Ghost Towns of Manitoba

Jean Johnston was a freelance writer in Mitchell, Ontario.

One would expect stories about “ghost towns” to be sad and ghostly. Surprisingly, this collection covering some 31 abandoned Manitoba town-sites is generally humorous and well written, with a depth of sympathy that is appealing and readable. Most of the forsaken towns were defeated because the routing of the railway lines left them without the transport needed to survive. The most humorous story concerns the rivalry between West Lynn and Emerson, in the extreme south of the province. A lift bridge was built, but when the contractor was not paid, he dropped the key for the lift into the river. Another memorable story tells of the town of Grand Valley, whose citizens demanded $50,000 from the railway for a site for a divisional point. The railway instead chose Brandon, two miles west, which was willing to sell the requisite land for $25,000.

The authors give a lengthy history of York Factory on Hudson Bay, founded 1682. Because it is no longer a terminal for the Hudson’s Bay Company, it has been allowed to die. Some attempts are being made to preserve it, but the deterioration is happening faster than the restoration.

The book is well written by well-known Manitoba authors. There are many illustrations and a map. It is a worthy addition to our literature. Unfortunately, the type is so coarse that the book is hard to read.