Alberta one room school’s

A one-room country school is not just about education. It builds pride in the community.

The first one-room school was built in 1881 in Alberta. Many of the teachers of these beautiful old schools were single young adults that if they were lucky had a grade eight education. Teaching was one of the few professions that unmarried women were allowed to have.

These schools shaped, molded and educated the generation that made huge impacts on the world we live in now. our grandparents and great grandparents. These people fought in two world wars, survived the dirty 30’s, saw the first man on the moon, gave us the right to vote and improved our education system. Many of these schools are sitting dark and silent. Down a gravel road forgotten, abandoned as nature slowly reclaims it. Very and I mean very few are being saved. Some communities have stepped up and done the best they can but they lack the funds that are needed. Our provincial and federal government’s have failed to preserve our history and saving something that helped form who we are today. It is our goal to do our part to document as many of these buildings across Canada as we possibly can. So future generations have their chance to know where we come from, what helped shape us.

The following are just the tip of what we have seen. They are in no particular order. We picked these ones because they are some of the few that have a school still standing but also have a school marker.

Fertile Forest

This school is special as it sits on its original location. In 1993 it was added to the Alberta Historic Registration.

Springwater

This stone school is amazing. It is in great shape and is well looked after by the Springwater Homestead Foundation.

This wonderful dark wood old school in the summer could totally be hidden from view. It has a hedge of caragana in front of it that when it has leafs would keep it totally hidden to just anyone passing by.

This one is a personal favourite. It just seems huge and is in amazing condition. It was in operation from 1913-1943 then from 1949-1960. Not sure why there was a 6 year gap where the school was closed. War?? Not enough school age children??

This one is Tim’s favourited one room school !! Love the bell tower.

1937-1944

The years above are what is on the metal sign for this school. But in doing some research this school was built in 1911 on another location and was then moved to this location in 1937 as it was a more centralized location for the students to get to.