Old Spasovka Cemetery – Blaine Lake District, Saskatchewan

The following is a transcription of Old Spasovka Cemetery located 14 miles north-east of Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan. Rural Municipality of Blaine Lake No. 434. Land location: NW14-45-5 West of Third. Latitude: 52°53.039. Longitude: 106°37.628. Compiled by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff on July 7, 2007.  Updated on January 28, 2008.

View of the cemetery from the grid road facing east. It is located on top of the hill, mid-photo.

Historical Background

Old Spasovka Cemetery was established in 1899 by the Doukhobors of Spasovka village near Blaine Lake. Following the abandonment of the village in 1916, the cemetery ceased to be actively used.  Thereafter, the Doukhobors living in the vicinity established a newer, second cemetery nearby.  The cemetery is partially overgrown and is privately owned.

Layout

The cemetery is half an acre in size and is enclosed by fence posts. There is no gate. The cemetery contains approximately 15 interments in one or more rows facing east-west. The graves were unmarked, however many of the mounds are still clearly visible.  I have used oral tradition to identify 11 of these.  The remaining unmarked graves are unidentified.

Driving Directions

To access the cemetery, travel east from the Town of Blaine Lake on Township Road No. 445 for 10 miles (16.1 km). Then turn north on Range Road No. 3052 and continue for 4 miles (6.4 km). Stop at the gate on the east (right) side of the road.  The cemetery is located 1/4 mile (.4 km) east of the road allowance, on a prominent hill, along the north property line of the quarter-section. This cemetery is on private property and permission to access should be obtained by the owners.

Transcription

Surname Name Birth Date Death Date Comments
Berekoff child Child of Nikolai & Mary – No Marker
Berekoff Wasyl No Marker
Chernoff Vasunya No Marker
Konkin child No Marker
Konkin Anastasia G. No Marker
Konkin John A. No Marker
Konkin Lukeria N. 1887 Nee Makaroff – No Marker
Konkin Marfa G. 1891 No Marker
Konkin Vasily M. 1834 1903 No Marker
Perehudoff Kuzma No Marker
Podovilnikoff John No Marker

In addition to the above, the following families resided in Spasovka village and may have members buried in Old Spasovka Cemetery: Babakaeff, Berekoff, Chernoff, Demosky, Holoboff, Hoodikoff, Kabatoff, Konkin, Maloff, Osachoff, Pepin, Perepolkin, Podovilnikoff, Popoff, Rebalkin, Savenkoff, Shukin, Stupnikoff, Tarasoff.

A close-up view of the cemetery on the hill from the west facing east.

View from the cemetery on top of the hill facing west toward the grid road.

Notes

Various sources of data have been used in compiling this information including oral tradition. Special thanks to Deanna Konkin and Maurice Postnikoff for assisting in locating the cemetery and identifying interments.  This is a work in progress. If readers have any comments, corrections or additions with respect to Old Spasovka Cemetery, please contact Jonathan J. Kalmakoff.