NINE MILE CREEK
There were two schools built in the Pend d’Oreille valley. The first one was of log construction, built in 1913 by Art Buckley’s dad Hugh, and Mr. Churches, with the assistance of neighbours. This school was situated on Churches’ property on the lower side of the road. Art Buckley stated in an interview that his […]
MONTROSE ELEMENTARY
Until the Montrose Elementary School opened in 1952, pupils went by bus to the L J Morrish Elementary in Trail. Built on land donated by Len Simmons, the school opened three classrooms in January, 1952, with twenty-one pupils in grade 1 to 3 and twenty-two pupils in grades 4 to 6. Mr. S. (Buzz) Nutini […]
WANETA
The earliest school in our area was the Waneta School, a 22′ by 34′ frame construction building on a one-acre lot, situated directly across the road from the Pend d’Oreille Cemetery [information obtained from Art Buckley interview]. It opened in September 1893 and was in operation (according to public school records in Victoria) until June […]
PARK SIDING
The first school at Park Siding was built on John Potter Bell’s property. The 16′ by 18′ log school was built by John P. Bell and an older gentleman in his employ, in the fall of 1912. Mr. A.S. Ellis had the five Bell children and two McIntosh boys as his first pupils when the […]
MEADOW SPUR
This history is from the book “Kootenay Yesterdays”. “Clara Graham, who was the daughter of Samuel Barkley, moved with her family from Trail, crossing the Columbia River in a small rowboat and staying overnight at Bauer’s stopping place at Sayward [now Columbia Gardens], the station on the Nelson & Fort Sheppard branch of the Great […]
FRUITVALE
The first school in Fruitvale was opened in 1907. The teacher from 1907-1908 was Mr. Tom Henderson and there were nineteen girls and nine boys present. In 1910, a school was opened on the site of the first primary school (where the Senior’s Manor is now). At this time the school also served as a […]
COLUMBIA GARDENS
The first school in what is now known as Columbia Gardens was built in 1898 when the area was called Columbia. Seven-eighths of an acre was purchased for a new school around 1910. The size of the school was 33′ by 27′ by 12′ and was built in 1910 -1911. From 1926 on, they had […]
BEAVER VALLEY JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL
By the late 1960’s the old Fruitvale School on Laurie Street and the new elementary school on Columbia Gardens Road were filled to capacity. A new junior high school was built further along Columbia Gardens Road, and in October 1970, Principal Lloyd Wilkinson and staff supervised pupils from grades 8 through 10 as they carried […]
BEAVER FALLS
An acre of land was donated for the school by Mr. and Mrs. Boyd C. Affleck. Building plans from Victoria made provision for later expansion. The first school was built at least partly by volunteer labour. In the fall of 1939, pupils were taught in Hansen’s log house, and after Christmas in Love’s small Sunday […]