NARRATIVES OF SASKATOON

1882-1912

Genealogy, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, Pioneer,Saskatchewan history, Temperance Colony, Temperance Colonization Society, Pioneers,John N. Lake, John Lake, Saskatoon history, Saskatoon Gen Web, Genealogy, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, Pioneer,Saskatchewan history, Temperance Colony, Temperance Colonization Society, Saskatoon history, Saskatoon Gen Web

who knew no other education than that gained under its roof, through the ten years teaching of Mr. Leslie and his successor, George Horn, and the succeeding seven years under various teachers. To many, especially to those who were fortunate as to attend in its first ten years, it was kinder- garten, public school, high school and University. For them particularly the recollections associated with those humble walls still stirs emotions as deep and worthy as ever rise in the hearts of alumni of the greatest Uni- versity and the most historic "little red school." It will always be a pleasant recollection to the writer that, appreciat- ing these things, he somewhat timidly suggested, many years later, at a civic gathering, that steps should be taken to preserve the school, at a time when, in the march of progress, it must be torn down. Though some ridi- cule greeted the suggestion at the moment, endeavors were made to bring it to realization, but the matter flagged until the date was set for demolish- ing the building, when the Daughters of the Empire added to their tale of good deeds by raising the funds required. It was then removed and rebuilt upon the site provided by the Governors of the University. Excellent as were the services for so long given by Mr. Leslie, it is safe to record that the brightest page in the history of the school in its earlier years is that of the period 1891 to 1898, under the teaching of George E. Horn. He had experience gained as bead master over 300 boys in an English school, was a gifted teacher, not merely a scholar but a veritable storehouse of general knowledge, broadly and heartily religious, and of most genial disposition. The value of this remarkable man's work in the school and his influence in the community can hardly be over-estimated. School under his guidance seemed even to lose all sense of drudgery, and there is creditable evidence that pupils expressed disappointment if unable to at- tend and were often loth to leave at the close of the day. Such eulogy may appear somewhat extravagant, and while many unusual and interest ng tales might be told in warrant of it, they cannot well be given here. It must suffice to add that Mr. Horn made as large a contribution to the general community in educational, religious and social service as he gave to the education of his pupils during those seven memorable years. With his departure, to enter upon educational and lay missionary work in Japan, the most interesting period of the history of the school may be said to end. For three years the history of the school is somewhat uneventful. Attendance was growing: pupils were travelling to school over what would today be accounted long distances from the country on both sides of the river. The railway had arrived, and a small settlement was growing up about the station on the West side of the river. While pupils living on that side had now the advantage of crossing the river by the railway bridge where they had formerly to rely upon the ferry, crossing by railway was somewhat dangerous, and natural agitation arose for the establishment of a school on the other side of the river. The oldest minute book extant commences with the account of a meeting of ratepayers in April, 1900, to consider the question, where it is shown that 67 pupils could be mus- tered, 32 of whom lived West of the river. Steps were taken to secure a site and submit to the ratepayers a bylaw to borrow funds, $1200.00 being asked and the material chosen to be stone. There was not unanimous agreement to this material advance in expendi- ture the record shows that while the bylaw carried, of the eleven votes polled three were against the bylaw. The site acquired is that upon which a small school stands today, at the foot of Third Avenue. The Department of Education, in response to representations that the schools were not sufficiently close to the centre of the district, at this time adjusted the condition by taking away from the district's land the south row of sections of Township 36 and adding the same number of sections from the township to the north. The second stone school was opened for use in January 1901. In 1902, increasing attendance demanding still further accommodation, a small frame school was placed beside it. The name Saskatoon about this time passed from the older settlement on the East bank to the village newly arisen about the railway station across the river and the new name Nutana Page 86

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