Bateman

History

Upon arrival in 1908, Jim Bateman took possession of a quarter section of land on the banks of Notukeu Creek (a tributary of Wood River). In 1911, Bateman opened a post office. His daughter Lydia was sworn in as the post mistress and drove up to St. Boswells, northwest of Bateman, with her father to pick up the community's first mail bag. During its pioneer times of great prosperity, Bateman had over 300 residents during the late 1920s. Bateman was also a focal point for small family grain farmers in the region. The community once boasted four grain elevators, a bank, a theatre, restaurants, two gas stations, two churches, three grocery stores, skating and curling rink, and two implement businesses. The community even had its own power plant and street light system.