Indians resulting in a
blow to ones head; hence the name Brokenhead. The first pioneers began to
settle in this area around 1895. Here the pioneers struggled to maintain a way of life. A
community began to develop with a store, a chapel and saw mills.
Moving into the eastward
direction, the settlements of Hadashville, Prawda and McMunn were established around 1900
by immigrants arriving from Europe. Their dream was to find better land and to free
themselves from undue hardships encountered in Europe. Much to their dismay they arrived
in an area comprised of both swamp and thick forests.
The settlement of East
Braintree began in 1913 with the onset of the construction of the Greater Winnipeg Water
District railway and aqueduct.
The names of these small
communities originated from peoples surnames or villages from another country.
Hadashville was named after
the first postmaster, Charles Hadash. Prawda was named by a school teacher and postmaster
Mr. Andrusko. The name Prawda, which means truth, was given by him on the recollection of
a town by the same name in Ukraine. McMunn was named after the first postmaster James A.
McMunn. East Braintree was named after Victor Watson who came from Braintree, Mass. To
avoid mistaken mail deliveries, Ottawa requested the addition of the word East
to Braintree, hence the name East Braintree.
With the determination and
stamina of the pioneers, these small communities began to flourish rapidly each supporting
a post office, store(s), schools; and, some community church(s) and a nursing station.
Eventually in time, garages, restaurants, motels, hotels and community clubs were
constructed. These tight knit communities began forming clubs and hosting their own annual
events such as agricultural fairs.
As time advanced, some of
these communities today are comprised solely of residences. But as we enter into a new
century, the beauty of nature has not changed in any way throughout these communities.
Today the RM of Reynolds continues to thrive as a great place to live, work and raise a
family. |