Laneways, Alleys and Barns

If streets are a stage, then laneways are the backstage of life.  Whether the yards are picket fenced or piled high with auto parts, they offer a glimpse into real life, yet are seen only by a few residents or kids taking shortcuts.  And us. To our surprise and delight, we’ve seen a considerable number of barns exploring the alleys of Moose Jaw.  Our education began right outside our back door.

This is the view from the back window of our house on Oxford Street, about six blocks from downtown.  The house we’re staying in was built by the Latimer family in 1905, who used the barn for their horse and buggy.  Just a few blocks away is a white barn, with the hip roof typical of many, but not all barns.   

This sloping shed roof does just as good a job of keeping rain and snow off the animals.

No matter what their shape, these barns were part of everyday life back when horsepower was a literal measurement.  Lawyer William Grayson built a grand three-story house on Stadacona Street in 1913 with local buff-coloured bricks.  Using the same materials, he built a coach house out back for the wagon, horses and tack.

These little laneway barns remind us that livestock and agriculture have always been a part of Moose Jaw’s DNA.  Just north of the city, though, is a barn on an entirely different scale.

It was built in 1926 for the Lasby family and their 150 cows. The 23,000 square foot, U-shaped dairy barn was top of the line when it was built.  It’s now owned by the Schmitz family and it's been used for everything from weddings to the annual meeting of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association.   

We’ll keep exploring Saskatchewan's lanes, alleys and back roads, and sharing what we find with you as we go along.  Till then, happy trails!

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