is now Lloydminster. Several hundred claimed their homesteads in this area. The Barr Colony was amongst the last and largest settlement enterprises in Canada's history.
Near the historical marker is a silhouette sculpture depicting a couple of the Barr Colonists. The sculpture consists of two oxen pulling a wagon. A man walks alongside the oxen with a whip and a woman rides in the wagon. Their dog trails alongside the wagon. A sign on the sculpture reads: Barr Colonists 1903.
The following additional information about the Barr Colonists is from The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan:
"Located in the region of present-day Lloydminster, the Barr Colony was an all-British settlement founded by Reverend Isaac M. Barr in 1903. His colonizing scheme attracted almost 2,000 eager Britons, most of whom lacked the necessary farming experience to survive on the Canadian prairie. On March 31, the colonists sailed from England on the SS Lake Manitoba, a ship originally built to accommodate 550 passengers. A rough ocean voyage, numerous delays at the port of Saint John, New Brunswick, and an uncomfortable railway journey to Saskatoon turned many hopeful immigrants against Reverend Barr.
The long wagon trip from Saskatoon to North Battleford proved too much for those colonists who had no experience driving oxen and wagons. Some turned back but the majority persevered. By May, however, the colonists deposed Barr, having accused him of profiteering and misleading them about conditions on the Prairies. Control of the colony passed to Reverend George Exton Lloyd and twelve advisors. Homesteading began as soon as the colonists reached the reserve. Despite the initial hardships, the settlement survived and began to prosper. Its first village, Lloydminster, was named in honour of George Lloyd. As for Reverend Barr, he lived for several years in the United States and eventually immigrated to Australia."
The following information about the Barr Colonists is from Wikipedia:
"Lashburn is a town in Saskatchewan, Canada. It is located 35 km (22 miles) east of Lloydminster and 107 km (66 miles) west of North Battleford on the Yellowhead Highway. It was founded in 1903 with the arrival of the Barr Colonists, led by Reverend Barr."