Thunder Creek School DistrictIn 1892, the community under took to form a school district to establish a school. On Nov. 26, 1892 the first school meeting was held in the home of Henry Carins (Sec 10-4-32 W1)). At this meeting the Thunder Creek school district # 262 was marked out and on Dec. 10, 1892 was proclaimed an official district by lieutenant governor in Council. Mr. Robert Young was chairman and S. McMeechem and J.W. Carins trustees. A.J. Sproat tendered and was accepted to build a school house for the sum of $356.00. James Carins hauled the lumber from Carnduff for $2.25 a thousand. In Feb. 1893, the Board of Trustees were authorised to borrow $500.00 so that the school house might be constructed and properly furnished. Thus in 1893, Thunder Creek opened it's doors and for 28 years was the "little red school house" although it was painted white. As referred to in the old song reading and writing and 'rithmetic was taught to the tune of the hickory stick. It had many fond memories for those going to it including my Mother, Minnie Moore who attended at the age of 13 when she came west with her parents to the district as homesteaders, down to myself who attended it the first five years I went to school. The first teacher was Mrs. Rebecca Titus who at the time was homesteading with her husband 4 miles from the school on what we later as Dan Cinnamon farm. Mrs. Titus was the mother of Addie Roberts and Roy Norris' mother, Mrs. Joe Norris. She drove a horse and buggy 4 miles and her two daughters age 8 and 12 came with her for $35 a month. There were 13 pupils and and after 6 weeks of school she had the misfortune to break her arm when the horse ran away. School was closed for a short time. Mrs. Titus taught again for 6 months in the summer of 1895. Hard time struck and people moved away. For 4 years school was closed. In 1899, Mrs. Wilson from Broadview because teacher at a salary of $38.00 a month. She taught one term and married Tom Frost. Mrs. Frost was my mother's first teacher when she came to this country. My mother has often told of her first never to be forgotten morning at the prairie school. There were 6 or 7 new immigrant children to start that morning. They arrived at school and, after getting acquainted with the pupils already there, inquired about the teacher only to be informed that she was not there yet. Suddenly someone shouted "Here she comes" looking to the east was the wildest looking lady coming on a horseback just as fast as the horse could come. Hair blowing one way, book bag over her shoulder blowing the other way, coattail in the wind and dinner pail rattling. That was Mrs. Frost. Thunder Creek School was very much the same as any other country school. Teacher came, some married local lads and stayed in the district. Some left foe special reasons. Some were asked to leave and some just wanted a change, I do not suppose I can list them all but I will try to list most of them. Mrs. Titus [was the first teacher.] In 1900, W.G. Robinson was hired for 9 months [with] duties commencing March 19th with two weeks summer vacation. Salary was $40.00 a month. Miss Anne Campbell taught for 8 months in 1901. In 1902, Mr. E.A. Mac.Donald was hired but resigned within a month as he loaned money to some boys who used it to leave home and the parents threaten to thrash him. Miss Minnie Walker finished his term. Up until this time school was open only in summer. In 1904 a law was passed where school should be in operation the full year. A Miss Mallock was hired but was asked to resign, Miss Ward finished her year. In 1905, Miss Nellie Jackson became teacher and stayed two terms. In 1908, Miss Margaret Pierce became teacher at a salary of $100.00 a year. She resigned. They agreed to accept her resignation if she taught till another teacher was hired. If she refused she was to be summoned before a magistrate. She taught until the end of March. Miss McBean followed her with a salary of $60.00 a calender month. Taxation was now .5¢ per acre collected by the Sec. Treas. [Secretary Treasurer] of the Board. In 1909, trustees decided to charge children of non-resident parents 4¢ a day - Payable in Advance. Also to charge women's organisations who wised to hold entertainments in the school $2.00 an entertainment or a through cleaning of the school. Church services had still not been allowed in the school. During the year [1910], two teachers, Miss Henderson and Wm. Wilson were hired. Then the local board became lenient and allowed church services for $3.00 a year. There must have been a grain Growers Association in the district as they were allowed meetings in the school for $3.00 a meeting but for the entertainment they had the same agreement as the Ladies Club. In 1912, Mrs. Chas. Welshman was hired at a salary of $840.00. It was about this time in 1916 my sister Beryl and I started school as she was our first teacher. Mrs. Welshman was teaching in 1916. Miss Gertrude Wilson followed her then Miss M.A. MacDonald who was asked to leave; Mrs. Welshman taught again at a salary of $900.00. In 1917, church and organisations were granted free use of the school. In 1918, Miss Flora Harris was hired, She was a Carievale girl and married Frank Jenkins. They farmed south of Carievale until they retired and now reside in Weyburn. In 1919, Mr. Stan Ramsey was hired for $1000.00. There was one incident while Mr. Ramsey was teaching that always makes me remember him. One day about seven big boys stayed up in the barn loft and did not come in when the bell rang. I remember Frank Lauritzen and Oscar Casemo were two of them. When they did come in, Mr. Ramsey lined them up in front of the school and took a rung out of his big chair and said"Hold out your hands boys". No doubt they had sore hands for a while after. In 1920, Miss Lily Brown was hired for $1200.00. There were 28 students in grades one to eight. Miss Helen Eddy opened the school in 1921 and taught for one month. Miss Lizzie Gilchrist was hired from September until Christmas. She proved efficient in every manner and taught Thunder Creek school until 1935. People of the district pay great respect to her. Many pupils at that time had no other teacher. Some of the pupils included my brothers Oliver and Russell Wruth. Miss Gilchrist was one of those teachers feared and loved by most students. Her word was law and through school days and ever after her pupils held respect for her. Even the so called (Beck's Bad Boys) Joe Moore and Russell Wruth. In 1920, a new school was being discussed. After much consideration, on July 31, 1920, our Dad, Delbert Wruth made the motion on the books to have a new school built. The Department of Education was notified that a new school was to be built before Aug. 1st, 1921. Tenders were applied for and John Griffin's was accepted at $4500.00 and work to be completed by Oct. 15. On Oct. 10, 1921, all furniture and a telephone were moved in. How well I remember the luxury of indoor toilets instead of the old outhouse in cold weather. In 1942, the old school building was sold to Mr. Chas. Taylor for $171.00 and moved away.No doubt this so called old school yard reverted back to the quarter section it was on as the Dept. of Education or Board never had the title for the land. The new school was built on SE1/4 of 11-4-32 W1. just across the road to the north of the old school. In 1927, a new furnace was bought for $99.50. Some of the older girls cleaned the school at $4.00 a cleaning. To wash the ceiling we pout planks on desks, table on the planks and chairs on the tables. It took two days work and each got $1.00. Big Money eh? Hard times came in the thirties and all expenses were cut &emdash; fire lighting 25¢ a morning, coal hauling $1.50 a ton. Miss Balmer followed Miss Gilchrist. This was a hard role to fill and she was asked to resign. Ethel Hudgson taught until June 1937. She married Tom Chambers. Myrtle Wilson followed her, then Phyllis Price, Art Shanks,Magdalene Melton, Iva Palmer (whose salary was $750.00), Gertie East and Irene Lightfoot. Irene married my brother Oliver Wruth. In 1945, Dorothy Taylor started with the exception of about five months in the old school, had had all her schooling from one to ten in that same school and I feel certain in all under Miss Gilchrist's supervision. She taught until 1954 when Geraldine Young took over. Geraldine was not a qualified teacher but her salary was $2400. Then Mrs. Davis was hired. She had a son and a daughter so the teacherage was moved into the school yard. She taught until the school was closed in 1959 and students were taken by bus to Carievale. Several of the students going then were the third generation of the early pioneers of the district. Some of their grandparents had attended school at Thunder Creek. |
|
