Monday, February 12, 2018

A Case of the Mondays and Fairacres School


Well well well Monday, we meet again. I don't like you and you don't like me, luckily it was a pretty good weekend so I can't stay mad at you. Even when I tried to go out and had a completely flat tire, even when I had to trudge through knee deep snow to dig my air compressor out of the shed and EVEN when I was out on the street in -30C filling my tire. I wasn't even bothered when I found a big bolt in the tire and was rapidly losing air pressure as I drove to the tire shop. Even after all that, you're just another day and you aren't the boss of me.

This weekend started on Friday, I was off work and home with my son, I had a big order of pictures to work on so we just hung out around the house. I was keeping an eye on the road reports and weather since we had a trip planned to Oyen on Saturday, which is a 3.5hr drive east of me. I was meeting up with a friend and a local guy who I know of but had never met in person. We had permission to go on some private land which is always a bonus!

Conditions looked good, so we were up early and on the road while it was still dark. Roads were a bit rough part way but otherwise not bad. We got to Oyen, only 20 minutes late and started our day! We saw a ton of cool places over the next few hours, but I am starting with an old school.

Fairacres School operated in 2 locations, Fairacres #1, operated from 1911-1937 and is marked by a sign. It was moved in 1937 because there were no people left north of the site, so it was moved to a more central location, and Fairacres #2, operated from 1937-1944 and was then left on site.

Even though it was a only a short walk from the road to the school, it was bitterly cold with the wind chill stinging my face. I can't imagine going to and from this school during our frigid prairie winters.





A different edit 

Fairacres looks pretty for good being 107 years old.



34 comments:

  1. Very nice. It looks great in black and white.

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    1. Thanks, need to change it up, can only shoot a school so many ways.

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  2. A wonderfully aged structure! Well worth getting out to.

    If Monday was a person, we'd have to wrap it in chains, fit it with cement shoes, and dump it in the Marianas Trench. :)

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    1. Thanks William, had a great day trip to a part of Alberta I haven't been to before, and even briefly into Saskatchewan.
      Yes, Monday can just go away lol.

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  3. Too bad about the bolt in your tire. Sheesh! And yes, 107 years old and not a saggy bit in sight. I'm jealous.

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    1. LOL Debra!
      I am just glad the tire incident wasn't while I was on the highway the day before.

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  4. Wow! That one's a beauty and already a favourite! What are the chances the bell is still in the tower?

    Hmmm...seems like everybody was in Oyen on the weekend.

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    1. Hi Michael...good question! I will ask.
      LOL yes I was with a certain blogger friend of ours.

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  5. Hi Jenn :) Monday is NOT the boss of you!!! It sucks to have a flat, especially in winter! That's a beautiful church, but yes, it definitely looks cold. And I'm sure the kids had to walk a LONG way back then to and from, brrr!

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    1. HI Rain! From yesterday to today it has been a 30 degree difference, from -36 to -6 currently and warming up. I suppose they had to deal with crazy Alberta weather back then too.

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  6. What a beauty that old school is for its age. I love the old weathered look of the wood and the metal sign and frame are awesome to see.

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    1. Thanks Bill! The school really does look good. I love seeing the school markers, different counties around the province have different styles and these are some of the bigger ones.

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  7. That third photo is perfect. The building is photogenic and you captured it perfectly!

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    1. Thanks Marie, I figured with so many photos of the school I might as well try something different.

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  8. A great story Jenn! Sorry to hear about the tire. That always sucks!

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    1. Hi Tim, saw lots of cool stuff that day. The tire situation sucked but I am glad I was able to do it without help and get it to the tire shop.

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  9. I'm I guessing the preservation society looks after Fairacres Jenn, it looks well tended. Bad luck about the bolt in tyre, for me it was a nail.. so very annoying.. but then I think to myself if that's the extent of my problems I pretty much have nothing to complain about 😀

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    1. Hi PDP, this one is one private land but yes there are some that are cared for by a historical or preservation society, lots became community halls also. This one looks like it was used for grain storage.
      That is true, a bolt or nail in the tire is minor. Although I am thankful it didn't happen the day before on the highway.

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  10. Nice group of pics :-) In the prairie sun. What a solid old building, even after having been moved.

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    1. Thanks Frank! Can you imagine the task of moving a school or a grain elevator? Seems like it'd be quite the undertaking, especially a grain elevator!

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  11. I love the pic of the school against the blue sky!

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    1. Thanks RedPat, it was lovely blue skies all day but the wind was so cold.

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  12. WOW! What a school!

    (sucks about the tire, though.. glad it didn't happen out there on the prairie)

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    1. Thanks Steve! It is a cool school!
      I am also thankful it didn't happen out on the highway!!

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  13. -30C? Is Alberta like ice-hell?

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    1. LOL sometimes....so yesterday was -36 and today it was +6...a 40 degree weather change. Just enough to make it slushy and now it'll freeze again. Yaaay Canada.

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  14. So amazing to see this old school still standing after all those harsh prairie winters! Great photos!
    I just can't imagine that kind of cold!

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    1. Hi Christine, no one should have to feel that cold lol!
      Yes it's still nice and solid this school!

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  15. You're such an amazing photographer! And a very prolific one!

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    1. Thanks Mr. Sable...I'm just a girl with a camera.

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  16. Your temperatures sound awful! You're much tougher than I am. I wouldn't even consider going out in that. The school does look pretty good for being so old. Your pictures are great.

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    1. Thanks Danielle, I hate to say I am used to the winter and winter driving...I would rather not have to bundle up to walk to the mailbox though lol!

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