The Kelles (Kelesides) Family

Around 1926, the Kelles ( Kelesides) family moved to Saskatoon.  However, it wasn’t until 1929 that members of the family were individually listed in the Saskatoon Henderson Directory.  Paul Kelles identified as a cook, and his brother Thomas, as well as their mother Louisa Kelles and Paul’s children Annie, Christ (an employee of the Savoy Café) and Louie (an employee of the Silver Grey Café) were listed as living together at 506 Fifth Avenue North. Then, in 1930, the Directory did not list any members of this family living in the city.  This would correspond the family’s relocation to resort property at Crystal Lake, approximately two miles south of Harris, Saskatchewan, and 52 miles southwest of Saskatoon.

The brothers, Tom Kelles and Paul Kelles, bought the lakeside holiday resort in 1929. The resort,  known as Crystal Beach, included a swimming pool, four tennis courts, 18-hole golf course, baseball diamond, picnic and camping area, rental cottages, and boating facilities.  The resort was popular throughout the province for evening dances held two to three times a week in the summer in an on-site pavilion; live music was provided by the Crystal Beach orchestra.  The pavilion could accommodate up to 600 couples.  A large dining room with booths  served meals to visitors, with fowl suppers on Sundays being very popular (Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, July 8, 1929, p. 5 and August 6, 1930, p. 7.).

Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, July 20, 1929, p. 7..

The resort was accessible by rail and a short walk from the “CNR tank”, where trains took on water and passengers were allowed to disembark.

The resort attracted golfers through a membership arrangement that in 1930, had about 60 members; numerous tournaments were held during the summers.  Similarly, an annual tennis tournament attracted players from many parts of the province.  The ball diamonds hosted well-attended tournaments which included teams from the United States who came to play local teams.  The picnic area hosted Sunday schools, employee picnics, community events, and holiday celebrations (Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, August 6, 1930, p. 7).

In 1930 and 1931, the Kelles brothers  invested $16,000 on improvements to the property.  These upgrades included new lighting, a new pier and diving board, a refrigerator for the kitchen, and a piano.  The on-site rental cottages were renovated and new bedding was bought.  A new “dining salon” that could seat up to 200 people was opened and the dance hall was redecorated (Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, May 8, 1930, p. 13 and May 12, 1931, p. 14).

Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, July 24, 1931, p. 5.

In 1933, the lake shore was cleared of bush and undergrowth to double the lakeshore’s space for swimming.  A new wharf to accommodate row boats was constructed (Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, June 6, 1933, p. 13).  The lakefront was often crowded with swimmers during the summer.

In 1936 and 1937, the Kelles family grieved the passing of Louisa and her son, Paul.  Thomas continued to operate the Crystal Beach resort as the  identified proprietor.

Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, June 25, 1940, p. 21.

Crystal Lake was not spared from the environmental impact of the Dirty 30s.  The water in the lake was receding.  A well was drilled to supply water to the swimming pool to keep attracting swimmers, but this was not enough to keep visitors’ interest in the resort.

In 1942, Thomas along with his nephews, Louis and Christ, and Jim Stevenson opened the Arcade Cafe in Saskatoon (265 Second Avenue South).  Thomas continued to operate and improve the Crystal Beach resort.

Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, June 26, 1945, p. 13.

In 1944, Louis was identified as the manager of the resort.  Then, in 1947, Thomas began looking for buyers, indicating that he was doing this because of “poor health”.   A year later, he suggested he was willing to sell at a “sacrifice price” (Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, January 21, 1948, p. 17).   In 1948, the Arcade Café was sold to a partnership consisting of Jim Boulis, Nick Cassios, and Ted Soromokos.

Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, June 12, 1947, p. 21.

Unable to find a buyer for the entire resort, Thomas (who had moved to Victoria, British Columbia) tried in 1949 to sell the entire 240-acre resort by auction.   He described the value of the property (at “actual cost”) at $60,000.  A notice of the auction in the September  8, 1949, edition identified the numerous components of the resort which were being sold.

Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, September 8, 1949, p. 12.

A sale was not completed until the early 1950s and not before a fire destroyed the 250 ft. by 60 ft. pavilion/dance hall, ice cream parlour, refreshment booth, and several pieces of equipment (Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, May 25, 1950, p. 3).    The fire, as well as the effects of the drought, left the Crystal Beach resort with little to attract visitors – “the dried-out lake bottom and the crumbling foundations of the old dance hall and café [reminded] that once, there too, was a fine golf course, tennis courts, and cottages” (Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, August 12, 1967, p. 13).

Researched and written by Ken Pontikes, September 18, 2024.

Sources:  Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, various editions; “Crystal Beach”, Geocashing, https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC13VM6 .