Little Schools in the Parkland

WHITE CLOUD SCHOOL DISTRICT No.4335

  1. White Cloud School was built in 1929 on the SW corner of the SE ¼ 35-
  2. 46-6 W4. This was the property of Mr. Lee Babb, from whom it was
  3. purchased for $75. The school was located 17 miles from Wainwright (9
  4. miles north on Highway 41, 4 miles east, north 3-½ miles on a forced
  5. road). Mr. Hans Sorenson, Jack Reid and Paul Paulson took on the contract
  6. to build the school. Mrs. Bird Babb suggested the name White Cloud.
  7.  
  8. The first school board was composed of Mr. Lee Babb, Secretary-
  9. Treasurer, Mr. William Bisson and Mr. William Lavergne. Mr. Jack Reid was
  10. Secretary-Treasurer of the board from 1930-36.
  11.  
  12. The first teacher at White Cloud was Miss Bernice Johnson. Other
  13. teachers were Miss Potter, Mrs. Clem Baier, Mrs. Mae Tondu, Mr. Harbarson,
  14. Mrs. Winnie Alexander, Freda Arthur and Miss Phillips who was the last
  15. teacher. From 1929 – 1951 there were 17 teachers at White Cloud and 65
  16. – 70 students attended school there. The teachers boarded at the Vern
  17. Treffry, Henry Tondu, or Jack Reid homes.
  18.  
  19. Early settlers to the area were Pilkingtons, Bill Myers, Tondus, Nichols,
  20. McClennons, Bissons, Lavergnes and George Babbs. Today Lester Babb and
  21. Clayton Tondu, two former students of White Cloud still reside in the
  22. district.
  23.  
  24. White Cloud School closed about 1951 and the children of the area were
  25. bussed into Wainwright as the district was under the jurisdiction of the
  26. Wainwright School Division. The school house and barn were purchased by
  27. Mr. John Roberts and moved to his property. The school house was
  28. converted into a garage. Today an oil well stands in the schoolyard.

White Cloud School District No. 4335
Submitted by Winnifred Alexander

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