Remember When: Zealandia in 1909

A wide-shot of the town of Zealandia in 1909. All four elevators can be seen in the background, along with a plume of smoke rising in the left-middle of the photo. It’s unclear what the cause is. Zealandia was incorporated as a village in 1905 until the Canadian National Railway came through in 1909, at which time it gained the title of town. The introduction of the railway brought with it the construction of a hotel, churches, livery and feed barns, a butcher shop, a drugstore, and more, making Zealandia into a business hub in the early 20th century.

PHOTO COURTESY ROSETOWN CENTENNIAL LIBRARY ARCHIVES