AMESDALE
Source: Dryden Observer, May 20, 1939
Amesdale, formerly Freda, is situated on the main line of the Canadian National Railway, 200 miles east of Winnipeg. With the exception of Mr. I. S. Thompson who settled here in 1921, the district was settled during and since 1924 at which time there was only a construction trail between Amesdale and Richan and thence to Dryden. The Dryden trip was then a two day ordeal whereas now one may make the return trip in fine weather by car in two hours. The wagon trails in the early days were so bad that traveling in spring and summer was only a series of severe jolts over roots and into holes, in fact one of the settles, in making the trip between Amesdale and Richan in the spring of 1926, was thrown from his wagon five times, once landing head-first on a stump. This accident led to a strong protest letter written to the Highways Department at Toronto which it is said was responsible for the arrival in the fall of 1927 of a survey party to map out a road to Richan. At the present time, however, there are upwards of twenty mile of road which can be navigated in good weather by car.
In 1925 there were only 6 married couples in the district but with others moving in and ten bachelors becoming brave enough to ask ladies to join them, the district now boasts of 21 couples. A school was built and commenced operations in 1928 with eight scholars but after five years it was closed for want of pupils. While the same condition prevails at the moment, yet the district can now count 20 aspirants to school as soon as they are old enough. In all the district now numbers 90 souls. Needed cash for supplies has thus far been obtained from the sale of pulpwood and railway ties. The district has one store and half a mile north is the emergency landing field over which Trans-Canada airplanes fly daily between Montreal and Vancouver.
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