Crest Hill School District No. 2604
Crest Hill school was built in 1913 on the NE ¼ 25-42-3 W4th. This
land was donated by Bob Tennant and is currently owned by Ernest
Clifford. Years later the school was moved to the SE ¼ 30-42-2 W4
which was on Rolli Clifford’s land. In the 1940’s the school was once
again moved. This time it was moved to Ribstone and later to Chauvin
when it was purchased by the Odd Fellows Lodge. The Rebekahs and the
Cubs and Scouts used it for their meeting place. It is now owned by Colin
Saker and used as a workshop. The piano in the school was purchased by
Doug and Eleanor Perry.
The Crest Hill School was built to accommodate the families of the early settlers, some of whom were Bob Tennant, Bob and Jim Morrison, John Dallyn, J.J. Cryderman, Jonathon Osbourne, J. Minnuk, N. Staley, Fred Gregory, Jim Young and John Heaseman. Later, the younger generation (some still residing in the area such as the Reinharts, Cliffords, Hilkers, Moncrieffs, Dallyns and Morrisons) attended Crest Hill at one time or another.
The first teacher at Crest Hill was Mr. Bennett. Over the years others included were Mr. Windell, Mrs. Perry, Ellen MacPhail, Cecil Burton, Mr. Grant, Mrs. Curtis, Mr. L. Jenkins, Florence Cahill, Mary McLaughlin, Miss Oulette, Gladys Mills, Hazel Dallyn and Mrs. Cliff Dallyn (not necessarily in that order).
These teachers experienced the same difficulties as all the early country teacher did. They were expected to teach all required subjects to grades one to eight inclusive for extremely minimal wage, some receiving a promissory note. An entry in the 1933 cash book noted, “Paid to Mrs. C. Burton (teacher) $190 in judgement.”
Other points of interest were the old wood and coal heater – hot on one side, cold on the other depending on how near you were to the heater; haling drinking water in a cream can from a nearby neighbour; driving with horse and sleigh or buggy or walking miles to arrive at the school to find the stove cold and snow sifting in through the windows.
The good times included skating on a nearby slough (sometimes in the Cloakroom if water had been accidentally spilled) and snowballs that flew with gusto. The summers were much more pleasant as one could look forward to playing ball and outdoor games.
Many good memories are recalled by those who attended Crest Hill; especially the picnics that Crest Hill and Ribstone shared at Birch Lake on the last day of school. Of course, Crest Hill won most of the races and ballgames.
The final remnants of the school and its flagpole, on the original site, have now given way to an oilwell. (The cement foundation which is on Ernie Clifford’s land has been left intact to mark the location of this school.)
Crest Hill School District No. 2604
Submitted by Bernice Moncrieff
122-123