Alma Mater School District No. 3160
The Alma Mater School District No. 3160, northeast of Irma, was formed
in 1917 and the school was built in the late summer and fall of 1918. It
was located on a small area on the northwest corner of SW ¼ 18-46-8
W4, the homestead of Mr. Robinson Harper. The name chosen for the school
was suggested by Mr. Watkinson, a homesteader of the district and a
longtime resident of Irma. Due to the fact that the school authorities
were at this time considering consolidation, the building was somewhat
delayed so the school did not begin operation until November 1, 1918.
The first trustees were Mr. Thomas Shaw, Mr. W.A. Burton and Mr. A.A. Fischer, with Mr. Robinson Harper as secretary-treasurer. Later Mrs. Carrie Toll was secretary for many years. For a number of years the trustees were Mr. W.A. Burton, Mr. Lance King, Mr. A.A. Fischer with Mr. Burton as secretary-treasurer. Later trustees were Mrs. M. MacMillan, Mr. J. Dunbar and Mr. J. Stead.
The Alma Mater School was one of the newer schools with a basement and a furnace and so was, perhaps, better heated. A large part of the basement was used as a play area in winter. Safety was not very well considered as the ashes from the furnace were shoveled into a large unprotected tub standing near the furnace. One day, while the pupils were playing in the basement, Alice Sisson was accidentally pushed forward and fell with her arms into the ashes, among which were hot coals. The result of the burn was not too serious but the ashes were carefully covered from then on.
Alma Mater School was one of the six school districts that formed the Irma Rural Consolidated High School, the first of its kind in Alberta. This gave many of the pupils of these districts an opportunity to attend high school.
The teacher of Alma Mater School for the first three years was Miss Nina Young, followed by Miss Nora McFarland, Miss Dillman, Mr. Camerson, Mrs. McDowell, Miss Queen Dutton, Miss Hazel Empey, Miss Marjorie Dutton (Mrs. George Fischer), Miss Bessie Hargreaves, Miss Lonelle Coffin, Mr. Vandeberg, Miss Cora Branchflower, Miss Louisa Barber (Mrs. Louisa Prosser), Miss Marion Hutchinson, Miss Verla Lind and Mr. Terry Ellwood.
Some of the first pupils who attended Alma Mater were Chris and Roy Burton; Clarence and Violet Renwick; Ruth (Brekon) King; Reba Coker, Bill Inkin; Bill and John Dunbar; Molly Burton (Mrs. Ted Thurston), Joe and Don Burton and Steve Fucsko.
Sunday church services and Sunday school were held regularly for quite a number of years in the school. A young people’s group named the Alma Mater Merrymakers was formed and continued active for quite a number of years. The young people enjoyed get-togethers, excursions and picnics as well as enjoying practicing and performing several plays that delighted their audiences. They were also involved in formal debates and church activities with the Irma Young Peoples’ Group.
In 1949 the school was closed and the students were taken by bus to Irma. The school was purchased by the North Irma Community Association and, with the former Ross school, formed the North Irma Community Hall. This functioned as a community centre for a number of years. The grade eight room in the Irma School was named Alma Mater after the district and school.
Alma Mater School District No. 316
submitted by Marjorie Fischer
29-30