Silverwood Heights, Saskatoon
Encyclopedia
Silverwood Heights is a mostly residential neighbourhood located in north-central Saskatoon
, Saskatchewan
, Canada
. It is a suburb
an subdivision
, composed mostly of single detached dwellings and some multiple-unit apartment and semi-detached dwellings. As of 2009, the area is home to 10,786 residents. The neighbourhood is considered a middle to high-income area, with an average family income of $93,772, an average dwelling value of $324,547 and a home ownership rate of 78.8%. By land area and population, Silverwood Heights is the largest subdivision in Saskatoon.
); a farmer from Great Britain
, John Malcolm Mark, who obtained land for a homestead in 1900; and Cleeve W. Taylor, another homesteader.
William Alexander "Billy" Silverwood arrived in Saskatoon from Ontario
in about 1907 and bought land two miles (3 km) north of the city limits. A livestock dealer by occupation, he built a large barn on his land (known as the Silver Springs Farm) to house his horses and cattle. By 1911, he opened the Silverwood Springs bottling plant, using spring water
found on his farm. Saskatoon did not yet have a safe drinking water supply, and deaths caused by typhoid fever
from contaminated well water were common. Until the city completed its own filtration system, Silverwood's bottled water was a popular commodity.
The natural spring water of the Silverwood farm attracted the attention of Robert E. Glass, a businessman from Chicago
. He bought 470 acres (1.9 km²) of land from Billy Silverwood, took over his bottling plant and intended to establish a brewery. While the brewery was never built, Glass had even bigger plans. An article in the November 9, 1912 Daily Phoenix
newspaper not only announced his purchase of the Silver Springs Farm, but also his intentions to establish an industrial city called "Factoria" on the site. It was promoted as having abundant natural resources - water, limestone, sand and clay - to support a variety of manufacturing ventures.
By 1913, several businesses had set up shop in Factoria. They included a flour mill, a farm implement dealer, two brick factories, a hotel and restaurant. A CN Railway
spur line had been extended to the site, and there were plans to incorporate as a village and to build a school and post office. However, the business owners were unable to pay for electricity to be supplied to the site, and by 1914 the economic picture turned sour. Outside capital (mainly from Britain) that fueled the prewar boom had evaporated in the lead-up to World War I
. Banks responded by putting a freeze on credit, which severely curtailed investment.
Glass's grandiose dream of an industrial city had failed, and most of Factoria's businesses closed within a few years. The once-lucrative bottling plant had closed by 1914; by then, the city had constructed its own filtration system, and runoff from Silverwood's livestock operation had contaminated the spring water. Both the Factoria Hotel and Factoria Restaurant were gone by 1915. The Northern Brick, Tile & Supply Company was struck from the province's register of companies in early 1916.
By April 1918, the sought-after power line was finally completed. The new owners of the Northland Milling Company flour mill, Interprovincial Flour Mills Ltd., paid the $4500 cost to secure the line. Saska Manufacturing Company (later Jackson Machines Ltd.) continued to operate until 1923. The flour mill outlasted all its neighbours; it was purchased by the Robin Hood Milling Company in 1927 and reportedly operated until the World War II
years.
. It is currently represented by Maurice Vellacott
of the Conservative Party of Canada
, first elected in 1997 and re-elected in 2000, 2004, 2006 and 2008.
Provincially, the area is within the constituency of Saskatoon Northwest
. It is currently represented by Gordon Wyant
of the Saskatchewan Party
, first elected in 2010.
In Saskatoon's non-partisan municipal politics, Silverwood Heights lies within ward 5. It is currently represented by Randy Donauer, first elected in 2010.
Silverwood Heights is a part of the Northwest division of the Saskatoon Police Services patrol system.
The Silverwood Heights Community Association organizes a variety of recreational, social, and educational programs for adults, children/youth, and preschoolers. It is also responsible for looking after area rinks and playgrounds, and is active in helping fund park development.
to the east, and Wanuskewin Road to the west. Roadways are laid out in a modern system of curving collector road
s and local roads.
Saskatoon
Saskatoon is a city in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. Residents of the city of Saskatoon are called Saskatonians. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344....
, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is a suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
an subdivision
Subdivision (land)
Subdivision is the act of dividing land into pieces that are easier to sell or otherwise develop, usually via a plat. The former single piece as a whole is then known in the United States as a subdivision...
, composed mostly of single detached dwellings and some multiple-unit apartment and semi-detached dwellings. As of 2009, the area is home to 10,786 residents. The neighbourhood is considered a middle to high-income area, with an average family income of $93,772, an average dwelling value of $324,547 and a home ownership rate of 78.8%. By land area and population, Silverwood Heights is the largest subdivision in Saskatoon.
Beginnings
The land that is now occupied by Silverwood Heights was originally owned by a number of parties. They included an 1891 grant to the Temperance Colonization Society, who established the first permanent settlement in the Saskatoon area (NutanaNutana, Saskatoon
Nutana is a primarily residential neighbourhood located near the center of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It includes the business district of Broadway Avenue. It comprises a nearly even mixture of low-density, single detached dwellings and apartment-style multiple unit dwellings. As of 2009,...
); a farmer from Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, John Malcolm Mark, who obtained land for a homestead in 1900; and Cleeve W. Taylor, another homesteader.
William Alexander "Billy" Silverwood arrived in Saskatoon from Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
in about 1907 and bought land two miles (3 km) north of the city limits. A livestock dealer by occupation, he built a large barn on his land (known as the Silver Springs Farm) to house his horses and cattle. By 1911, he opened the Silverwood Springs bottling plant, using spring water
Spring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
found on his farm. Saskatoon did not yet have a safe drinking water supply, and deaths caused by typhoid fever
Typhoid fever
Typhoid fever, also known as Typhoid, is a common worldwide bacterial disease, transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person, which contain the bacterium Salmonella enterica, serovar Typhi...
from contaminated well water were common. Until the city completed its own filtration system, Silverwood's bottled water was a popular commodity.
Factoria
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. He bought 470 acres (1.9 km²) of land from Billy Silverwood, took over his bottling plant and intended to establish a brewery. While the brewery was never built, Glass had even bigger plans. An article in the November 9, 1912 Daily Phoenix
Saskatoon StarPhoenix
The StarPhoenix is a daily newspaper that serves Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada and is a part of Postmedia Network.The StarPhoenix was first published as The Saskatoon Phenix on October 17, 1902 . In 1909, it became a daily paper and, in 1910, was renamed the Saskatoon Capital...
newspaper not only announced his purchase of the Silver Springs Farm, but also his intentions to establish an industrial city called "Factoria" on the site. It was promoted as having abundant natural resources - water, limestone, sand and clay - to support a variety of manufacturing ventures.
By 1913, several businesses had set up shop in Factoria. They included a flour mill, a farm implement dealer, two brick factories, a hotel and restaurant. A CN Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
spur line had been extended to the site, and there were plans to incorporate as a village and to build a school and post office. However, the business owners were unable to pay for electricity to be supplied to the site, and by 1914 the economic picture turned sour. Outside capital (mainly from Britain) that fueled the prewar boom had evaporated in the lead-up to World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Banks responded by putting a freeze on credit, which severely curtailed investment.
Glass's grandiose dream of an industrial city had failed, and most of Factoria's businesses closed within a few years. The once-lucrative bottling plant had closed by 1914; by then, the city had constructed its own filtration system, and runoff from Silverwood's livestock operation had contaminated the spring water. Both the Factoria Hotel and Factoria Restaurant were gone by 1915. The Northern Brick, Tile & Supply Company was struck from the province's register of companies in early 1916.
By April 1918, the sought-after power line was finally completed. The new owners of the Northland Milling Company flour mill, Interprovincial Flour Mills Ltd., paid the $4500 cost to secure the line. Saska Manufacturing Company (later Jackson Machines Ltd.) continued to operate until 1923. The flour mill outlasted all its neighbours; it was purchased by the Robin Hood Milling Company in 1927 and reportedly operated until the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
years.
Later years
As the businesses of Factoria failed, the land around them reverted back to farmland. The structures were abandoned and either gradually fell into ruins or were demolished. In August 1951, the Silverwood barn was struck by lightning and destroyed in the resulting fire. Remains of its stone foundation are still visible, located at the end of present-day Adilman Drive. The City of Saskatoon gained title to much of the land by 1968, and formally annexed the land for Silverwood Heights between 1975 and 1979. The H. McIvor Weir Wastewater Treatment Plant was constructed in the neighbourhood in 1971. The majority of homes were constructed between 1981 and 1985, with a few hundred more being built in the decade before and after that period. All that remains of the former Factoria structures are a few scattered and eroded foundations.Government and politics
Silverwood Heights exists within the federal electoral district of Saskatoon—WanuskewinSaskatoon—Wanuskewin
Saskatoon—Wanuskewin is a federal electoral district in Saskatchewan, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1997...
. It is currently represented by Maurice Vellacott
Maurice Vellacott
Maurice Vellacott is a Canadian politician. He has served in the Canadian House of Commons since 1997, and is currently the Conservative Member of Parliament for the riding of Saskatoon—Wanuskewin in the province of Saskatchewan....
of the Conservative Party of Canada
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
, first elected in 1997 and re-elected in 2000, 2004, 2006 and 2008.
Provincially, the area is within the constituency of Saskatoon Northwest
Saskatoon Northwest
Saskatoon Northwest is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, Canada. It covers the neighborhoods of Lawson Heights, Silverwood Heights and the surrounding area...
. It is currently represented by Gordon Wyant
Gordon Wyant
Gordon Wyant, QC is a lawyer and politician from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. He has served elected positions on two levels of government on the provincial and municipal level. Wyant currently serves as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan since winning a by-election in 2010...
of the Saskatchewan Party
Saskatchewan Party
The Saskatchewan Party is a conservative liberal political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The party was established in 1997 by a coalition of former provincial Progressive Conservative and Liberal party members and supporters who sought to remove the Saskatchewan New Democratic...
, first elected in 2010.
In Saskatoon's non-partisan municipal politics, Silverwood Heights lies within ward 5. It is currently represented by Randy Donauer, first elected in 2010.
Education
- Brownell School - public elementary, part of the Saskatoon Public School Division
- Silverwood Heights School - public elementary, part of the Saskatoon Public School Division
- St. Angela School - separate (Catholic) elementary, part of the Greater Saskatoon Catholic School Division
- École Sister O'Brien School - separate (Catholic) elementary, part of the Greater Saskatoon Catholic School Division. Named in honour of Sister Ann O'Brien, a distinguished member of the Sisters of Service.
- Marion M. Graham CollegiateMarion M. Graham CollegiateMarion M Graham Collegiate is the only public high school in the north end of Saskatoon, serving the Silverwood Heights, Lawson Heights, River Heights, Richmond Heights, and North Park neighbourhoods....
- public secondary, part of the Saskatoon Public School Division
Public Services
Fire Station #7 provides service to the north end of Saskatoon including Silverwood Heights and Lawson Heights.Silverwood Heights is a part of the Northwest division of the Saskatoon Police Services patrol system.
Parks and recreation
- Silverwood-Adilman Linkage - 1.9 acre (0.7689034 ha)
- W.J.L. Harvey Park South - 14.9 acres (6 ha)
- Meewasin Park - 20.5 acres (8.3 ha)
- W.J.L. Harvey Park North - 41.5 acres (16.8 ha)
The Silverwood Heights Community Association organizes a variety of recreational, social, and educational programs for adults, children/youth, and preschoolers. It is also responsible for looking after area rinks and playgrounds, and is active in helping fund park development.
Commercial
The only commercial development in Silverwood Heights are a couple of neighbourhood convenience stores. The rest of the land is zoned for residential use.Industrial
All of Silverwood's former industrial lands from the Factoria period have been converted to residential use. The only modern industrial facility is the City of Saskatoon's wastewater treatment plant on Whiteswan Drive.Location
Silverwood Heights is located within the Lawson Suburban Development Area. It is bounded by the Silverwood Golf Course to the north, Lenore Drive to the south, the South Saskatchewan RiverSouth Saskatchewan River
The South Saskatchewan River is a major river in Canada that flows through the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan....
to the east, and Wanuskewin Road to the west. Roadways are laid out in a modern system of curving collector road
Collector road
A collector road or distributor road is a low to moderate-capacity road which serve to move traffic from local streets to arterial roads. Unlike arterials, collectors are also designed to provide access to residential properties...
s and local roads.