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