By: Jessica Farquharson
There is nothing quite like the experience of walking through a cemetery, especially one rich with history. All else ceases to exist as the quiet peace overwhelms you, the trees encompassing the yard protectively, closing off everything within its bounds from the present day. The air heavy with memory, you defy the laws of time as for a moment your path crosses those of people of the past who have lived and died, many of them forgotten but for a stone on the ground. It is a disconcerting thought (one not easy to ignore when in a cemetery) how lives are reduced to these stones; how a person who once lived and breathed, laughed and cried, loved and was loved ceases to be, leaving behind only memories that are doomed to fade from existence with time.
While a day will come when no one remembers these people as they were in life (and for many of those buried in the Saltcoats Historic Cemetery this day has already come to pass) their legacy and their story can still live on; allowing these memories to be immortalized even if it is not first hand. This is not merely a superfluous project but is a vital part of preserving the identity of an area as through the stories of the people of the past one can learn much about the origins of a settlement and its families, historical events in the area, as well as the impact that events of a larger scale had on a community.
The Saltcoats Historic Cemetery was established as a historic cemetery in the year 2000 and has since been host to many visitors interested in exploring the history contained in the cemetery, whether it be the history of the town or family history. The cemetery has also received many compliments on how well-cared for it is, all thanks to the caretakers of the cemetery who work very hard to keep it looking beautiful.
Not only does the cemetery contain graves from many different periods in time, with its earliest recordings of burials dating back to the late 1800s, but is also home to the graves of several notable people including William Eakin (the first speaker of the Northwest Assembly), Thomas MacNutt (the first speaker of the Legislature of the Province of Saskatchewan), and James Snedker (speaker of the Legislature from 1965-1971). Visitors can locate these graves as well as other points of interest by using the Town of Saltcoats cemetery pamphlet to go on a self-guided tour. The tour goes from one spot marked by a flag to another, providing brief background information and giving visitors direction to their exploration.
There was a renewal project planned for this summer involving the refurbishing of the buildings but it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The town also hopes to replace the old flags with new ones as well as provide new maps for locating graves.
The Saltcoats Historic Cemetery continues to serve as a great place to learn some of the history of the area as well as a popular destination for a roadside stop. Not only is it full of interesting information, but is also perfect for a time of quiet reflection and time alone with one’s thoughts.
Often when learning about history, we get too caught up in the objective information of a time period when in fact the most important part of history is the people and their stories. Cemeteries like the Saltcoats Historic Cemetery, remind us about these stories, ensuring that they are not forgotten as well as giving us a glimpse into the human aspect of history. These places must be preserved and appreciated, as without them we not only lose important parts of our history, but also important parts of our own identity as communities and individuals.
Donations to the cemetery can be made at the Saltcoats Town Office.
Photo credit: Jessica Farquharson
