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Castlegar & Area

Deer Park

Deer Park

In 1907, a one-room log school was built in this settlement on the east side of the Columbia River north of Castlegar with 10 pupils attending classes. In 1912, Mennonite settlers moved in to the area farms and built a new school which had a steeple bell. The school was demolished when B.C. Hydro bought out properties along Arrow Lakes for construction of the Hugh Keenlyside Dam.

The steeple bell was saved and it is now housed at Robson Elementary.

In 1952, a modern school was constructed and the old school was used as a community hall. This school was sold to a private individual and moved to a different locale in preparation for the construction of the dam.

 

Cay Creek

Cay Creek

This school was an unused frame building located in a Doukhobor village. The school housed classes from grades 1 to 8. It was simply furnished and heating by the usual woodstove. It operated from 1939 to 1941.

 

Castlegar Primary

Castlegar Primary

Prior to January 1967, the primary classes were held at the Twin Rivers Elementary School. The new school housed grades 1 to 4 for several years. In 1974, the school had a fire. Luckily because of its cement block construction only one classroom was destroyed and the others only had smoke damage. During Castlegar Primary existence it has housed primary students from different schools in the area. During the 1980s the Russian bilingual kindergarten class was piloted at Castlegar Primary.

 

Castlegar Elementary

Castlegar Elementary

In 1908, a few residents of the community that would become Castlegar formed a committee, bought lumber and built a one room school on the property where Eremeko building presently stands. In 1923, a two room school house was constructed on the property now housing the Courthouse and the School District No. 20 maintenance shop and bus garages. The rooms were separated by a folding wall which could turn the school into one large room. The community also used the space as a meeting hall, concert hall, a church or a Sunday school room. In 1932, a third room was added and in 1938, three more rooms were added. In the 1930s and continuing until almost 1950 the school taught pupils from grades 1 to 8. In 1951, when Stanley Humphries High School was built, grades seven and eight moved to the new school.

 

Brilliant School No. 4 & 5

Brilliant School No. 4 & 5

This was the one room school with a teacherage was located in Ootischenia. It burned down sometime in the 1930’s. An old abandoned cobbler shop was then put into use as a school. This school was once called the “Chebararnia School”. Chebatarnia is the Russian word for leather or harness shop. About 40 students were enrolled from grades 1 to 8. The building was old, drafty and most unsuitable for the students, so another classroom was established in the front section of the cobbler shop.

 

Pleasant (Brilliant School No. 3)

Pleasant (Brilliant School No. 3)

This improvised school was located in the Picton village which was situated on land that the Kootenay Regional Airport now occupies. The regular school had burned down three years previously and new accommodation was found in one of the larger buildings of the village. The school consisted of three classrooms and was named Pleasant School. Grades 3 to 4 were located in a room at the front of the building and grades 5 to 8 in a room at the back. Grades 1 and 2 were housed in the lower floor section of another unoccupied building. The school operated from 1935 to 1941. It was demolished to accommodate the new airport.

 

Brilliant School No. 1

Brilliant School No. 1

Brilliant School No. 1 was determined to be the main school in the Brilliant area and only opened from 1931 to 1933. It was located on the Brilliant Flats. It was a one room school enrolling students in grades 1 to 8 with a teacherage attached. The teacherage was furnished simply with beds, a dresser, wardrobe, table and chairs and the camp cook stove. This school was closed in 1933 due to overcrowding.

 

Blueberry Creek Elementary

Blueberry Creek Elementary

The first school in the community of Blueberry Creek was built in 1916. It was a wood frame building, housing students from grades 1 to 8. From 1917 to 1923 the school was in full operation. During the next 10 years the school operated only when the enrollment was sufficient to warrant the hiring of a teacher. Records show that in 1933 the school was again reopened full time and operated until 1947 when it burned down. In 1962, at two room school on a 10 acre site in Blueberry was built. In 1965 – 66 an additional room was added to the school, due to many new families moving into the area. A portable classroom was brought in an additional staff was hired. The school yard was cleared of brush and fenced. A library and activity room were added in 1974 – 75. The school closed in 1986. The community of Blueberry uses the building today for various activities.