Did you know

Posted By The Encyclopedia of Manitoba

Posted 28 days ago

Lowe Farm got its name from a failed irrigation project. The community of 250, located in the R.M. of Morris, began in 1875 when English born newspaperman John Lowe - later the federal deputy minister of agriculture - and his brother James bought 15,000 acres of land in the Sperling area.

In 1889, the Northern Pacific set up a rail line here and in 1894, John Lowe initiated a stock option plan to finance the construction of a water pipeline from the Red River in Morris to “Lowe Farm” for irrigation. The project failed but the community kept its name.

Ontarians, Americans from Illinois and later Mennonites succeeded where Lowe failed. The post office opened in 1901.

Playwright Dean Harder was born and raised in Lowe Farm.

There is also a small Mennonite community in Mexico called Lowe Farm, after this community.