Planning on using #BL100 as the hashtag for tweets from the Blaine Lake centennial this weekend (my spiritual homeland)Ryan Androsoff

The night before we were to head up from Saskatoon, I came across the “Big Blue Book” that is ubiquitous in the homes of those with roots in Blaine Lake. Though a bit dated now (it was published in the early 1980s), it remains an impressive collection of history of the town and region and the families who helped build it.

Studying up for #BL100 w/ Bridging the Years a.k.a. The Blaine Lake Bible a.k.a. The Big Blue Book http://via.me/~3ouzb3iRyan Androsoff

IMG_0581Ryan Androsoff

The next morning we were up bright and early to make the approximately 100km drive north from Saskatoon to Blaine Lake.

Have finally arrived for #BL100 http://via.me/~3pws71aRyan Androsoff

IMG_0599Ryan Androsoff

Blaine Lake grain elevatorRyan Androsoff

As we came into town we drove past my grandmother Androsoff’s house (or as I have always called her: Baba Mabel), and I was pleasantly surprised to see the sign below on her fence. She is a very special and inspiring lady, still full of energy, life and fun at 88!

Seen along the parade route – very proud of my Baba! #BL100 http://via.me/~3px5v6sRyan Androsoff

IMG_0604Ryan Androsoff

The sun was shining, and it was time for that essential of any small-town community celebration in Saskatchewan – a parade!

Amazing weather out today for #BL100 – I can hear the bagpipers for the parade getting closer…Ryan Androsoff

Parade has arrived #BL100 http://via.me/~3pxwkgwRyan Androsoff

IMG_0607Ryan Androsoff

The Blaine Lake RCMP – past and present #BL100 http://via.me/~3pz1xlaRyan Androsoff

IMG_0608Ryan Androsoff

Blaine Lake’s first, and still only, female Mayor (a.k.a. Baba) #BL100 http://via.me/~3pz4ts0Ryan Androsoff

IMG_0612Ryan Androsoff

The first of many mini-horse drawn carriages #BL100 http://via.me/~3pz9orkRyan Androsoff

IMG_0624Ryan Androsoff

The bagpipers #BL100 http://via.me/~3pzc6k8Ryan Androsoff

IMG_0618Ryan Androsoff

Blaine Lake Jail on wheels (not sure of the historical accuracy on this one…) #BL100 http://via.me/~3pzdv02Ryan Androsoff

IMG_0621Ryan Androsoff

A brief history of farm equipment. First up: 1928 #BL100 http://via.me/~3pzgbnaRyan Androsoff

IMG_0627Ryan Androsoff

A brief history of farm equipment. Next up: 1934 #BL100 http://via.me/~3pzgthoRyan Androsoff

IMG_0626Ryan Androsoff

A brief history of farm equipment. Next up: 1936 #BL100 http://via.me/~3pzh916Ryan Androsoff

IMG_0628Ryan Androsoff

A brief history of farm equipment. Finally, a quantum leap to modern day #BL100 http://via.me/~3pzi9aoRyan Androsoff

IMG_0629Ryan Androsoff

Top marks for creativity on this one – guest appearance by Snoopy #BL100 http://via.me/~3pzk42gRyan Androsoff

IMG_0639Ryan Androsoff

Though this may take the cake for creativity – a plumber taking a bath on a van #BL100 http://via.me/~3pzlnwiRyan Androsoff

IMG_0641Ryan Androsoff

Briefly mistaken for the Ghostbusters car, actually just an old-time ambulance #BL100 http://via.me/~3pzn1zcRyan Androsoff

IMG_0649Ryan Androsoff

Church on wheels #BL100 http://via.me/~3pzoqzwRyan Androsoff

IMG_0661Ryan Androsoff

Now the full-sized horses #BL100 http://via.me/~3pzpzbiRyan Androsoff

IMG_0643Ryan Androsoff

And closing up the parade, some live guitarists #BL100 http://via.me/~3pzqpsqRyan Androsoff

IMG_0664Ryan Androsoff

Parade finished, it was time to find some lunch, explore town, and of course lots of visiting.

Parade done, next stop: Ukrainian Church for what will no doubt be an excellent lunch #BL100Ryan Androsoff

A line-up onto the street in Blaine Lake? Must be good eats inside! #BL100 http://via.me/~3q0o5ewRyan Androsoff

Line up for Ukrainian lunchRyan Androsoff

Afternoon of visiting with family. Now getting ready to head out to the hottest ticket in town: the steak supper #BL100Ryan Androsoff

The evening events took place in the heart of Blaine Lake, right next to the railway and the former train station (which is, at least according to my reading the night before in the “Big Blue Book”, the raison d’être for Blaine Lake’s existence). A 500 person steak supper (which had been sold out for weeks), followed by a street dance was on the agenda.

Train StationRyan Androsoff

The Blaine Lake Snowmobile Club in action, keeping us well fed #BL100 http://via.me/~3qcxdkmRyan Androsoff

Steak dinner chefsRyan Androsoff

Main Street Blaine Lake at dusk #BL100 http://via.me/~3qfru4mRyan Androsoff

Main Street at DuskRyan Androsoff

IMG_0674Ryan Androsoff

Of course to close out the day, fireworks #BL100 http://via.me/~3qizp1uRyan Androsoff

Fireworks 9Ryan Androsoff

Fireworks 7Ryan Androsoff

And fireworks… #BL100 http://via.me/~3qj0r1iRyan Androsoff

Fireworks 5Ryan Androsoff

Fireworks 6Ryan Androsoff

…and more fireworks #BL100 http://via.me/~3qjc09yRyan Androsoff

Fireworks 4Ryan Androsoff

Fireworks 3Ryan Androsoff

Though most people were out on the streets until the wee hours, catching up with friends and family they hadn’t seen in years, that didn’t mean that there was time to sleep-in the next morning! After a little bit of early morning rain, the sun was up and shining again and it was time for a community breakfast.

Sunday morning and time for, of course, a pancake breakfast at #BL100 http://via.me/~3r979dmRyan Androsoff

Sunday breakfastRyan Androsoff

Participated in #BL100 Non-Denominational service this morning w/ Gospel Chapel, Ukrainian Orthodox, Roman Catholic & Doukhobor communitiesRyan Androsoff

My Doukhobor heritage has always been a big part of who I am. The Doukhobor community, which played a central role in the founding of Blaine Lake, participated in the morning’s prayer service through the singing of some traditional psalms.  After getting my arm-twisted a little bit by my Baba, my Mom and a few others, I ended up getting a unique vantage point on the service. Thankfully my “muscle memory” from singing in Doukhobor choirs when I was growing up kicked-in, along with a little help from a songbook that has English phonetics for the Russian psalms.

I got drafted to be part of the Doukhobor choir so here was my view of the service #BL100 http://via.me/~3rd7qnmRyan Androsoff

Non-denominational serviceRyan Androsoff

Feeling spiritually nourished, it was off for some nourishment of the more earthly type.

Now, as is usually the answer to the Q "what’s next" at any Blaine Lake event, time for more food #BL100 http://via.me/~3rdhqf0Ryan Androsoff

Sunday lunchRyan Androsoff

Discussion over lunch: starting a "draft Mabel for Mayor" campaign so Blaine Lake can start it’s next 100 years with a female Mayor! #BL100Ryan Androsoff

And now for the unveiling of monuments and plaques #BL100 http://via.me/~3rgmqayRyan Androsoff

Mill Stone UnveilingRyan Androsoff

Plaque explaining this history of the grain milling stone #BL100 http://via.me/~3ria048Ryan Androsoff

Mill Stone PlaqueRyan Androsoff

The milling stone itself – this is an original from the site of a local Doukhobor village #BL100 http://via.me/~3ric02iRyan Androsoff

Mill Stone 1Ryan Androsoff

Mill Stone 2Ryan Androsoff

The Memorial Park plaque that was unveiled – includes the names of my grandfather and my uncle #BL100 http://via.me/~3ridncwRyan Androsoff

Memorial gardens plaqueRyan Androsoff

The other new memorial in town unveiled this weekend was a statue of wheat sheaves #BL100 http://via.me/~3rii12sRyan Androsoff

Wheat SheavesRyan Androsoff

Blaine Lake Library – haven’t been inside here since I was a kid #BL100 http://via.me/~3rij2hqRyan Androsoff

Blaine Lake LibraryRyan Androsoff

In fact here is the kids section where I used to take drawing classes during summer visits to see my Babas #BL100 http://via.me/~3rikqcuRyan Androsoff

BL Library – Kids AreaRyan Androsoff

I discovered that the Library now has a little two-room museum in it as well. Amongst a number of interesting items I found a 1970’s typewriter donated by my grandmother from my mother’s side (or as I have called her since I was little: Baba Chev). She was a secretary in the local school board office for many years, so her typewriters were always cherished items to her.

Baba’s TypewriterRyan Androsoff

Baba’s Typewriter – signRyan Androsoff

Found inside the Blaine Lake Library: a copy of the very first edition of @TheStarPhoenix from Oct 17, 1902 #BL100 http://via.me/~3ris352Ryan Androsoff

First edition of the SPRyan Androsoff

Seems the writing style of 1902 wasn’t that different than Twitter today: an aversion to periods! #BL100 http://via.me/~3rivfg0Ryan Androsoff

Wordy article from first SP editionRyan Androsoff

After spending the afternoon taking in some history and reliving some childhood memories, there was one last stop on the itinerary.

Sign w/ historical info outside the cemetery where much of the Cheveldayoff side of my family is buried #BL100 http://via.me/~3rkyfnyRyan Androsoff

Cemetery SignRyan Androsoff

Amazing prairie landscape from near the original Cheveldayoff homestead; Blaine Lake on the horizon #BL100 http://via.me/~3rl30v8Ryan Androsoff

Prairie Sky – Long ViewRyan Androsoff

With that, it was time to head back to Saskatoon, feeling grateful that I could be in Blaine Lake to celebrate the history of this place that is such a big part of the story of my family.

Very happy to have been part of Blaine Lake’s centennial this weekend – thanks to all the organizers! #BL100 http://via.me/~3rld58eRyan Androsoff

Blaine Lake Centennial BannerRyan Androsoff