Waterfield School District # 2678
On March 1, 1910 a group of people gathered at the Frank Berry home to discuss the possibility of forming a school district. Some of the people in attendance were Mr. Mold, John William Berry, George Schiltroth, A. J. Smith, Ben Farmer, J. Caskey and Mr. R. B. Duguid. On July 7, 1910 a petition was made for the formation of the Armley School District #2678 now known as Waterfield S.D. Sections included were 32 to 36 on Township 47 Range 14 West of the 2 Meridian, also sections 1 to 5 and 8 to 17, in T48 R14 W2 M.
On Aug. 15,1910 the first official meeting was held at the Perkin home in connection with the organization of the Armley S.D. The chairman was A. J. Smith and the secretary was R. B. Duguid. In the afternoon another meeting was held with J. Wallington as chairman and R. B. Duguid as secretary so resident ratepayers could sign the declaration required by section 18 of the School Ordinance. A poll was then opened for one hour to vote on the formation of the proposed district. The results were five in favour and two against. A poll was then opened for one hour for the election of trustees. The results were A. J. Smith, B. Farmer, W. Perkin, G. Schiltroth, J. Caskey and R. B. Duguid elected, A. J. Smith as chairman and R. B. Duguid as secretary.
On April 21, 1911 a meeting was held at the Perkin home for the ratepayers to decide if the school would be constructed of wood or brick. Brick was chosen. Some of the estimated costs are as follows; Brick $250, laying brick $150, plaster $35, hauling brick and sand $61, joists $14, three days plastering $15, flooring $25, shingles $45, doors $15, windows $20, paint and painting $40 and drawing plans $10. The total estimated cost was $961.50. A sample of brick was sent away for analysis.
At a meeting on July 20, 1911 it was found that it would be necessary to issue debentures to the extent of $1200, repayable in 10 or more equal instalments not bearing interest at a greater rate than eight percent per annum. These debentures were to be used for the purpose of purchasing a site, erecting a school house, furnishing it and any other expenses that may occur in order to place the school house in proper order for teaching to commence. On Nov. 15, 1911 a decision was made to build a frame school with inside dimensions 20 x 24 feet and 10 foot ceilings with a capacity of 18 to 24 children. A government school grant of $50.51 was deposited in the bank.
On Feb. 19, 1912 a school site was chosen on the southeast corner of NE 3-48-14-W2 belonging to William Perkin. It was three miles east and one half mile north of the junction of #35 and #335 highways. A description of the specifications for building of the school is found in the minute books stored in the Tisdale School Division Office. The trustees advertised for the first teacher in April of that year. In May, Mrs. Doyle was hired as the first caretaker. The school was built in the summer of 1912. A homesteader, Charles Harvey, was the contractor with other neighbours from the area helping. He also built the teacher's desk. That year a tender was accepted for banking the school with manure at the cost of $2.
On November 2, 1912 Mrs. Teale was hired for $60 a month and school was to commence at 9 o'clock on November 4. The school opened its doors to 22 students. Many of the children had not attended school before this. Hence 21 out of 22 students in the age range of five to fifteen were in grades 1 to 4. Some of the children had to walk up to four miles. Many families lacked the proper clothing for they had no idea of the harshness of the climate in this new land. Sometimes gunny sacks were used for winter footwear.
On Aug. 15,1910 the first official meeting was held at the Perkin home in connection with the organization of the Armley S.D. The chairman was A. J. Smith and the secretary was R. B. Duguid. In the afternoon another meeting was held with J. Wallington as chairman and R. B. Duguid as secretary so resident ratepayers could sign the declaration required by section 18 of the School Ordinance. A poll was then opened for one hour to vote on the formation of the proposed district. The results were five in favour and two against. A poll was then opened for one hour for the election of trustees. The results were A. J. Smith, B. Farmer, W. Perkin, G. Schiltroth, J. Caskey and R. B. Duguid elected, A. J. Smith as chairman and R. B. Duguid as secretary.
On April 21, 1911 a meeting was held at the Perkin home for the ratepayers to decide if the school would be constructed of wood or brick. Brick was chosen. Some of the estimated costs are as follows; Brick $250, laying brick $150, plaster $35, hauling brick and sand $61, joists $14, three days plastering $15, flooring $25, shingles $45, doors $15, windows $20, paint and painting $40 and drawing plans $10. The total estimated cost was $961.50. A sample of brick was sent away for analysis.
At a meeting on July 20, 1911 it was found that it would be necessary to issue debentures to the extent of $1200, repayable in 10 or more equal instalments not bearing interest at a greater rate than eight percent per annum. These debentures were to be used for the purpose of purchasing a site, erecting a school house, furnishing it and any other expenses that may occur in order to place the school house in proper order for teaching to commence. On Nov. 15, 1911 a decision was made to build a frame school with inside dimensions 20 x 24 feet and 10 foot ceilings with a capacity of 18 to 24 children. A government school grant of $50.51 was deposited in the bank.
On Feb. 19, 1912 a school site was chosen on the southeast corner of NE 3-48-14-W2 belonging to William Perkin. It was three miles east and one half mile north of the junction of #35 and #335 highways. A description of the specifications for building of the school is found in the minute books stored in the Tisdale School Division Office. The trustees advertised for the first teacher in April of that year. In May, Mrs. Doyle was hired as the first caretaker. The school was built in the summer of 1912. A homesteader, Charles Harvey, was the contractor with other neighbours from the area helping. He also built the teacher's desk. That year a tender was accepted for banking the school with manure at the cost of $2.
On November 2, 1912 Mrs. Teale was hired for $60 a month and school was to commence at 9 o'clock on November 4. The school opened its doors to 22 students. Many of the children had not attended school before this. Hence 21 out of 22 students in the age range of five to fifteen were in grades 1 to 4. Some of the children had to walk up to four miles. Many families lacked the proper clothing for they had no idea of the harshness of the climate in this new land. Sometimes gunny sacks were used for winter footwear.
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Inside Waterfield School 1914
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At a meeting on Jan. 19, 1915, due to the confusion with mail between Armley School and Armley Post Office, application was made to change the name to Waterfield School District. The post office at Ben Farmer's had been named Waterfield after a homesteader, Harry Waterfield, who was living in the district. This solved the mail problem. At the same meeting it was decided to buy all the books for the school children. Care taking of the school was given to different families for a two month period. School taxes around this time were 61⁄2 cents an acre. In 1918 a tender was accepted from Mr. Harvey to build the school addition for $1067.
On March 24, 1919 the boundaries were changed to include 25 to 28 in township 47 and 1 to 5 and 8 to 12 in township 48. A swinging bridge built of page wire and plank, hung over the Carrot River and served as a foot bridge for the children to get to school. There were a lot of sloughs so the children would use poles to cross, leaving them there to use when they returned.
From early years an important ritual each morning was the raising of the flag, a duty performed by one of the students. Ice blocks were packed for drinking water and when melted, a community dipper was used. In 1926 an ice house was built for $76. Each winter huge piles of wood were collected for the years fuel supply. Tenders were let out for hauling of ice and wood. In 1934 a teacherage was built. Before that teachers boarded at the homes in the district.
Children made their own entertainment and as soon as weather permitted, there was a skating rink in the same spot the summer ball games were played. Water was hauled for the rink by the fathers and later by some of the boys. One trip to Armley was probably not enjoyed. Henry Schiltroth took the children in an open sleigh to the Municipal doctor to have their tonsils removed. The children were brought back the same day. Highlights of the year were the annual Christmas Concert, the school picnic at the end of the school term and the Field Day competitions held at Armley and later at Ridgedale. Bill Manton, Bert and Jim Staples and Mac Schiltroth were some of the farmers who used their trucks to take students to these events. Waterfield had many good athletes over the years, winning three shields that hung at the front of the school. They were later moved to the Armley Hall when the school closed.
On Jan. 31,1948 there was discussion on moving the school to the centre of the district. In the summer of 1950, the school was moved one-half mile south and one-half mile west of it's original site.
In the fall of 1954, school buses started transporting high school pupils to Tisdale. Students caught the bus at Ivan McCullough's where the door was always open for the student to get out of the weather. The students attended the old high school until the fall of 1955 when the Tisdale Unit Composite School was opened. In 1956 arrangements were made to have a telephone installed and bring power into the school.
On March 24, 1919 the boundaries were changed to include 25 to 28 in township 47 and 1 to 5 and 8 to 12 in township 48. A swinging bridge built of page wire and plank, hung over the Carrot River and served as a foot bridge for the children to get to school. There were a lot of sloughs so the children would use poles to cross, leaving them there to use when they returned.
From early years an important ritual each morning was the raising of the flag, a duty performed by one of the students. Ice blocks were packed for drinking water and when melted, a community dipper was used. In 1926 an ice house was built for $76. Each winter huge piles of wood were collected for the years fuel supply. Tenders were let out for hauling of ice and wood. In 1934 a teacherage was built. Before that teachers boarded at the homes in the district.
Children made their own entertainment and as soon as weather permitted, there was a skating rink in the same spot the summer ball games were played. Water was hauled for the rink by the fathers and later by some of the boys. One trip to Armley was probably not enjoyed. Henry Schiltroth took the children in an open sleigh to the Municipal doctor to have their tonsils removed. The children were brought back the same day. Highlights of the year were the annual Christmas Concert, the school picnic at the end of the school term and the Field Day competitions held at Armley and later at Ridgedale. Bill Manton, Bert and Jim Staples and Mac Schiltroth were some of the farmers who used their trucks to take students to these events. Waterfield had many good athletes over the years, winning three shields that hung at the front of the school. They were later moved to the Armley Hall when the school closed.
On Jan. 31,1948 there was discussion on moving the school to the centre of the district. In the summer of 1950, the school was moved one-half mile south and one-half mile west of it's original site.
In the fall of 1954, school buses started transporting high school pupils to Tisdale. Students caught the bus at Ivan McCullough's where the door was always open for the student to get out of the weather. The students attended the old high school until the fall of 1955 when the Tisdale Unit Composite School was opened. In 1956 arrangements were made to have a telephone installed and bring power into the school.
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Teacherage
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When Waterfield was closed in 1962 there were 13 pupils enrolled. Mrs. Hazel Wrigley was the last teacher. The pupils were sent to Ridgedale except for those high school students who wanted to attend the school in Tisdale. During its 50 years of operation Waterfield School employed 39 teachers and approximately 260 students attended. Waterfield was a warm, friendly community through the years and it showed this spirit at the 1980 homecoming. This was the end to a wonderful, not forgotten era.
Teachers:
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Teachers:
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Mrs. Alice Teale |
1912 |
Wm. R. Ross |
1913 |
Percy J. Riddle |
1914-15 |
Katherine Kroeker (Brown) |
1916 |
E. Beatrice Morgan |
1916 |
Marion W. Munro (Berry ) |
1917-19 |
Grace E. King |
1919 |
Evelyn Holland |
1920-21 |
Hector Bird |
1920 |
Lena Eade |
1921 |
Murray D. G. Harvey |
1922 |
Eve Bond |
1923 |
Ivan Hollingshead |
1923-24 |
Ira M. Clark |
1923-25 |
Maybeth Standen (Stinson) |
1925-26 |
Rhea Merle Tapp |
1926-27 |
Arthur S. Pixley |
1927 |
Cleo Brown |
1928-30 |
Norma Sproxton |
1930-31 |
Susie Gerrish |
1931-34 |
Charlie C. Dymond |
1934-35 |
Ben B. Zado |
1935-42 |
Mrs. Margaret Bell |
1943 |
Vera LeDrew |
1943 |
Gertrude Armbruster(Barnes ) |
1944 |
Vera Rambo (Janzen) |
1945 |
Margaret Jolly |
1948 |
William Klassen |
1948-51 |
Eva Fior |
1952 |
Elsie E. Nickel (Ens) |
1953-54 |
Rosina Favreau |
1955 |
Aline Courteau |
1956 |
Henriette Houle |
1956 |
Beth Gentner (Collier) |
1956 |
Alfrieda Bourne |
1956 |
Hazel Wrigley |
1957-62 |
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Abstracted from Homestead to Heritage, Armley History Book Committee, 1987
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