Passchendale School District No. 3840
The district was formed July 10, 1919 and named after the World War I
battle of the same name. One of the Daltons, possibly William Dalton, was
killed in that battle.
The school was built and completed in 1920 by Mr. James Craig Sr. on the NE ¼ 32-46-7 W4. Some of the pupils the first year were Bernard, Harold and Marie Craig; Verna and Della Pollard; Christophers; Helen Ballentine and Doris Johnson. Other settlers in the district then and later were Robert, Jack, Bert, James and Joe Dalton; Charles Johnson; William and Katherine Johnson; Christopher and William Pollard; George Pollard; Steve Thomson; James Thomson; Walter Thompson; Gordon Whiteley; Dave Pheasey; Bert Craig; Butler; Tindalls; Jim Laycock; Eugene Vallee; Hector Benoit; J. Simpson; Fiedlers; Hughie Muir; and Bill Glover.
Early teachers were Miss McGregor Miss MacDonnell, Miss Fieldhouse, Ethel Drury, Bartlett Tory, Nellie McTavish (later Mrs. Murray Hamilton), Dorothy Bramley-Moore, Bessie Welch, Phyllis Gravelle, Mrs. Steinberg, Miss Cynthia M. Leslie (later Mrs. J.E. Ballentine), Violet Allen, Mrs. Rogers, Margaret Steele, Fred Brimacombe, followed by a number of supervisors during war years. Some of these were Marion Carrington, Eunice Satre, Doris Knowles, Miss Leitheiser, Elmer Tory, and Patsy Lagerquist.
Later the one-roomed school was sold and moved to Wainwright. A two- roomed school, the old Irma High School building, was moved to a new site on the SW ¼ 29-46-7 W4. It was remodeled and still is used today as the Community Hall.
Some of the teachers giving service here were: Kate Younker (Green), Miss Keen, Margaret Erickson, Eileen Simpson, (Mrs. Eugene Vallee), Joy Enger, Mrs. Parcels, Mrs. Hughes, Harry Lewin and Mr. Hemphill; and supervisor Aletha Hill (Tomlinson).
The last year Passchendale School was open was for the term 1956 - 1957. After this the children were bussed to Wainwright and Irma.
The one-roomed school was also a community centre. Often on a Friday, a card party was held, followed by a dance for the whole family. Babies were put to sleep on the top of the sand table or teacher’s desk. Early orchestras were Mary Ganderton’s, Coultman’s Aldus Kent, Fred Brimacombe and brothers and of course the Eybens.
On Sunday, Sunday school was held in the morning, followed by church. The minister came out from Irma. Service was conducted in the morning at Passchendale and at Albert School in the afternoon. Someone always took the minister home for a good old country meal before he left for his afternoon charge. Some of these early traveling ministers were Rev. Geeson, Rev. Kemp, Rev. Longmire and Rev. Inglis, the last before the rural services were abandoned.
Some early school board members were: Mr. Bart Craig, Steve Thomson and Dave Vesey (killed in Air Force duty in World War II).
The highlight of the school year was the Christmas concert, put on by the teacher and all the pupils. The quality of the teacher was judged by the success of the concert. Ability was judged by the superintendent or the inspector. One of the early ones was Mr. Goode.
Country school teachers held conventions in Wainwright and later in Vermillion. Many schools took pupils to Wainwright Musical Festivals. In the spring our best athletes were sent to larger centres for the annual track meet. Ball games were exchanged with neighboring schools. On cold days in the winter everyone sat around the big stove to eat lunch, sometimes toasting the sandwiches to thaw them out. Outdoor games, summer and winter, kept all in good shape for the long drive, ride or even walk home!
Passchendale School District No. 3840
Submitted by Cynthia Ballentine
with help from Howard & Martha Johnson
32-33-34