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From the Smoky Lake Signal, June 28, 1978.
Warspite United Church Reopens A meeting of the 4 point charge of the Smoky Lake - Waskatenau United Church voted on June 23 to reopen the Warspite United Church. Services are to be held once a month starting the second week in September. The last regular services were held in September of 1969 when declining involvement forced the close of the church. Rising population in the Smoky Lake - Warspite area and a need for Sunday School are some of the reasons for the reopening. The church yard has been cleaned up, the fence rebuilt, new windows were put in, the floors rebuilt and a new wall to wall carpet has been donated and installed. At the same meeting it was decided to sell the Pakan Church building and cemetery grounds to the Historical Sites Board. The north wall of the building is slowly falling away from the building because of the weight of the brick chimney. Repairs and maintenance are becoming too costly for the Smoky Lake - Waskatenau charge. The Historic Sites Board is very interested in the area because of the early McDougall church which was built in 1860. It is thought to have burnt down and a second church was built in 1880 to replace it. It is this second church that is now standing that the Historic Sites Board will acquire, and maintain for a few years until it is either moved or torn down. It was not built on the site of the original church. The church was built after the McDougalls had left so it is of little interest as a monument to the Historic Sites Board. But they want the area for a park. The original church was built before the Hudson's Bay Post was established. At one time the settlement consisted of the church, the Hudsons Bay Post, a hospital, cabins and a Metis settlement. If anyone has pictures or information about the original settlement Dean Clark, 4th floor of Beaver House, Edmonton would like to talk to you. Return to the Smoky Lake History Archive
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