Anerley before the railway was a well-established community, but when the Canadian Northern Railway laid down tracks from Saskatoon, the post office and Anerley School district were skidded into the town site by a large steam-powered tractor.

During the move sparks from the tractor started a small prairie fire, that was soon put out by the townsfolk.

[5] In 1912 the Canadian Northern Railway (later Canadian National Railway) brought in lines from Saskatoon, soon after the first two grain elevators were built.

A third elevator was built in 1928 by Saskatchewan Wheat Pool.

William Higgitt (November 10, 1917 – April 2, 1989) was the 15th Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) commissioner (October 1, 1969 – December 28, 1973; succeeding Malcolm Lindsay) and president of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) (1972–1976; succeeding Paul Dickopf).