Sometime in the late 1950s, when the Rabbit Lake United Church was being built, Bob Duns and Rev. Frank Stiles took on the task of installing a set of chimes with speakers mounted in the steeple. On Sunday mornings familiar hymns would be played and, at Christmas, carols would waft over the snow. People from a couple of miles around the village could hear the chimes.
In 1973 the church closed and the chimes remained silent. Subsequently the building was sold and moved. The chimes were donated to the local museum.
After a 40-year hiatus, the chimes once again are making music. Although it was a very cold and windy day Nov. 16, Peter Klassen brought his zoom boom and Patrick Laughlin of Aumack Electric began the task of wiring in the speakers. This time they are in the steeple of the former Catholic church that is now at the museum. By the time the sun was going down, the test run was made and all sounded good.
Of course, Sunday, Nov. 18, those same speakers broadcast forth Green is the Colour and Football is the Game for the Western CFL final. And that too worked!
So now beginning Dec. 16 and continuing until Christmas the beautiful Christmas music will once again waft over the snow. We hope people out of town can hear the music and we hope everyone appreciates this unique part of Rabbit Lake history come back to life.
This project could have never happened without the assistance and equipment of Peter Klassen, the ability and skills of Patrick Laughlin who braved the cold and who worked at that height and to Clifford Smith for loan of vital equipment. All of these services were donated to the museum and the community. The amp and CD equipment are obviously not the original "tube" and 78 RPM record system. That original equipment is on display in the museum.
The community sends its words of sympathy to Helen German and to Bob and Donna German on the passing of son and brother, Bill German. Bill grew up in the Sandwith community but attended school in Rabbit Lake. Funeral services were held for Bill Oct. 26 in Lanigan. Bill and his family had lived in Lanigan for a number of years. Bill is survived by his sisters Marie and Shiela and brother Bob along with their families.
Nov. 8 was a good evening to be in Sandwith. The Sandwith Community Hall board held its annual potluck supper followed by a ham and turkey bingo and a silent auction. A fair crowd enjoyed the evening. A big thanks goes to the community members who donated the turkeys and hams for the bingo and to the local businesses that provided items for the silent auction.
Rabbit Lake Senior Sunrise Circle will host an afternoon turkey shoot at the Rabbit Lake Community Hall. The event begins at 2 p.m. and continues until 5 p.m.
Rose Gill Lodge will be holding a new fundraiser Nov. 30. It is a Pie in the Eye evening. You can increase the chances of your favourite contestant receiving a pie in the eye by dropping into any of the businesses in Rabbit Lake or Mayfair and donating some cash. The day-to-day tally of votes changes quite dramatically so the suspense runs high.
During the day Jennifer Lamb and April McConnell will be doing a trade show with part of the proceeds going to the Rose Gill Lodge project.
The Village of Rabbit Lake council is hosting a Christmas lighting contest for both village and rural participants. It is free to register. Just call Brenda at the village office to get on the judges' list. Judging will take place Dec. 15. There will be a chili supper at the Rabbit Lake Seniors' Hall Dec. 16 at which time the winners will be announced and the prizes awarded. A big thanks goes to the local organizations and businesses that have provided the prizes and to the judges who will make the final decisions.
This winter is beginning to look like last winter. We have a lot of snow and the snowmobiles are beginning to make their appearance in and around the village. Snow removal is always a challenge but so far we have kept ahead of it. Thanks to all of those who keep the sidewalks in front of their property shoveled and to those who pitch in and use their snowblowers to help lighten the shovelers' work. Our streets have been graded already twice since the snowfall. That will be a large dent in the snow removal budget.
Now that cold weather has arrived, a group of volunteers have been busy starting the process of making ice in the rec centre. The kids of the area look forward to getting the skates on and the sticks out for another season. If it weren't for the parents who volunteer to get the rink ready it would never happen.
St. Philips Presbyterian Church in Sandwith will be hosting a musical afternoon at the Sandwith Community Hall, Dec. 15. Local talent will be appreciated to fill out the afternoon and get everyone into the Christmas spirit.
Congratulations to Elliot Hildebrand and Nancy Schroeder on their marriage Nov. 9 at Forest Grove Community Church in Saskatoon. Elliot is the son of Marlene and the late John Hildebrand of Rabbit Lake. Nancy is from Main Center and is the daughter of Gerry and Nadene Schroeder. Elliot is completing his master's degree in agriculture and Nancy is an LPN at Saskatoon City Hospital. They will reside in Saskatoon.
The Hoffnungsfelder Mennonite churches joined to worship at the Rabbit Lake Hall, Nov. 17. This was the annual mission Sunday. Dave and Joanne Feick from Micah Missions were the speakers. A lunch of soup and goodies followed.
Over the winter the Village of Rabbit Lake council will be sponsoring three musical jam sessions in the Rabbit Lake Community Hall. The dates for these jam sessions are the afternoons of Jan. 18, Feb. 15 and March 15. Feel free to join in by playing an instrument, singing or dancing along, or just coming to listen to the music.
