Ross School District No. 2042
Ross School was built in 1911 on the southwest corner of Section 28-46-
9 W4, the Joe Wallace land, by William Walker and William Harper. Mr.
Charlie Anderson built the foundation of stone which had been hauled to
the site by Mr. Jim Kennedy Sr. and son Jim with their oxen.
The first trustees were Joe Wallace, Dave Ambler and Tom Yarr. The first teacher was Mrs. Joe Wallace. Among the first pupils were: Alf, Rick and Augusta Larson, Elvin Ambler, Jimmy Kennedy and Lottie Gale. The next year the school was closed because of a lack of pupils. This forced the Larson family and Jimmy Kennedy to attend school in Irma, in the basement of the Methodist Church. Ross reopened the following year.
Some of the teachers of Ross included: Miss Brickman, Miss Brown, Mr. Patten, Mr. Thompson, Mrs. Walker, Miss Parsons, Mr. Hardy, Miss Carey and Miss Hasse. Some later ones included: Miss Magrath, Miss Miles, Mr. Peterson, Mr. Barber, Miss Nicols, Miss Watson, Miss Flewelling, Mr. Aide, Mr. Kroetch, Miss Miller, Mr. Soneff, Mr. Touchette, Miss Owen, Mr. Lewin, Mr. Smart, and Mr. Alwood.
In the early fifties, the school was closed and the pupils bussed to Irma. The Ross School was purchased by the North Irma Community Association, moved to the SW ¼ 14-46-9 and joined with Alma Mater to form the North Irma Community Hall.
While the school was in the district, it served as a recreation centre. Dances were frequently held, a few plays were produced and sometimes there were church services.
The highlights of the school year were the Christmas concert and the end of the school-year picnic.
Ross School District No. 2042
Submitted by Jean Burton
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