In
1907 when a school was being talked about there was a difference of opinion
as to where the school should be built. Louis Stevems offered to donate
five acres of land on the hill for a school building spot, but others
thought the school should be built farther west. Jason Williams offered
land near Potter's Creek. A meeting was organized by Wm. Connors. There
were eight men and ten women present at the meeting, (but women were not
allowed to vote at that time), and the men voted - five men voted in favour
of building the school near Potter's Creek, and three in favour of Steven's
Hill. The school that was to be built was to be named Potter Creek School.
In 1908 William Connors, Jason H. Williams and Tom Mowbray organized the
Potter Creek School District. The schoolhouse was built on an acre of
J.H. William's land, and the school was named after Dr. Potter, the first
settler in the district.
The carpenter for the school was Mr. Sinclair Mellis (father of Tom Mellis
and Mary Grinde). The school was built for $500, as much of the labor
and material were donated.
The school became the hub of the community, and the major part of the
settlers' social life centered around it. Church services were also held
in the school by Rev Patstone, who was the first minister in the Rimbey
Anglican Church. His field included several outlying districts as well.
Here is an outline of some of the teachers who taught at Potter Creek.
Mr. Craig, our first teacher was from Dundee, Scotland.
He was kind and patient, but did not teach long enough for us to really
know him, because after a month or so, he became ill, had a severe heart
attack, and died in the Conner home where he boarded. Mr. Connor made
the funeral arrangements as well as making a trip to Lacombe, forty miles
each way, for a doctor, and numerous trips to Rimbey for medicine. He
made the casket and Mrs. Connor trimmed it in crepe. Mr. Craig was laid
to rest in the Rimbey Cemetery in 1909 on a cold December day with a scattering
of people present - people who had become friends with a man despite knowing
so little about him.
Miss Florence Hall, our second teacher came from Iowa, USA. She lived
with her mother and uncle on their homestead farm ten miles or so southeast
of Rimbey. She boarded at Connors farm while she taught at Potter Creek
School. After leaving Potter Creek School, she taught for many years in
the surrounding area. When she became ill and finally agreed to enter
the Rimbey Hospital, the shock of being examined by a doctor, probably
for the first time in her life, was too much for her. She grabbed a hot
water bottle and threw it, hitting the doctor. Then and there, she was
placed in the mental hospital in Ponoka, Alberta.
Thomas Randall, a little bouncy fellow from London, England, was the next
teacher. In the school room he was insecure and the pupils sensed it at
once. Many times when he came late to school, the older pupils would congregate
on the school steps refusing to let him enter the schoolroom. He did not
know how to cope with the situation. At first he would laugh and plead,
eventually he would become frantic, warning the pupils he would tell the
trustees. It was then that they would let him in.
In those years discipline was the order of the day, and children could
he punished when unruly. Usually teachers were respected.
Mr. Charles Huggard, who came from Hamilton, Ontario, was not only knowledgeable
but an experienced teacher. Mr Huggard took politics seriously and from
time to time lectured on higher education. He also had one other profound
interest and that was spiritualism.
Miss Pearl Everhart - was a quiet, unassuming, young woman. To her advantage,
she did not have the problems to face that the former teacher had had.
She was a daughter of a pioneer family in Rimbey, and later married Carl
Cox, also of Rimbey.
Mr. Charles Bowker was our eighth grade teacher. He was a knowledgeable,
friendly person with a pleasing outlook on life. Mr. Bowker and his wife
lived in Rimbey and he taught school at Potter Creek, driving 6 miles
to and from Rimbey each day. He was late many times. Often we saw Mr.
Bowker coming around the bend in a cloud of dust, leaning forward in his
springwagon, grasping a line in each hand and urging his already galloping
team to go faster. He would hastily unhitch the team, tie them to the
wagon wheel, then rush to the desk all out of breath. Mr Bowker was of
good character. After teaching many years in the country schools, he and
his wife moved to Edmonton where he entered the business world. He lived
to be 98 years of age.
Mr. Gillun taught at Potter Creek in 1917. Some of the pupils were Les
and Lawrence Uhl, Jean Connors, and Joe, Gertie, Sherman and Roy Hohn.
Miss Turney came from Calgary to teach at Potter Creek . She was a beautiful
young lady and boarded at Uhl's. When a new baby was born at Uhls, Mrs.
Uhl asked Miss Turney to name the baby. Miss Turnev had been admiring
a handsome young man when she went to church with Mrs. UhI. She named
the baby "Vincent Jerome." The handsome young man at church was Jerome
Don-nelly. Miss Turney had an attack of appendicitis followed by influenza
and passed away in Calgary in 1919.
Mrs. Margaret Eaton came to Potter Creek in 1919 and taught until 1920.
She and her husband Lou lived west of Potter Creek on N.E. 5-42-3-5.
George Spargo came to teach in 1921. He was from England and a veteran
of World War I. He boarded with Mrs. Joe Hohn. ln later years he was connected
with the Dept. of Fisheries.
Mr. Pederson taught in the Potter Creek School from January to June in
1922. He was a veteran of the Boer War.
Miss O'Brien was the next teacher. She came in September, 1922 and left
in October. 1922.
Mr. Adam was the next teacher. He came in the fall of 1922 and left at
Christmastime.
Mrs. Letroy taught a year starting in September. 1923. She rode horseback
from Rimbey.
Mr. MacDonald (called "Little Mac") was Potter Creek's next teacher. He
taught from September, 1924 until June. 1925.
Mr. Sweeney taught at Potter Creek for a year starting in September. 1925.
He boarded with Alvin Stutheit, when he was baching. They had many happy
times together. Several of the young male teachers of Rimbey and district
spent many week-ends at the Stutheit home. Some of them included Jack
Badner, Suzie Marrott, Mr. MacDonald, Jack Manson and Sweeney.
Mrs. Dundas taught at Potter Creek School from September. 1926 until Easter
of 1927.
Miss Minnie Page finished the year. She was very well liked by the children.
Bryantons moved in that year and brought eight children to the school.
Miss Murchison came in September of 1927 and taught throughout the year.
Miss Bernice Iddings came from home to teach Potter Creek in 1928. She
drove her car in the fall and spring, and a horse and cutter in the winter.
She was a very capable teacher, and the children loved and admired her.
She took all the Potter Creek pupils to a pictureshow in Rimbey. It was
"Ben Hur." The children greatly appreciated it, as this was the first
show some of them had ever attended.
Miss Hildred Cumberland taught at Potter Creek School in 1929. A short
time later she married Martin Parker.
Miss Eva Tona taught Potter Creek School for three and a half years in
the early thirties. She rode horseback from home.
Miss Margaret Lambertus taught from1933 to 1935. She married Tom Bones
and moved to Ottawa.
Mr. Bill Dorne was a very popular young teacher who taught the year starting
September, 1935.
Miss Eva Tona returned to Potter Creek in September, 1936, and continued
until June 1939. She taught a total of six and one-half years, which is
the longest any teacher ever stayed at Potter Creek. She was a very efficient
teacher. She taught all the grades from one to eleven. The students in
Grades 8, 9, 10 and 11 all wrote departmental exams at that time. Miss
Tona taught baseball and hockey, and also tumbling.
In September. 1939, Miss Hackett came to teach Potter Creek School. She
boarded at Burchnalls. She taught until June 1940.
From September, 1940 until June, 1942, Mrs. Florence Stewart taught at
Potter Creek. She lived in the district.
Miss Grace Kaekle was the teacher from September, 1942 until June, 1945.
Francis McVittie stayed with her in the teacherage in the schoolyard.
Mrs. Alma Von Tettenhorn taught Potter Creek School from September, 1945
until June, 1946. She was the last teacher as the school was then closed.
The children were bussed to Rimbey as of 1947.
The school and yard were sold to the people of the district. The ladies
cleaned the building, and several dances were held there. Later the building
wasn't used much and windows were broken, along with many other acts of
vandalism. The people of the district sold the building to be torn down,
and sold the acre of land to Mr. Bauer. |
