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History of R.M. of Hamiota 1872- Dominion Government survey of Manitoba started with the passing of the Dominion Land Act. 1877 - Establishment of Canadian Northwest Mounted Police barracks at the Narrows of Shoal Lake. This post was visited by Marquis of Lorne in 1881 which increases the publicity of Manitoba and increase settlers interest in the area. 1879- Settlers took up homesteads in the Hamiota area. One of the first was Hamilton and he had the first post office on SE 4-14-23 on his settlement. The village settlement took the same name. Other names associated with this early settlement were: Curry, Murray, Middleton, Brown, Brimacomb and Pedlow 1880- Start of the heavy migration from the counties of Huron, Perth and Bruce counties in Ontario. As well as a number from overseas. 1884 - In the Henderson’s Directory the Post office is listed as – Hamilton, Shoal Lake County, Manitoba and Northwest.(364) 1884- Municipality was organized under the name of Oak River. Municipal clerk for the Municipality of Oak River – Jos. Andrew, clerk – P.O. Hamilton; Issuer of Marriage licenses – Oak River – Wm Miller (1884 Henderson Directory - 360,361) 1885- The Henderson Directory now has the Post office as– Hamilton / Hamiota (double entry as the name was being changed), Shoal Lake County, Manitoba and Northwest.(344) Due to conflict with Hamilton, Ontario, the authorities changed the name to Hamiota. The first syllable of the name was retained and the "iota" meaning plenty in the Indian language was added which gave the word the meaning of plenty of Hamiltons. 1886- Post office was named Hamiota in the 1886-87 version of the Henderson Directory. (72) 1886- Municipality name changed to Hamiota and was formed from six townships – 13,14, and 15 in ranges 23 and 24. They are the same today. The following is a list of prominent family names associated with each Ward or township.
1888 - Local Option By-law passed prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages in the municipality. 1889 - North West Central Railway completed from Brandon, to Rapid City and then on to Hamiota. This necessitated the town of Hamiota to move northwest to it’s present location. 1891- As described in the 1891 Henderson Directory: "Hamiota – A post office on Sec 4, Pt 14, Rg. 23, west, in the municipality of Oak River and county of Shoal Lake. Nearest railway and telegraph offices Shoal Lake, distant 20 miles. Express offices Brandon. Has Presbyterian church and public school." (page 707)
1892- Spring - Colin McMurachy moved his house from his farm on 9-16-23 located 12 miles northeast of Hamiota into the new townsite. This was the first house in town. 1891- Canadian Pacific Railway took over the railway line and the first train arrived in Hamiota on December 18th, 1891 1892-The Hamiota Hustler the local newspaper began publishing and was edited by Frank Middleton of the Viola Dale area. 1892 - First one room school was built in Hamiota. 1892 - First grain elevator was built in Hamiota. 1892 - First church built by Presbyterians. This church was later torn down and moved to Arrow River. Another was built and used until 1930, when it was torn down and moved to Decker. 1892 - Dr. Brownridge came to town as the first veterinary surgeon. 1893- Establishment of Hamiota Cemetery on SW ¼ 8-14-23. 1893 - The first bank called Inman Bank was opened by Herbert Inman. In 1897, The Bank of Hamilton took over the business and Mr. Inman stayed on as manager. 1893 - Hamiota Agricultural Society organized June 1st, 1893. First show Sept. 26, 1893. Jas. Milne was the first president and Titus Andrew the first secretary. 1894 - June 29
edition of Hamiota Hustler Report "Our Municipality [Oak River]" page 1 The municipality is fairly well settled, having a population of nearly 1,000. Still there is a large quantity of land unoccupied and comparatively on a small portion under cultivation less than 20,000 acres out of the 138,240 acres. The greater part of this land not occupied by actual settlers is held by speculators, many of who are anxious to sell at reasonable prices and easy terms of payment. There are also a few homesteads yet to be taken. We know of no better place for the prospective settler than this municipality. There are already eight schools established and in operation, church services are held in the different settlements, and the rising town of Hamiota is located very near the centre, being the present terminus of the Great North West Central Railway. All the different branches of business are well represented, and our merchants are noted fair dealing, consequently a large and prosperous trade is well established. Below we give some statistics of each township, which may be interesting to many of our readers. [see each individual township for report] The total number of Milch [sp] cows in the municipality, included in the above is 813. These figures may be relied on as being correct as near as possible to present time." 1895- Three elevators and a grist mill had been built in Hamiota.1895- September 3rd edition of Hamiota Hustler (last page) - "The Municipality of Oak River will be hereafter known as the 'Municipality of Hamiota'. The date of the change being August 27, 1895" 1895- Methodist church was built, it was later destroyed by fire and then rebuilt in 1914. 1899- A two room school house built. In 1908 this building was doubled and again in 1914. 1900- Anglican church was built in Hamiota, they had met in local homes since 1884. 1901- Dr. Lawson was first medical doctor in the area. He and B.R. McNaught opened a drugstore. 1901- Agricultural Shows moved to present Fair grounds. 1905- Local Phone service started in Hamiota. The telephone exchange was ran by Miss Frazer in her bookstore. By late 1907, the service had extended to the rural municipality. 1906 - Village of Hamiota was incorporated. Mr. Wm. Chambers was elected as Mayor. 1907 - Dr. E.D. Hudson arrived in Hamiota. In 1945 "Dr. Ed" Hudson, his son joined him in practice. "Dr. Ed" continues to practice medicine in Hamiota in 2000. 1908 - Typhoid fever breakout in Hamiota. A local vacant house was rented and turned into an emergency hospital and served the community until the cottage hospital was built. 1912- Gas street lights were installed by Acetylene Gas. Co. and served the area until 1936. 1913 - Local cottage Hospital built, it was enlarged in 1920. 1913- Hamiota Hustler became the Hamiota Echo owned by Charles W. Venables. 1914- Consolidation of rural schools with new school districts formed. Schools in Hamiota, Decker, Lavinia, McConnell and Oakner were formed. 1920- Memorial Park, on the former location of Kelly Hotel, was formed to honour the men who served in World War 1. A large memorial and cenotaph with their names engraved on it was placed in the park. After the Second World War, the names of those soldiers who served were also added. 1924 - Pitlochry elevator was built on SE 2-14-23. It closed in 1974. 1929- Wm. T. (Bill) Andrew succeeded his father Joseph Andrew as secretary-treasurer of the R.M. of Hamiota 1947 - Municipality was completely served by electrical service. 1948 - Formation of Hospital District No. 7A which included R.M. of Hamiota, Blanshard, Miniota, and the portion of Woodworth lying to the north and east of the Assiniboine River. 1956 - New elementary school built in Hamiota 1956- Natural gas came to Hamiota connected to the Trans Canada Pipe Line located three and a half miles south of town. Hamiota was the first location in Manitoba to be on natural gas heating. 1961- Local Option to prohibit sale of alcoholic beverages in the Village was finally defeated with the necessary repealing bylaw passed by Council. The Hamiota Motor Hotel was built with a beverage room and beer vendor. 1962/63- Sewer and water was installed in Hamiota. 1969- Local policing which had been established in 1907 was taken over by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. 1972- Bill Andrew retired from Sec. Treas. of the R.M. of Hamiota and Lionel Brown took over. 1974- Hamiota District Health Centre was formed. 1981 - Lionel Brown retired as Sec. Treas. and Ernest Buhler took over the office. Sources: Hamiota Centennial History Committee. 1984. Hamiota, Grains of the Century, 1884-1984. Altona, Manitoba: Friesen Printers. 741 pages (available from R.M. of Hamiota, Hamiota, Manitoba, ROM OTO - $35 +postage) pages 28-34, 120-130 Hamiota Women's Institute. 1956. A History of Hamiota Village and Municipality. Hamiota, Manitoba: Hamiota Echo. (out of print) pages 11-18 Henderson’s Directory of the City of Winnipeg and Town of St. Boniface, Winnipeg: Winnipeg Directory Publishing Co. 1884. (Manitoba Legislative Library – (dH) Reel #4) Henderson’s Directory of the City of Winnipeg and Town of St. Boniface, Winnipeg: Winnipeg Directory Publishing Co. 1885. (Manitoba Legislative Library – (dH) Reel #4) Henderson’s Manitoba and North-Western Ontario and Northwest Towns and City of Winnipeg Directory, Winnipeg: Winnipeg Directory Publishing Co. 1886-1887. (Manitoba Legislative Library – (dH) Reel #4) It is billed as "The Only Directory of the NorthWest published". "Our Municipality [Oak River]", [Hamiota: Hamiota Hustler], June 29, 1894, page 1 – ( Reel 1 (NH2), June 23, 1893 – August 8, 1899, Manitoba Legislative Library) |
