Cottages in Winnipeg Beach were built as early as 1903. Up until the early 19th century, wells were still dug by hand. It wasn’t until 1908 that mechanical drilling was used to create wells. The only other source of water (besides the lake) came from artesian wells that were located in a few places around the area.

These artesian wells ran all summer and winter ceasing only when the water tables were extremely low. As a true artesian well, water returns when the water table returns to normal levels.

To this day, the Laurel Avenue Artesian Well and its popularity draws people from great distances to fill their containers even though they have their own water supply.

Here is one of the Robertson grandaughters at the Artesian Well in the 1990s. At that time the water dispersed two ways. you could pump a bucket full, or fill up more slowly from the well outlet.

The Artesian well in 20203