Crescent Hill School District No. 4375
An area between four school districts, namely, Sunny Brae to the west,
Roseberry to the north, Fabyan to the south-east and Battle Heights to the
north-east was not included in any school district. Children in this area
had to walk or go by horseback four or more miles to attend any school. In
1928 when the Fitzpatrick family moved in, it had a possible school-age
population of 20.
The ratepayers contacted the Department of Education with the result this new school district was formed and the building constructed in 1929. It was the last country school built in the Irma area.
The site chosen was on the NE ¼ 23-45-8 W4 on land owned by Mr. James Enger. The exact five acres was on a hill by the curve in the then Highway #41—thus the name Crescent Hill was suitable.
Members of the first school board were Miss Clara Sellers, Richard Fitzpatrick and William Steele, Secretary-treasurer. Others serving in later years were Martin Enger, William Crabb and Thomas Sanders.
The building of the school was completed by September, but there was a delay in receiving the furnishings and furnace.
To quote Mrs. Alma Enger, the first teacher: “Captain Edwards, school inspector at that time, gave permission for the school to open and ‘make do’ with makeshift furnishings—tarpaper for a blackboard, benches and tables for desks and ‘faith’ that the weather would remain good until the furnace was installed.” The furnishings and furnace were all there early in October.
Nineteen pupils were registered for the first term in grades one to nine inclusive. They were: Myrtle, Edith, Sarah, Gordon and Awilda Fitzpatrick; Mabel and Clara Enger, Leona, Hubert, Arthur and Lenard Frye; Eula, Doris, Bob and Margaret Morgan; Eric, William Jr. and Stella Steele; and Pearl Haveruk.
As mentioned, Miss Alma Miles taught the first year and later in the forties as Mrs. Enger, riding her bicycle from Irma, a distance of 8 miles. Miss Olive Rush was the next teacher, and returned (as Mrs. Sather) to teach for the last five years it was open. She had a standing invitation that if it was too stormy she could spend the night at the M. Enger home, a two mile walk. Miss Della Stone spent three years and Miss Irene Ross one year as teachers of Crescent Hill, too. This pseaks well for the very faithful and dedicated teachers also agreeable ratepayers tot have only four teachers in eighteen years. The school closed in 1947 and the children bussed to Irma. The building is still there with the land owned by Jay Fenton.
The first music for the tradional Christmas concerts, etc. was taught from a tuning fork. The young people of the district decided the school needed a piano. The result was they staged two three-act plays and then a one-act play with other items for a program. One of these plays needed a dog in the action. Rather than use a stuffed one, they decided on a live one. A neighbour dog was brought to school that day and the boys were given permission to take turns leading the dog around the school grounds with no rest. A tired dog was one of the stars of the evening performance. This school became the centre of the community for social evenings and later dances were frequently held. Music was supplied by the district musicians. Church was held there for a number of years by the United Church and also later a Sunday school with Harold King as leader. The wedding ceremony and reception for Amanda Neufeld and Allan Worthing was a special, happy event. The children remember the days the nurses came and vaccinated them for childhood diseases.
The school was closed after opening exercises one day because one family had had garlic for breakfast. While it was healthy food, other pupils and the teacher were affected nauseously.
Mrs. Georgina Enger taught the singing for Christmas programs during the years of Miss Stone and Mrs. Sather. One day the teacher, sitting with her elbow on her desk, sneezed and dislocated her arm at the shoulder. Georgina’s services were required that day.
To my knowledge only one of the former pupils or ratepayers live in the Crescent Hill School District. Most have gone one to take their place in other parts of the world and are a credit to the district’s teaching and home training.
Many thanks to the first Irma History Book “The Times of Irma” account by Mrs. Alma Enger.
Crescent Hill School District No. 4375
Submitted by Mrs. (M) Georgina Enger
55-56-57