Heritage Explorer

1905-1961

The village of Broomhill began as a Post Office in the 1890's. When the railway arrived and Mr. Kilkenny built this large store it became a small village.

Origins

Broomhill suffered a fate similar to other small farming communities in the prairies, and all that remains is the decaying buildings. Homesteads dotted the surrounding area, which were filled with settlers that supported families with the hard work and hard times of farming. The community’s remains can be found near the Town of Melita, west of the City of Brandon in the extreme southwestern part of Manitoba.

Notable People

William Kilkenny – Born in Scotland on May 13, 1863, he emigrated to Canada with his family in 1885 and settled on a farm in an area of southwestern Manitoba that subsequently became known as Broomhill. In 1892, he was appointed postmaster at Broomhill, holding the position until his death. In 1893, a sample of his wheat won a first prize at the World's Fair in Chicago. He had eleven children with his wife Isabella Jeffrey. He died of a heart failure in Melita on October 25, 1919. He is buried at the Broomhill cemetery.

. . . . .

Author: Jesse Garden

Source:

Reflections of Time: A History of the R. M. of Albert. Tilston: The Municipality, 1984.