A duo of historic early twentieth-century structures with stories about local life and landscape can be found in an unassuming and unincorporated community in southwest Saskatchewan.
The community of Burnham is home to Cutbank School, which operated from 1908 to 1954 in School District #1822, which was formed only a year prior to the school's opening.
The building now serves as the Burnham Community Hall and is located at the corner of Township Road 152 and Range Road 3114, west of the Third Meridian.
As the community hall, the building has been updated with newer shingles and steel siding to better withstand the elements.
Minimal documentation and archives about Cutbank School are available.
Located only a few feet away from Cutbank School is another testament to time and local history.
A more-than-a-century-old cenotaph stands guard over the old school, serving as a memorial monument honouring local individuals who lost their lives during the world's most prominent wars.
According to John Griffin, public relations officer for the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 56, the monument was made with stone cairn and was constructed from local field stone, which makes up the base that the grey granite cenotaph sits on.
On July 11, 1923, the engraved cenotaph was erected to honour the half a dozen soldiers from the community who were killed in action during World War One.
An additional two names were added to the engraving in 1965 to commemorate a duo of locals who perished in World War Two.
