Country Canada Census Division No. 2 NTS Map 062H10 Province Manitoba | Region Eastman Time zone CST (UTC−6) GNBC Code GAWOL Area code 204 | |
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Randolph is a small community in the Rural Municipality of Hanover, Manitoba, Canada. It is located one mile north of Highway 52 on Provincial Road 206. The community has an estimated population of 70.
Contents
Map of Randolph, MB, Canada
History
Originally known as Chortitz, the community was founded in the 1874 by Mennonite immigrants who came from Russia to settle the lands known as the East Reserve. The village agreement was signed in 1877 by fifteen Mennonite families; eight Bergthaler and seven Chortitzer. By 1883, only six of the original families remained while new residents moved in. All the houses and residential yards were on the north side of the original street, which ran differently from the present Randolph Road, due to a resurvey when the municipality established the road.
The community received the name Randolph when the Manitoba government established a local school district in the early 1900s. Canada Post later established the postal district of Randolph. The local post office operated out of a local business until 2008.
The most noteworthy structure at Randolph is the Chortitz Heritage Church, which was established in 1876. It was likely the first Mennonite church in western Canada and granted heritage status by the municipality in 2014. The Randolph Heritage Cemetery is located across the road from the church.
The Randolph Rink, located south of the community, was a popular outdoor hockey rink built in the 1960s. The rink was featured on the CBC Television series On the Road Again. It was used until 2006 and demolished in 2009. A group of local residents later transformed a building housing the community's former automobile repair business into a new recreation centre for the community. The non-profit Randolph Sports Club opened in 2015.