COAL SPRINGS SCHOOL DISTRICT No.2360
- A meeting was held on March 6, 1911 at the Olaf Larson home to form a
- school board and the Larson school district came into being.
- At a general meeting held in May, 1911, plans were made to obtain a loan
- in order to build a school. A loan of $1400 at eight percent interest was
- later obtained. $66 was borrowed from the Merchant’s Bank at Sedgewick
- to purchase two acres of land from the C.P.R. for the school site on the SE
- ¼ 15-45-10 W4. Oscar Lindquist was the successful tender at a price
- of $1275. He was given 45 days to complete the school, with a penalty of
- six dollars per day for each day’s delay. In April, 1913, the name changed
- to Coal Springs School District #2360. The name was suggested by the
- first teacher, Mr. Nelson Tweedy, as a coal mine and springs were below
- the hill where the school was located. The early pioneers obtained coal
- from this place.
- The school opened for classes on June 9, 1913 with eleven pupils. The
- first Christmas concert was held on December 24, 1913. School was
- closed during January and February because of cold weather and bad roads.
- A month’s holiday was given during the summer. Box socials were held in
- 1913 to make money to buy an organ, which cost $72. They were also held
- to make money for the Red Cross during the First World War.
- Mrs. Doris Likness has written memories of her Coal Springs experiences
- as follows, “During the war years teachers were needed. So it was I
- taught at Coal Springs school during 1942-43, my own children
- accompanying me. Because the small enrolment deteriorated even further,
- the school was closed the following year. However, it reopened in the fall
- of 1944 and operated until the spring of 1950 when there were only six
- pupils to attend.
- “We were like a family and had such good times together. Junior Red Cross
- was an enjoyable extra-curricular project. Every country school had its
- Christmas program and June school picnic with the entire district in
- attendance. The school hill provided good tobogganing as traffic was nil
- in the winter months. The spring below the hill before the entrance to the
- old mine made a splendid skating pond, bringing much pleasure during
- many noon hours. Sometimes we cancelled morning recess, adding an
- extra fifteen minutes to the noon hour. There was great co-operation
- among the pupils, older ones helping smaller children and all playing
- games together. Very often the teacher joined in the fun.
- “I believe the old rural schools taught thoughtfulness of others and the art
- of co-operating with various ages. Playing, singing and sharing developed
- character and caring. As the rural schools disappeared one by one, so did
- the community gatherings. Change is inevitable but memories linger. It’s
- thrilling when some bearded grandfather comes up to me to remind me of
- those ‘good old days’.”
- The final years written by Mrs. Irene Fluevog completes the story.
- During this time the number of pupils had decreased to such a small
- number it was unprofitable to keep Glenholm, Melbrae and Coal Springs
- open. In 1952 a small portable school was built on section 2, land owned
- by Torleif Larson. This provided a school for the students from all three
- districts. Students attending were Bessie and Arthur Pedel from
- Glenholm; Carole and Faye Russell; Evelyn and Esther Fluevog from
- Melbrae; Nathan, Lorne and Jack Fuder; Sonja and Lorna Larson from Coal
- Springs. Mrs. Irene Fluevog was the teacher. This little school met the
- needs of the pupils and held many pleasant memories for those who
- attended. One interesting project was the radio art classes. They learned
- how to make kites and had great fun flying them.
- In 1955, the school was closed and the students were bussed to Irma with
- Wilf Symington as the bus driver. The school house was then taken to
- Albert where it served as a teacherage and nicknamed “The Apple Box.”
Coal Springs School District No. 2360
Submitted by Doris Likness & Irene Fluevog
48-49