Watson History

First Settlers

The first settlers in the Watson area arrived soon after the turn of the century from Yorkton and Rosthern districts.  Vossen was the first post office, established in 1902, by F. J. Vossen on his homestead.  The laying of the Canadian Northern Railway from Winnipeg, Manitoba through the pioneer settlement in 1905, sparked development in the area.  Watson was incorporated in 1908.  Watson has experienced steady growth in the last two decades while developing into a service centre for the surrounding mixed farming area.

The name Watson was first applied to the Railway Station which was named after Senator Robert Watson of Manitoba, owner of the townsite.

Watson is also known as Home of the Original Santa Claus Day.  In 1932 Jake Smith, Watson’s pioneer hardware merchant, conceived the idea of a Santa Claus Day.  The idea gradually spread to other towns.  Now nearly every town on the prairies holds this annual event.

 

Watson and District Heritage Mueseum

Watson & District Heritage Museum
The Watson and District Heritage Museum is housed in the former Canadian Bank of Commerce, a two storey structure erected in 1907.  Dedicated as a National Historic Site in 1977, the Museum opened its doors in 1980.  A large agricultural museum was built adjacent in 2002.

Two thousand artifacts are on display depicting pioneer businesses, homes, interests and recreation.

The first floor and display includes the printing artifacts from The Watson Witness, and ninety-six bound volumes, one for each year the newspaper was published from 1907 to 2003.  A local treasure.  Also displayed are memorabilia of local churches, stores, businesses, schools, clothing circa 1890 to 1950, sports artifacts, and marching band instruments and uniforms.

The second floor displays in four rooms the kitchen, bathroom, living room and bedroom of a pioneer home.  A fifth room displays artifacts of a hospital and nursing home from 1920’s – 1950’s.

The machinery museum houses many pieces of machinery from an oil pull Rumley 1928 to a fine collection of small tools and hardware.  All exhibits are neatly arranged, pleasant to view with accompanying information.

We welcome your visit.  A curator will be there to guide you in the summer months – June, July and August – and Board members are on call at other times.

 

Central Flyway

Watson is located in the middle of the central flyway for migratory game birds.