SPRAGUE, MANITOBA

History

Sprague get its name from Dan Sprague, an English gentleman who came to the area to make use of the lumber reserves.  Some time around 1885, Mr. Sprague formed the Sprague Lumber Company.  The company sent wood upriver by booms to Point Douglas where a sawmill cut it into lumber for Winnipeg's booming housing construction.  

In 1900, the railway arrived into the area due to the efforts of about 300 men who constructed the railway by hand, using little more than shovels, axes, and wheelbarrows.  This facilitated the movement of wood to Winnipeg and opened the area up for further development.  The railway also connected Sprague with Thunder Bay (via Warroad, MN), Rainy River, and Fort Frances.  

The Canadian National Railway's first agent to the area, Mr. Robert Conklin, was sent from Winnipeg.  The second agent, John Ely Canham, lived in Sprague until his death.  R.G. Mills became the 3rd railway agent upon Mr. Canham's retirement.  Mills was also the song of Sprague's first Customs officer, Wm. Mills.  The customs building and the railroad station were housed in the same building until the 1960's, upon which, the Custom's building was moved to the 49th parallel near Middlebro.

The CNR also participated in starting Sprague's first school.  The railway company lent a box car to Mrs. Emes, the area's first nurse and schoolteacher.  Mrs. Emes acted as the region's doctor, midwife, nurse, and teacher for many years... all while raising 7 children of her own.

SPRAGUE AND DISTRICT HISTORICAL MUSEUM ( MORE INFORMATION )

CANADA CUSTOMS PORT OF ENTRY

• OPEN 24 HOURS

• DUTY FREE SHOP (WEB SITE)

COMMUNITY EVENTS

• August - Western Fest

• November - Flea Market, Fall Supper

• December - New Years Dance

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

• Sprague Chamber of Commerce

• Evergreen Seniors Group

  • available to rent for showers, birthdays, family events

• Meals on Wheels Program

  • Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays weekly

  • Cost is $ 4

• Wellness Program

  • Monday evenings and Thursday afternoons

RECREATION AREAS

• Sprague & Area Community Arena

• Sprague Community Hall

• Sprague Baseball Grounds

SPIRITUAL

• Pentecostal Church

• Non-Denominational Church

BUSINESSES (Postal Code R0A 1Z0)

Silver Birch Resort Lodge & Outfitter	204-437-2443
Contact:  Leonard Friesen	www.silverbirchresort.com
Joe Emes - Sand/Gravel/Fill	204-437-2374
Contact: Joe Emes
Don Jernberg - Backhoe/Custom Mowing/Snow Removal	204-437-2374
Contact: Don Jernberg
Kits Duty Free Shop - Duty Free Shop (Middlebro)	204-437-2107
Contact: Verna Kittleson	kittsdfs@mb.sympatico.ca
Sprague Credit Union	204-437-2371 Fax. 437-2139
	sprague@communitycu.mb.ca
Border Shell - Gas Station / Restaurant/Grey Goose Bus Depot	204-437-2116
Contact: Richard & Linda Cabana
Carl & Kay's Solo Store - General Store / Post Office / MLCC Liquor	204-437-2353
Contact: Carl/Murray Machej
Cole International  - Customs Broker	204-437-2110 Fax. 437-2293
Contact: Allan Fostey
Conrad Sigurdson - Raw Forest Products	204-437-2226
Contact: Conrad Sigurdson
Little Rascals Nursery School - Pre-School Program	204-437-2175
Frankenland Farms - Organic Cow/ Calf Operation	204-437-2762
Contact: Holger Schoenbach
Holmgren's Ready - Move Homes	204-437-2023
Contact: Dennis & Lorelei Konchak	info@holmgrenhomes.com
J. Hovorka & Sons Ltd. - Raw Forest Products/Bark Dealer/ Saw Mill	204-437-2210
Contact: Bronco Hovorka
Sprague Hotel - Rooms & Beverage Room	204-437-2245
Contact: Fern Marques
DDT Trucking - Custom Hauling	204-437-3096
Contact: Dion Jernberg
Best Wrench Auto - Auto Repair	204-437-3003
Contact: Mark Janz
A Trashy Little Business - Garbage Removal	204-437-2739
Contact: James Wiens
Dolores Sandul - Watkins Distributor	204-437-2011
Contact: Dolores Sandul
Cindy Ross - Avon	204-437-2589
Contact: Cindy Ross
East Borderland Primary Care Center	204-437-3015
Remona's Fashions - Custom Clothing	204-437-2895
Contact: Remona Dyck
Bernie's Repair Shop - Small engine repair	204-437-3028
Contact: Bernie Weinberger
Gail's Painting & Cleaning - House Cleaning & Painting	204-437-2673
Contact: Gail Olson
Szeder Repair - Plumbing	204-437-2514
Contact: Andy Szeder
Melanie's Scrapbooking - Scrapbooking Supplies & Corner Parties	204-437-2698
Contact: Melanie Parent

For more information about the RM of Piney area, please contact:

Andrea Rozsa
South East Angle Community Corporation (SEACC)
Box 71,
Sprague Manitoba
Canada  R0A 1Z0

PHONE/FAX 1-204-437-2892
9 AM - 3 PM CST

E-MAIL