Mount Olive School and Gophers

Former Mount Olive School

As you all know, I love finding old schools. I have a very complicated system of research, mapping, government contacts and satellite......wait...I've said too much.  Just kidding, it is a system though and I can say I have found quite a few this way and helped identify others.

I was planning a road trip through the area around Three Hills, AB,  The trip also included meeting my sister in Torrington, AB to visit the World Famous Gopher Hole Museum.  This is a place you must visit at least once in your life if you are in the area.  An adequate description escapes me but basically it is a small museum of stuffed gopher dioramas.  Yes, stuffed gophers in various scenarios. If you can't make it to Alberta, check it out here:  http://gopherholemuseum.ca/.

Undated photo of Mount Olive School.  

I had learned in my 'research' that there was an old school, turned into a church near Three Hills. That's all I knew at first and I thought it might be worth a look. Mount Olive School operated from 1909-1946.  It was sold in 1953 to the Mount Olive Evangelical Free Church (who now have a newer building in the town of Three Hills). The school was moved north a 1/4 mile in 1967 and was then used as a barn. It remained on that site and was restored in 1998 to become a residence. The church was kind enough to direct me to the website for the current owner, who operates a bakery business (http://www.moussecakesally.ca/). She let me come take photos (yaay!) and I am so glad she did. Living in this historic home in a beautiful and peaceful country setting....sounds and looks near perfect to me.  I know I said in my last post that if  I win the lottery I'd buy a castle but I think living in a historic building might be more me.

A perfect hot summer day!

School's out!  Thanks for visiting!