Hello,

 

My name is Leander Keith Lane. I was born and raised in Edmonton.  I am co-founder and have been President of the Shiloh Baptist Church and Cemetery Restoration Society since its incorporation as a society in Alberta in Oct 2001. We have also been incorporated in Saskatchewan since 2002

 

I am descended from Julius Caesar Lane who co-founded this African American pioneer settlement in Saskatchewan in 1910. The people who once lived in this community are now remembered as the Shiloh People named in honor of the little log building they constructed and once worshipped in

 

Shiloh Church was constructed circa 1911. By 1971 there was only one elderly couple (Harvey and Lucille Mayes) who were descended from this all Black community still living in the area. In that year concerned local white people noticed the logs had deteriorated to such an extent that the structure was in danger of imminent collapse. They stabilized the building with steel tractor blades tying the walls together, and did other minor repairs for the 1971 Saskatchewan province-wide “Homecoming Celebration”.

 

By 2001 the building was once again in serious danger of collapsing. Several concerned descendants of this historic Black community came together to found the Shiloh Baptist Church and Cemetery Restoration Society.

 

As president of the society I spearheaded fund raising and oversaw the restoration work which began in Oct of 2004, and was finished in 2007. The restoration was carried out in several stages. Part of the process consisted of lifting the building, pouring concrete foundation, pads and replacing many of the rotten logs. The replacement logs were hewn to replicate the original design. The original fieldstone foundation was replaced on top of the concrete pads while new log floor joists were also installed. The second stage consisted of chinking and mudding the logs then finished off with new cedar shingles on the roof in 2007. 

 

The total cost including condition assessment plan, log work mud, chinking and shingles was just under $60,000.00

 

In order to raise the money we tapped many sources. First we reached out to the community and received over $25,000.00 in donations from Black descendants, Saskatchewan people, and organizations. Donations came in all sizes with average being about one-hundred dollars.

 

We also received from the Maidstone Recreation Board a total of $1100.00 in grants during various stages of the project.

 

In 2008 the restoration effort received the Saskatchewan Architectural heritage award for Excellence. The citation read in part that "the Project was excellent example of preservation of original wood fabric, with replacement only of those members that were beyond preservation.  It therefore stands as an excellent example for others who are considering restoration of a log or frame heritage structure.  We are pleased to recognize this project in the Exterior Restoration category".