Hillworth School District No. 4948

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At a meeting in September of 1931, plans were finalized to purchase two acres of land, a portion of NW21-47-11-W2, from O. Brochu at $12 per acre. Volunteer help cleared the land and hauled logs during the winter. Building commenced after the seeding in 1932 with Mr. Hurd as foreman at $.25 per hour and much volunteer labour. The logs were erected in the round and held together with wooden pegs which were driven into hand-drilled two-inch holes. Then the logs were squared, chinked and plastered, inside and out, with lime, sand and cement.

Hillworth was named from the last syllable of trustee Underhill and secretary Illingworth. The school opened August 15, 1932 with twenty-seven pupils. The first teacher, Miss Velda Hardie, was paid an annual salary of $400 and the attendance officer, Walter Hawley, was paid $10 per year. The first janitor, Fred Underhill, was paid $.25 per day to carry drinking and wash water a half mile, carry wood for the barrel heater, sweep and wash floors, and do the dusting. Dr. Harrison was the first superintendent.

Changes took place over the years. By 1937 the enrolment had gone up to 54 pupils. Additions were made: an icehouse in 1934, a barn in 1936, basement and siding in 1948, electricity and a teacherage in 1951. The school closed in 1958 and the children were bussed to Arborfield. The land was sold and transferred back to the original owner.

The Teachers and the year they started:

V. Hardie

1932

B. Walker

1933

A. Norum

1934

P. Burroughs

1936

H. Price

1937

A. Lang

1938

D. Delage

1940

A. Clarke

1941

J. Boles

1941

G. MacCauley

1943

D. Hill

1944

J. Crowe

1944

J. Lemire

1945

M. Hnatuik

1947

M. Duchscher

1948

B. Bell

1949

E. Klassen

1950

M. Valentine

1952

M. Johansen*

1953

E. Epp

1954

J. Riou (Jeannette Salamon)

1955

I. England

1956

B. Chabarek

1957



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*Study Supervisor
Substitute teachers: L. Pickersgill, H. Stoneman


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Condensed from Echoes from the Past. A History Arborfield and District, 1981.
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