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The Chain-Of-Lakes Public School District No. 468 of the North West Territories
Log school
SW 24 32 9 W2
1898-1961 Frame school
NW 13-32-9 W2
southeast of Invermay (NW 1-33-9 W2 GPS 51° 48' 21" N, 103° 9' 23" W)
Province Saskatchewan, Canada


Chain of Lakes School: A Journey Through Time

The story of Chain of Lakes School No. 468, which operated from 1898 to 1930, begins with the arrival of pioneers in the late 1890s. Settlers, including families with names like Tulloch, Tattray, Peters, Christopherson, Thorson, and Abbott, began to make their homes in the area around 1895 and 1896. These pioneers were determined to build not only farms but also a future for their children through education. On May 21, 1898, the formation of the Chain-of-Lakes School District was officially recorded. The school was founded under the corporate name The Chain-Of-Lakes Public School District No. 468 of the North West Territories. At this time, the North West Territories were still a vast region under Canadian governance, prior to the creation of the province of Saskatchewan. The first school building was a log structure with a sod roof, placed on the southwest corner of Section 24, Township 32, Range 9, West of the Second Meridian. The school’s first teacher was Miss Stevenson, who began her work with the community in 1899. Though early education in the area was difficult due to the sparse population, the school slowly began to serve the growing community of settlers. The region, part of the old North-Western Territory, was officially incorporated into Canada on July 15, 1870, and became the Northwest Territories. In 1905, Saskatchewan was established as a province, and within a year, the area surrounding Chain of Lakes saw further population growth and development.

For a brief time around 1905 and 1906, there were not enough children in the area to justify holding regular classes. However, by August 1907, things began to change. A new trustee, Henry Christopherson, took charge, and the community raised enough funds to construct a frame school building on the northwest corner of Section 13, Township 32, Range 9. By 1908, the new school was ready, providing a more permanent learning space for the children of the district.

From 1909 to 1930, Chain of Lakes School was staffed by a number of teachers who came and went as the community grew and changed. The school continued to operate through a time of great change in Canada. Despite challenges such as limited resources and changing populations, it served as an anchor for the local community. By 1940, the school still had 20 pupils enrolled, but its continued relevance was in question as transportation and modern schooling methods began to shift.

In 1948, the community took a step forward by building a teacherage, providing housing for the educators who had come to serve the school. Then, in 1950, a new school building was constructed, complete with a basement and furnace to ensure that students would have a more comfortable learning environment during the long winter months. The teacherage was moved into town, and the original school building was sold.

Transportation to and from the school was not without its challenges, particularly during the early years. Children traveled to school by walking, horseback, horse-drawn buggies, carts, toboggans, and even cabooses or cutters pulled by horses. The cabooses, though primitive, were equipped with small heaters to help keep the children warm on cold winter days.

But Chain of Lakes School was more than just a place of learning. The school building and its grounds were at the heart of community life. It hosted church services, Christmas parties, box socials, club meetings, weddings, and dances. The schoolyard became a gathering place for school picnics, races, ball games, and field meets. It was a hub of social activity, serving as a focal point for both education and recreation.

Sadly, the school closed its doors in 1930, marking the end of an important chapter in the community’s history. Despite its closure, the legacy of Chain of Lakes School lives on through the stories of the families and individuals who were part of it. As one of the first institutions of learning in the area, it laid the foundation for the growth and development of the region, and its impact on the community would be felt for generations.

Chain of Lakes School, though no longer standing, remains a testament to the perseverance of pioneers and the vital role that education played in shaping the lives of early settlers in Saskatchewan. Its story, like that of many rural schools, reflects the resilience of those who built it and the enduring importance of community in the development of the Canadian Prairies.

For more information and images Parkland Trails The Chain-Of-Lakes Public School District No. 468 of the North West Territories copyright Invermay, Rama History book Committee

For more information previously submitted to the SK One Room Schoolhouse Project







Nearby Placenames to Invermay, Saskatchewan NW 1-33-9 W2 :
Netherton 14-31-9-W2 located Locality located 13 Km from Invermay
Lone Spruce 12-34-8-W2 located Locality located 16 Km from Invermay
Stonyview 34-30-8-W2 located Locality located 18 Km from Invermay
Okla 35-8-W2 located Organized Hamlet located 23 Km from Invermay
Invermay No. 305 Saskatchewan Rural Municipality located 8 Km from Invermay
Invermay 1-33-9-W2 located Village located 0 Km from Invermay
Rama 19-32-7-W2 located Village located 12 Km from Invermay
Margo 15-33-10-W2 located Village located 13 Km from Invermay



For more information



Book Title Parkland Trails. Histories of R.M. of Invermay and Villages of Invermay and Rama ISBN 0-919781-11-X Invermay, Rama History book Committee, Invermay, SK SOA 1M0.



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The Chain-Of-Lakes Public School District No. 468 of the North West Territories,Log school,SW 24 32 9 W2, 1898-1961 Frame school, NW 13-32-9 W2, southeast of Invermay,NW 1-33-9 W2, Province Saskatchewan, Canada,The Chain-Of-Lakes Public School District No. 468 of the North West Territories,Log school,SW 24 32 9 W2, 1898-1961 Frame school, NW 13-32-9 W2, southeast of Invermay,NW 1-33-9 W2, Province Saskatchewan, Canada,The Chain-Of-Lakes Public School District No. 468 of the North West Territories,Log school,SW 24 32 9 W2, 1898-1961 Frame school, NW 13-32-9 W2, southeast of Invermay,NW 1-33-9 W2, Province Saskatchewan, Canada,The Chain-Of-Lakes Public School District No. 468 of the North West Territories,Log school,SW 24 32 9 W2, 1898-1961 Frame school, NW 13-32-9 W2, southeast of Invermay,NW 1-33-9 W2, Province Saskatchewan, Canada,The Chain-Of-Lakes Public School District No. 468 of the North West Territories,Log school,SW 24 32 9 W2, 1898-1961 Frame school, NW 13-32-9 W2, southeast of Invermay,NW 1-33-9 W2, Province Saskatchewan, Canada,The Chain-Of-Lakes Public School District No. 468 of the North West Territories,Log school,SW 24 32 9 W2, 1898-1961 Frame school, NW 13-32-9 W2, southeast of Invermay,NW 1-33-9 W2, Province Saskatchewan, Canada
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