Manitou Lake No. 442, Saskatchewan
The Rural Municipality of Manitou Lake No. 442 is a rural municipality in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan in north western Division 6. The population of this R.M is 590 people. Manitou Lake is named for the Algonquian word meaning “mysterious being.” It covers 13.3 km2, with an average depth of 3.8 m. The village of Marsden lies near its centre, but is technically not part of the rural municipality.
Before 1905, Manitou Lake No. 442 would have been part of the Northwest Territories. In 1905, the first settlers came from Canadian regions, the British Isles and the United States. The area was known as the Manitou Lake District. In 1907-08 a post office was established in the home of Mr. Alex Wright, approximately one mile northeast of the present Marsden town site. The post office served the surrounding rural area. The Wrights named the post office 'Marsden'. One story recounts the name as originating from the birthplace of Mrs. Wright in Yorkshire, England; another reports it was named after the famous Marsden Rock near Newcastle, England. The adjacent area became known as the Marsden Rural Post Office District. Between 1919 and 1922, the post office was relocated one mile south to the RM office of Manitou Lake No. 442.
In 1905, the vast prairie land was covered with long grass referred to as 'prairie wool'. There were few trees or bluffs. The fertile black soil attracted many first settlers to the area and soon farms developed with sod and log homes. Farmers turned sod with horse and ox teams, sometimes using a walking plow (sulky) to prepare the ground for grain sowing. Grain was cut with binders, stooked, and threshed. Farmers hauled grain by wagon or horse-drawn sleigh to Zumbro and Artland. In the winter months, grain was hauled across the ice of Manitou Lake. Early settlers purchased groceries and supplies at Lashburn, Artland, or Chauvin, Alberta. A popular shopping method of the time was the Eaton's catalogue.
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