L to R: Jenny Gemmell, Netta McLean, Kathleen Locke, Florence
Mitchell. Class of Miss Fanny Girling.

SMALLEY SCHOOL
submitted by Ellen Kiartanson

Pioneers moved into the area and it was soon realized that a school
was needed. Council met May 4, 1916 and the following minutes of the

 

Smalley School. '

meeting began to lay the ground work for the school district of Smalley
No. 1826.

Flatt-Dell - that By-Law No. 337 forming the school district of
Smalley be read a first time. Carried. _

McConnell-Dell - That the rules be suspended and By-Law No. 337 be
read a second time and referred to Committee of the Whole. Carried.

McConnell-Ball - That the report of the Committee of the Whole on
By-Law No. 337 be adopted and the By—Law now read a third time.
Carried.

The following lands to form the district: Sections 28 to 32 Tp. l9 Rg.
8., Sections 6 and '7 Tp. 20 Kg. 9., Sections 21, 33, w112 of 23, 25, 26,
27, 28, 33, 34, 35, and 36 Tp. 19 kg. 10., Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, Tp. 20 Kg.
10.

June 26, 1916, Dept. of Education approved the By-Law forming
Smalley School District No. 1826 - the site choosen 26-19-10W, six miles

north and east of Amaranth. The school was a one room frame
structure with a full sized cement basement on one of the driest
sheltered yards possible.
Classes began in the fall of 1916 with twelve boys and six girls
registered. Some of the names of the first class was as follows:
Boys-
Lawrence Dunn
August Anderson
Emil Beck
Elvin Rodd
Snori Thordarson
Olafur Thordarson
Kenneth Olson
Gordon Calder

Girls —
Gladys Olson
Mabel Olson
Alveina Rodd

Miss Myrtle Wellwood was the first teacher who stayed until the
summer of 1918. The teacher boarded at homes in the district such as
the Gunnar Kjartanson residence, later the Wm. Burns residence and
Miss Wellwood came back later, wed to R. Johnson, and stayed in her
residence a short distance east of the school.

The school affairs were handled by local men, first trustees were,
Kjartanson, Fredbjornson and Dunn, more were included like Wm.
Burns and Hatch. To say all went smoothly would not exactly be true as
on occasion the air was said to be quite blue. Later it became necessary
to turn the affairs of the school over to the Official Trustee.

The District was heavily settled as a result of a soldier settlement
scheme implemented following World War I. The school had a line up
of desks but as the enrollment increased to near 50, the odd box had to
be called into service. The children also were a bit baffled at times, no
matter what they tried to do behind one teacher’s back she caught them
so they could only arrive at one conclusion, she had two sets of eyes, the
usual ones of course but in this case a spare set at the back of her head.

Also, never let it be said there were no manners, as one person feels
the reas, his ears are so big today was from being froze as they lined
up outsi , cap in hand, winter or summer, waiting to be admitted to
the class room in orderly drill.

The children walked or used horses to get to and from school. The
horses were kept in a barn on the school grounds during the day of
classes. Wonder what secrets the barn walls heard with the passing of
time, yet as with all secrets, they were best left untold.

The school was a place of entertainment where dances were held,
concerts and school picnics. B. Burns recalled the Smalley School
picnics being held several times on the Big Ridge between Ridge End
(now Grimsteads) and the Mitchell Place (B. Brown’s, now H. Parsons
Jr.). “Most of us played baseball but had no gloves nor spikes. We were
told by coach Charlie Dennison that it didn‘t hurt to catch the ball bare
handed and so we caught it that way, after the first catch or two we
knew we had been conned again."

“Billy Cheeseman attended picnics with his coconut stand and I can
in memory, clearly hear him shouting his coconut game attributes to all
with the nickles and dimes it took to play.”

Many children enjoyed school but as the end of June approached this
was the attitude of many:

I raced out of school with a whoop and a yell
Notfor two months would I hear that bell.
No more lessons when days are bright

No more teachers to set me right.

I can take my dog on many a hike

Go off in the countryfor miles on my bike.
I can play and sing and laugh and shout
Now that the darn old school is out!

I can wear old clothes, go barefoot too,
Can wade in the deepest part of the slough.
I can have the jolliest sort of fun

Now that those pesky lessons are done!

Teachers who taught at Smalley School over the years, 1916 - 1941,
are as follows:
Myrtle Wellwood
Gertrude Hearne

W. Evelyn
Margaret Mustard

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