Ghost Town: Solsgirth, Manitoba, Reduced to Three Families and Abandoned Homes

Solsgirth, a former farming community in Manitoba, Canada, has dwindled to a near-forgotten settlement with only three families remaining as of 2021, according to reports. Once a bustling hub with shops, a railway station, and two churches, the village now features abandoned homes and deserted buildings, earning it the moniker of a 'ghost town'.

Resident Garry Workman described the dramatic population decrease to the Manitoba Co-Operator, stating, "Once a bustling thoroughfare of businesses, homes and residents, a mere three families now live in the village, counting myself as a family." Workman, who returned to Solsgirth in 1962, witnessed the settlement's gradual decline as agricultural operations consolidated and families moved to larger towns.

The hamlet, originally located about six miles north of its current position and known as Toddburn, relocated when the railway shifted its planned route. Photographer Dave Conlon captured images of the area, noting, "The whole town picked up and followed it."

Among the derelict structures are St Stephen's Anglican Church, built in 1906, and Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church, which was converted from a schoolhouse that closed in 1958. Inside St Stephen's, religious texts, including an old Oxford Holy Bible, and wooden pews remain. The domes of Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church were handcrafted by local carpenter Michael 'Mike' Swistun, who had a background in circus strongman performances.

Both churches held their final services in 2002, just four months apart. St Stephen's Anglican Church was sold to the Prairie Mountain Regional Museum for one Canadian dollar (approximately 50 pence), though plans for its relocation did not materialize. Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church was sold to private buyers with intentions to convert it into a residence, though historical records indicated this conversion was incomplete by 2016.

Many of the remaining houses are obscured by overgrown vegetation, and some still contain personal belongings. Inside one neglected property, an old television sits atop a washing machine, surrounded by framed pictures and assorted clutter. Another room is filled with a collection of baseball caps.

The decline of Solsgirth mirrors a broader trend affecting rural communities across Canada, as larger agricultural operations and the migration of populations to urban centers lead to the gradual fading of smaller settlements.