Crowfoot school celebrates 100 years

Times Contributor

 

The Crowfoot school, a stand-alone one-room schoolhouse celebrated its 100th Anniversary in style on June 30 with over 300 in attendance.

Ann Scheer, one of the main organizers of the event states that it was a “huge success. The weather co-operated all day and all evening, so that the ball games could conclude about 10p.m.” 

Part of the weekend’s festivities included a six team Ball Tournament which was played Friday into Sunday. The participants mingled with the centennial guests, and an enjoyable time was had by all.

Some of the history behind the Crowfoot School: the first day of classes happened in 1912 and the last day of classes happened in June of 1945. After 33 years of operation the students in and around the area were then bussed to Strathmore. In 1944 the “Goodwill Club” of women decided that the building would do well as a venue for events for their community. They approached the Bow Valley Municipality to purchase the 2.16 acres that consisted of the schoolhouse, barn and teacherage. The Municipality asked for a whopping $200 to make the purchase. After several years of bake sales, raffles and teas, the whole parcel was purchased in January of  ‘49 and was finally paid for.

In 2006 major renovations took place at the site. The school was lifted and a new basement put in, an addition was added, handicapped entrance and bathrooms were installed and a fantastic new kitchen was built.

Scheer said, “we had guests come from as far away as Doha, Qatar, wow. And others who drove many, many miles to come: Spruce Grove, Swan Hills, Grande Prairie, and Hay River NWT.  Also from Bassano, Beaumont, Red Deer, Calgary, Rosebud, High River, Strathmore, Rockyford, Carseland.”

The committee compiled and sold a cookbook which sold enough books to pass the ‘break even’ point and is now making a small profit which will go towards trying to cover ‘some’ of the 100th anniversary costs.

The program in the early evening, after a wonderful catered meal of a steak supper by Barb Praeker started at 5p.m.  Master of Ceremonies Johnny Sanden with “History Story Tellers” John Scheer, Ralph Tiede and Spencer Hilton did a fantastic job covering the timelines from 1909 to 2012 Crowfoot history. Scheer was happy to participate in honouring Dorie Harwood, “our only surviving Good Will Club member of the original 21 ladies in 1944, was present and given a lovely corsage. 

It was nice to have some of our former members of succeeding years- Marie Louise Praeker, Hillevi Ruppe,  Dorothy Woldum, Florice Desmet, Nina Newell, Vera Morgan, Eileen Drummond, also present.”

The formal part of the evening was concluded with a cake cutting ceremony, and County Councillor Ben Armstrong presented a lovely plaque from the Board. Local MLA Jason Hale presented a letter and scroll from the Alberta government and a similar one from Kevin Sorenson from the Canadian government on behalf of the Prime Minister.

Drew Gregory was the entertainment for the evening and played until the fireworks started, and the kids enjoyed a bonfire.

Congratulations and best wishes to you on the next hundred years from all of us at the Strathmore Times.