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

substituted, much to the disgust, incidentally, of the older inhabitants James Leslie, James D. Powe and James Clinkskill were in 1902 Trustees of some years' standing, the School District containing now the villages of Nutana and Saskatoon. The following year, generally memorable as the year of the coming of the Barr Colonists and to the writer as being his first year of engagement as secretary to the Board, that serious problem of accommodation which was to tax the resources of the Trustee Boards for many years to come began to present itself in earnest. Confident of the impending growth of the village of Saskatoon, these trustees considered the advisability of en- tering upon a building programme affording provision for future contin- gencies as well as the present evident requirement. Residents on the East side of the river, looking with some apprehension upon the rumors of large expenditures, signified their desire to draw away, proposal being made that the school district be divided, and this was actually affected in July, 1903, the river dividing the lands of the two districts. The new district took the title Nutana School District and was numbered 869, its Trustees Board took office in August, the secretary continuing to act for both districts. These districts remained apart for about five years. In 1905 the Nutana District, after conducting school in the old stone building and in rented rooms was constrainsed to build. Debentures for $9000 were issued and a building of two rooms: with view to future enlargement, was erected, its walls of cement block, then a material coming into favor. In 1907 proposals were made for reuniting the districts, but did not materialize. The railway town of Sutherland demanding accommodation for its pupils in 1908, a frame building was provided there, upon one of the sections added to the north side of the district in the adjustment of territory in 1901, and now within the boundaries of the Nutana District. The cement block building not proving a success, and accommodation being needed for some classes again occupying rented rooms, the Nutana Board entered into plans for building the present Victoria School. Only five lots, upon which the first school was standing, were at that time owned and it was necessary to follow the example being set across the river in securing ample playground room. The remaining lots in that block were secured for the sum of $600.00, a price considered at that time somewhat extravagant. Before the Board had proceeded further than to adopt plans committing it to the building of the Victoria School, it was thought well to accept terms for amalgamation, which was concluded in April 1909. Meanwhile, the problems arising from the rapid growth of the town across the river was keeping the School Board engaged with a continuous building problem. At the time of the separation of the two districts, Saskatoon became a town and the school board required five trustees. Messrs. Leslie and Clinkskill remained in office, Prank Oliver, Dr. Wil1ough- by and James Flanagan were added. The problem immediately confronting them was one demanding courageous action. In recent times a money bylaw for $1200.00 had been contested. Possibly at no time has the Board been called upon to make decision comparatively so momentous as that by which this Board agreed to an expenditure of $14,000.00 At that time the pro- ceeding necessary to obtain consent of the ratepayers was simple. It re- quired only that notices of the Board's intention should be posted in parts of the district, silence giving consent. The town was as yet so small that the details of assessment were gathered in a forenoon, the house standing farthest out being at the corner of 21st Street and 3rd Avenue. This Board not only assumed the responsibility of committing the district to this fi- nancial burden but with considerable daring acquired the site of the present City Hall, three blocks north of the town buildings, and the first four rooms of the King Edward School were put under way, to be occupied in 1904. The tale for the next few years is one of rapid expansion. In 1906 and 1907 the capacity of this school was doubled and the first four rooms of the Alexandra School commenced, in the village of Riversdale then developing West of the railway line, and the bonded debt of the district rose to $50,000.00. To this, $35,000.00 was added in 1908, and the Alexandra Page 87

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