Barrier River School District # 245
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The Barrier River School District was formed in 1911.
In a hand written letter dated April 12, 1912, school district Secretary-Treasurer W. H. Prosper described the projected school building and construction costs thus:
In a hand written letter dated April 12, 1912, school district Secretary-Treasurer W. H. Prosper described the projected school building and construction costs thus:
I now have the pleasure of stating that the building in question will be 24' x 30' inside, will be built on a concrete foundation ... a brick chimney from floor to 3 or 4 ft outside ... heated by one of Waterman Waterbury heaters. There will be a vestibule with cloak room on either side of front door. Fenced round with a wire fence - a small stable and usual “out offices” it is estimated that this will more than swallow up the 1200 $ as follows - Materials - Lumber, Bricks, Windows, Doors, Shingles, Nails, etc. $463.00 Heating Apparatus $140. Haulage $50. Building Contract $400. Equipment $250.
Secretary-Treasurer W. H. Prosper
A letter from the Deputy Minister, dated April 19, 1912, authorized the board of trustees to “borrow the sum of $1200.00 by debenture.” The school was constructed on SE6-42-14-W2. When the school opened, first teacher was Miss Pierce.
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It appears that all did not go smoothly in the new school district. In a hand written letter to the Department of Education, dated March 17, 1913, Secretary-Treasurer W. H. Proper wrote:
Under instructions from the Board I beg to inform you that they have come to the decision that the school must be closed. The reason for this is primarily that those parents who have children of school age will not send them to school, neither will they pay the taxes. ... Since Christmas there have been times when only one child has attended school ... the Trustees feel they cannot go on incurring liabilities. ... The Board recognise the fact that the snow is deep and the weather severe but these same children can be out and about at home but it has come to the knowledge of the board that the parents do not intend sending the children out of shear cussedness and they feel it would at present be useless prosecuting them. ...
Secretary-Treasurer W. H. Proper
On April 1, 1913 the Deputy Minister replied:
... and regret to note that the attendance in your school has fallen so low. If the small attendance is due to carelessness and lack of interest on the part of the parents there is a law to compel these parents to send their children to school and your trustees would be justified in taking action under the compulsory section of the School Act. There is also a law to compel ratepayers to pay their taxes and it seems to the Department that your trustees have a duty to perform in this connection. The children in your district should receive the advantage of an education and if the parents are not intelligent enough to understand this then your trustees should take the matter in hand. ....
Deputy Minister of Education
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The school did not close in 1913, but continued until June of 1954. The last teacher was Theresa (Boulanger) Parmentier.
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The Teachers: (The list may be incomplete)
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Miss Pierce |
Laura Kipling |
Wilma Reed |
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Conrad Hague |
Alice Shamrock |
Thelma Boxal |
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Bertie Grieves |
Miss Agar |
Marion Porte |
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Lilian Thompson |
Miss Stillborn |
Jean McCall |
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Mrs. Greenwood |
Jean Campbell |
Winnie McConnel |
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Mildred Baade |
Clare Sather |
Amy Hustan |
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Margaret Baade |
Helen Hill |
Irene Rude |
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Mrs. McRorie |
Miss Danes |
Mrs. Marcott |
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Albert Baumgarten |
Miss Percy |
Lois Borland |
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Phyllis Light |
Eugene Paul |
Marg Gaulschi |
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Irene Hunker |
Doris Miller |
Norma Daynes |
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Alfred Loft |
Basil March |
Theresa (Boulanger) Parmentier |
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Some information abstracted from Memories along the Barrier, McKague Historical Society, 1983
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