When the Canadian Pacific Railway announced it would put a line through Rose Valley north to Tisdale in 1924, the citizens of Dahlton, about twelve miles west of the future line, decided to ask the CPR to establish a townsite directly east of Dahlton to give the hamlet a close shipping point.
As the new townsite would be between Algrove and Nora, which the railway had intended to become the major shipping points for the area, chances were against Dahlton's proposal being accepted. However, the Council of the RM of Barrier Valley, which included the Hamlet of Dahlton, sent a request to the railway.
Somehow, the Council got the railway to agree to setting up a new townsite about 40 miles south of Tisdale. It was named Archerwill after two RM councillors and the secretary-treasurer: ARchie Campbell, ERvie Hanson and WILL Pierce.
Ervie Hanson, Adolph Christiaens, Victor Johnson, Andrew Stromberg and Elias Johnson cleared the railroad right-of-way through Archerwill for $30 an acre. The railroad was completed with the first train arriving through the district in 1925.
After the townsite of Archerwill was laid out in 1923, a sizeable hamlet soon grew, and it became necessary to provide a school for the area between Heimdahl School Disctrict and Port Arthur School District. The new school district was established by proclamation on November 10, 1925. Archerwill's first school was built in 1926.
In 1924, Councillors Hanson and Campbell attended a SARM convention where they met the postal superintendent. They received permission to start a post office in Archerwill. Einar Olafson was the first postmaster. George Nomeland was postmaster for a time followed by V. McElroy who held the position for many years. Next were Les Richards, Pearl Richards, Albert Schultz, Sharon Head (daughter of Les and Pearl) followed by current postmistress Cheryl MacDonald.
When the CPR came through Archerwill, the mail was sorted on the train, put in bags and taken to the Archerwill post office. Then the mail was hauled to Dahlton, Barrier Lake and Saint Front post offices. Lawrence Plamondon was the last mail carrier from Archerwill. In the early 1960's, the mail came from Tisdale instead.
In 1939, a second school room was added with a third room following in 1945. The new school had grades one to twelve.
The Hamlet of Archerwill became a village in 1947. The first Overseer was Joe C. Hill and the first Councillors were Victor Johnson and Ken L. Waters. The first Secretary-Treasurer was V. R. McElroy.
In 1947, the old Barrier Lake School was moved in making a fourth classroom. A new school building was built in 1953 and opened in January 1954 featuring four classrooms on the main floor with room for three more on the lower level.
Between 1955 to 1963, the following country schools were closed and students then came by bus to Archerwill: Port Arthur, Marneau Lake, Felton Grove, Bradgate, Newgate Park, Loring, Echo Park, Nora, Algrove, Barrier Lake, Everton, Nobleville and Dahlton. In 1959, the schools from Echo Park and Marneau Lake were moved in to accommodate the increased enrollment.
A telephone exchange was moved from Dahlton to Archerwill in 1957. Mrs. Hedin was the first operator. Later, Les and Pearl Richards took it over. When direct dialing came into effect, Mr. Richards left to become the postmaster.
Pearl Richards
The summer of 1963 saw the construction of a new school building on the north side of Highway 35. It opened in February 1964 with classrooms for Grades nine to twelve.
In 1969 - 1970, Grade 12 students rode the bus to Rose Valley due to a teacher shortage. Since then, Grades 10 - 12 have been attending school there.
Kindergarten began at Archerwill School starting 1974 - 1975. The High School was renovated in 1985 and has Kindergarten to Grade Nine students attending in that building. The school also plays host to Playschool for preschool age children.
July 29, 30 & 31, 2005 was "Celebrate our past, our present and our future - Come Home to Archerwill" homecoming to commemorate Saskatchewan's 100th year as a province!
The Centennial Gardens was created following the provincial centenary celebrations in 2005. Land was donated by the Folstad Family, Vivian Jarvis and Pat Matheson. It was built and continues to be maintained by volunteers.
On October 22, 2017, Member of Parliament for Yorkton-Melville Cathay Wagantall presented the Archerwill Garden Club with a Canada 150 Community Volunteer Award. The Garden Club ladies were represented at the awards ceremony in Yorkton by a few of the volunteers President Sharon Head and members Karen Anderson, Carmel Fountain, Annette Kozak and Sharon Quaal. Centennial Gardens is on Twitter as @ArchCenGardens.
HM Queen Elizabeth II Park is a children's park located on 3rd Avenue W. It was named to honour Canada's Queen becoming our longest reigning monarch on September 9, 2015.
While it was an already existing playground for children, the time had come for new equipment. Volunteers ran fundraising Friday Night Family Bingos and other events. The Village of Archerwill and Cornerstone Credit Union also contributed along with a CIF grant. The park is on Twitter as @HMQE2Park.
The Archerwill Café (probably built in the late 1920s), most recently operating as Diner Thirty Five, burned down in a fire on June 23, 2016. The actions of the Archerwill Volunteer Fire Department, along with the Rose Valley Volunteer Fire Department, saved the adjacent Archerwill Hotel and the Post Office.
Grandma Viv's Restaurant building, after sitting empty for a few years, was sold to Rocanville Golf Club and moved there in the fall of 2021.
The Archerwill Hotel last operated by Veronica Prevost closed its doors for business December 31, 2021.
The Cornerstone Credit Union closed its doors at the end of June 2022. Members must now travel to the Rose Valley or Tisdale branches for in person services.
The Prairie North Co-op Archerwill C-Store was renovated in 2023/2024 and now provides liquor sales in the old garage area as well as new pumps and cardlock.
