Origin of Mulvihill's name:
The Post Office opened in 1912 as Mona on 12-23-6WPM and changed to Mulvihill in 1913. Also a Canadian National Railway Point on a Conservation Committee map (1911).
The Post Office was renamed after a Roman Catholic brother who was Reeve of the Rural Municipality of St. Laurent for many years. J. M. J. Mulvihill established a mission at St. Laurent under the direction of Father Camper.
MULVIHILL CIRCA 1929
(SETTLED 1908)
The orchestra of yesterday still plays the music for today and tomorrow.
The arrival of the Railroad in 1911 brought more settlers with hopes and dreams that would help to make Mulvihill a thriving community. It boasted a number of businesses that serviced people from Vogar, the Narrows and the surrounding area. This commercial center was comprised of a livery barn and horse drawn taxi; blacksmith shop; butchershop; sawmill; garage; boarding house; pool hall; stores; fish sheds; school; church and the coal dock.
The coal dock was a structure of eighty-six feet in height that held eighty tons of coal which was the yearly supply for the steam locomotives that travelled the line. The coal was transported to Mulvihill via box cars that held approximately forty five tons. This was hand loaded onto trolleys that were conveyed to the top of the structure and dumped into the bin for storage. Winter sometimes proved to be quite difficult as the coal would freeze and would require the aid of the coal dock operator. I can just imagine the dread that would permeate the soul of the coal dock operator when he would hear the three blast train whistle to indicate that he was required. I’m sure this would always happen on the coldest of nights.
The school was opened in 1911 and was replaced by another in 1928, then subsequently a third in 1940. The year 1968 was the final year of operation.
In 1954, the Prairie Farm Re-Habilitation Administration located a community pasture 2 ½ miles north of town, which covered eighteen thousand acres of land, with approximately sixty miles of fenceline. The pasture was increased in 1963 with the addition of Sleeve Lake Community Pasture, and became known as the Mulvihill Community Pasture under Agriculture Canada.
Mulvihill suffered its share of pain with the onset of the Spanish Flu in 1918, and a fire which claimed four businesses in 1919. These disasters did not quench the spirit of the settlers as there was always time for fun with the music of local musicians at barn dances or the Legion.
Andrew Mikula, a local farmer and operator of the coal dock recalls the many difficulties experienced in earlier years. He has had many experiences in his 85 years, and leaves this message to the younger generation.” Do not forget that what you are accomplishing today is building on the struggles of those who have gone before."