Over a century old, the Haskett Store is a fond memory from many people’s past. From its early beginnings as various stores to ultimately becoming a home, it has touched people’s lives over the last century.

 

Through all the changes, it remains a long-standing icon in the community that offers a glimpse into a past that is remembered by many. Haskett is a community two kilometres north of the U.S. border, about 16 kilometres south and three kilometres west of Winkler.

In 1907, Haskett was established by a Mr. Haskett from Iowa. In 1908, a building was moved to Haskett from Winkler and became the Haskett General Store. Its first proprietor was Peter M. Elias, son of Gerhard A. Elias.

The town's first post office was originally in this store, temporarily moving to a store operated in a different building by William M. Elias before later returning. Over the years, the store was owned by various people and was called different names depending on who owned or operated it. It has been known as: the Elias' Store, Letkeman's Store, Sawatzky's Store, Janzen's Store, Reimer's Store and Friesen's Store.

Nevertheless, it was a general store that offered basic groceries, hardware, cloth, some clothing at times, and snacks. It was also a meeting place where people picked up the mail, visited, and children waited to be picked up after school. It served an area much bigger than the Haskett area itself, with people coming from surrounding villages and communities to the west in the Pembina Hills.

In 1970 the store closed, and from 1972 to 1974 it was used as a residence for the William and Margaret Siemens family. John and Dora Eberhardt and family then moved there in 1975 and by 2009, Dora Eberhardt was the only person left living there.