Late last summer Father Matthew approached the Saskatchewan Power Commission with a view toward light and power. After preliminary discussion, Father Matthew got busy and visited some 55 families, south, southeast and southwest of Annaheim, to explain his purpose. The hopes he held out to them seemed too good to be true. Maps were drawn up and precise measurements presented to the Power Commission. Both Me, Sid Shepherd, superintendent of the Sask. Power Commission at Humboldt, and Mr. H. F. Berry, late chairman of the Saskatchewan Power Commission, highly commended the plans and upon their recommendation these were immediately accepted. Within two weeks after the pastor took the first steps, the whole project was drawn up in detail, was approved, definite figures presented to the customers and work order No. 4932 issued. The Power Commission chose the main road between Annaheim and St. Gregor for its line and some farmers too far off this road had to be eliminated from the project for the present.

Materials were ordered and within 60 days the poles arrived at St. Gregor, something of a record. Other materials eventually were available and by early December genial Bill Huntington, operator of the power digger, arrived to bore the pole holes. About five Saskatchewan Power Commission men from Humboldt and eight local fellows appointed by Father Matthew were set to work and three days before Christmas the last pole was set. Much of this work was done in the very cold weather, as low as 41 below zero. After the Yuletide a small Humboldt crew began work on the distribution system at Annaheim and wires were strung northward on the St. Gregor - Annaheim road. Upon the arrival from Melville of Mr. Marcel Lemarre and his crew of agile young experts, activity was doubled, and by Feb. 8 there was electric light in Annaheim.

“Electric Eye” for Street Lighting
What has always appeared as a very, very remote possibility has materialized almost over night and one often hears the remark to the effect that it is like a dream. Annaheim hamlet enjoys the same status and rates as do the towns southward served by the trunk line running eastward north of No. 5 highway. Our town is equipped with an “electric eye” i.e., a photo-electric cell, a contraption (not a clock) which is sensitive to light density. When the daylight wanes the street lights automatically switch on, and when the morning daylight sets in the street lights go out. If at any time the town should be darkened by eclipse or a severe dust storm, the lights will automatically switch on - God forbid!

The Annaheim project sets a high standard for rural electrification, the number of customers per mile constituting the finest average in the province of Saskatchewan. It was undertaken before the provincial government entered into its new plans for rural electrification. The project represents an expenditure of approximately $30, 000.00, and the farmers belonging to the project paid in cash approximately one-quarter of this expense. Because rural electrification is expensive from every angle, farmers must use, or at least pay, a minimum of $5.00 per month. The payments the farmers have made are certainly a worthwhile investment, to sell out can demand at least $1000.00 more for his farm if he can advertise “power on the place.” It is doubtful whether a single one of these fortunate rurals would sell his franchise for $2000.00.

Farm Homes Now Fully Modern
Many farmers of the area plan to take full advantage of available power and the company will sell a great deal of power among them.

Frank Dauk, for example, has installed a pressure system, electric water heater, large electric range, stoker, etc. There is plenty of power available for the 2-phase line carries 23,000 volts through this area. The power plant at Humboldt, under the efficient management of Mr. Sid. Shepherd, is the source of all the power used at Humboldt and all towns east a far as Watson, including Naicam and Spalding. Only at peak loads in winter, from 4:30 till 7:00 p.m., is it necessary to borrow from Saskatoon about one-quarter of the power consumed.

The project just being concluded opens a new chapter of farming in the more northerly section of the province. Annaheim hamlet has been a typically dark spot. Today this vicinity has more power than any community in the colony. Amenities not ordinarily associated with the never-ending labors of the prairie farmer promise fast to become an indispensable aid

Before last fall even farmers immediately tangent on the 3-phase trunk line running from Humboldt to Watson were generally considered ineligible to power. During the past fall a number of such farmers were connected to the power line. However, the Annaheim project is different. It is typically a rural project and not only at Annaheim hamlet but also a number of farmers within reach are immediately admitted. With the completion of this project a new era looms ahead.

The provincial government has very recently revealed that the Sask. Power Commission is dissolved and that the system has been converted into a crown corporation. It is hoped under a long-term program, in cooperation with consumers, to electrify farms where a good average per mile can be established. Saskatchewan is a vast area and, at the rate of approximately 900 farms per year, it would take twenty years to electrify 60% of its farms. It is doubtful whether centrally produced power can be successfully applied to the remaining 40%. The government’s new scheme of furthering rural projects will be different from that of the Annaheim project. The crown corporation expects to establish some form of co-ops among its consumers to share costs over a period of time. Full details are not at present available. Quite some time before the government began to publicize its present plans the good word got ‘round and at present date already plans have been accepted and work orders issued for some thousands of miles of rural electrification - a big order for this province.

Annaheim Thanks Men Responsible
The writer uses this means to thank the several crews under respective direction of Bill Montgomery, Reg. Barnes and Marcel Lemarre. It was a great pleasure to have these men and their workers in our midst. They have done a swell job, performed under weather conditions at times almost unbearable.

A word of appreciation to the local boys who were employed at certain stages of progress. This was a new and interesting experience to them. They have learned that farming is a great deal easier than line building. There are families who accommodated the men at meal time and treated them with real hospitality; their consideration is much appreciated.

Nor must we forget the good work of electricians, who did a fine business in the past few months. Their’s was the task to wire the town dwellings and the farm buildings. They were called in from Spalding, Muenster, Lake Lenore and several from Humboldt.

Typical of Mr. Berry’s interest in our local progress is this excerpt from a letter he wrote to Father Matthew on his last day in office as chairman of the Saskatchewan Power Commission: “...I am sure that you will find the electrical service will be of considerable benefit to your community and will add much pleasure to the everyday living of the people in the Annaheim area...” For his final say in the approval of our project and for his continued interest, our deepest thanks.

The services of Mr. Shepherd cannot be overestimated. Busy as Mr. Shepherd has been, he always found time to give us consideration. His expert advice, his efficient management and his persevering drive to see this project through meant far more than a mere “thank you” can express. We hope he has overlooked any importunity of which we may have been guilty. Anything that has to do with electric power will forever associate the writer’s memories with Mr. Shepherd.

To organize this undertaking, to appoint local help when needed; to attend to the finances; to represent the Power Commission to the consumer and consumer to the Power Commission; to see to it that the roads were open; to keep all moving along in harmony; to untangle occasional snags; to play the role of general supervisor - all this has been part of Father Matthew’s job. He says that the numerous expressions of thanks and appreciation that have come to him have more than repaid him for his efforts and many hours spent in connection with this work.

As a gesture of thanksgiving some town people of Annaheim have made donations to the parish treasury to help defray expenses of rewiring the church and rectory. We believe that there is no better argument for obtaining good things in the future than gratitude for the good things that have come to us in the past. We hope that this power line can be extended in the fairly near future and we hope that other rural communities in these latitudes will soon enjoy the same conveniences we now do.

You won’t find Annaheim on the map, but you find it on the power line, which is worth a great deal more!