Roads and Highways

The first trails and roads were located in the
most accessible places, going around sloughs and
rough places. After more settlers came into the
area the roads had to be on the road allowances.
These roads were built by the local farmers under
the supervision of the pathmaster. It involved a
lot of work cutting down hills and corduroying
sloughs.

In 1896, George Rogers, Councillor for Ward
5, had asked and received $500.00 from the
municipality to cut down the hills and corduroy
the sloughs north of Sidney to China (Firdale).

Even before this time, there were complaints
of the road to Carberry being in a deplorable
condition around Radclyffe Lake south west of
Sidney. There was an alternate route around
Radclyffe Lake by following the correction line a
further mile and a half west through the sand hills
and south to join the main road. The traveller had
his choice of either getting stuck in the mud or
in the sand. For the next 30 years this was the main
road to Carberry. All during this time there were
many complaints of the condition of the road
around the lake.

In 1927, a new road was built west from Sidney
through the hills to Melbourne. From Sidney the
road went north for three miles, then east to
Austin. This was built by mules with slush
scrapers. 1928 saw this road being gravelled. As
a make—work program in the fall of 1935, just
before the Federal election, some of the bends west
of Sidney were straightened. That same fall this
road was paved from Carberry to just west of
Sidney. This is now P.R. No. 351.

In 1939, the Highway was built east and north
east from Sidney to join the old No. 1 two miles
west of Austin.

1956 saw the Trans Canada Highway being
built, the old No. 1 was rebuilt to a mile west of
Sidney. The following year the Trans Canada was
extended on straight west out to the Carberry
Plains.

The Trans Canada was twinned through the
Sidney area in 1977—78—79. At this time, a service
road was built on the south side of the Trans
Canada from three miles east of Sidney to the west
end of the village. North Railway St. was rebuilt
and used as part of this road.

After much persuasion by the village
committee, South Railway St. was taken over by
the Highways Department and rebuilt and paved

in 1963 and 1964.
Also, during the 1960’s, an upgrade of the road

20

was made from P.T.H. 34 near Pratt, through the
Arizona district, north through Sidney to Firdale,
Edrans and on to Highway No. 16 at Arden. This
is now known as RR. 352.

Councillors

As Sidney is located in Ward 5 of the Rural
Municipality of North Norfolk, the following is
a list of councillors for the ward over the years.
The records for the pre—1960’s are unavailable,
some of the councillors names may be missing and
dates unknown.
D. Campbell, the first councillor in 1882
George Roger
Alf. James
Charles Babb
James Tait
George Goulding
Wilbert C. MacLachlan
Reg. MacFarlane 1963
W.A. Alton 1964—1966
Harold Manns 1966—1980
Ben Loeppky 1980—1983
Peter Penner 1983—1989
Dennis Jarema 1989-present

The municipality was formed in 1882.

Telephones

In 1900, the Bell Telephone Company was
installing a long distance line to Brandon from
Winnipeg. With the persuasion of Alfred James,
the local councillor, the line was placed through
Sidney, with a long distance phone installed in
McElrea’s store. In 1903 the office was moved to
the McElrea Block and some rural lines were
installed. The Manitoba Government took over
from Bell in 1908, later changing to Manitoba
Telephone System.

1906 saw further construction with new lines
put through to Edrans and Arizona district. In
1908 the office was moved back into McElrea’s
store, with Bertha Stephenson and Lena Davis as
the first operators. George and Lena Goulding ran
the telephone office for a number of years while
it was in the store. A new office was built on L.1
B.11 in 1921.

Carrie Hall was chief operator for many years,
and won the rose bowl for the best kept premises
on more than one occasion. When the office was
closed in July 1968 and changed to dial phones
throughout the area, Carrie transferred to the head
office in Portage la Prairie.

What with modern equipment and changing
times everyone is looking forward to private