It has been almost 2 weeks since my last post. I kept intending to post but then stuff happens. I also have not been out exploring much.
The topic of today's post is a school we visited in February. It is one that was on my list and has now been crossed off. Hooray. Welcome to Farming Valley School, located near Oyen in the SE part of Alberta.
This is a very distinctive school, the bell tower looks disproportionate to the rest of the building. Did it have a really BIG bell? I like it's odd shape. The inside appears to be used as storage by the owner. (The school is on private land and as a generally nice human, I don't knowingly trespass. We had permission to be here.) The school operated from 1913-1943, then again from 1949-1960. 1960 was late in terms of one room school houses. Lots of districts had already consolidated by then. I am not sure why the gap in dates from 1943-49. Was it due to the war? Lack of school age kids? I hope to find out more about this interesting school.
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| I have a junk drawer...this is a next level |
This post was ready last week but I am just getting around to posting it now. Hope everyone had a nice weekend!
Alas, it would be nice if they put some work into the place. Lovely shots!
ReplyDeleteThanks William, it seems to be in good shape. I wish it could be fixed up too.
DeleteLove it!
ReplyDeleteThanks BW. Glad to have finally seen it!
DeleteA nice old school, it's always fun to see and explore. It was very nice to have permission to explore it. I love that junk room. If it was in better shape and safe, it could be reused as something else. That would be great.
ReplyDeleteHi Bill, it seems safe while we were in it. I have definitely been in less safe places...lol
DeleteIt's a lovely building - from the outside! Too bad it's used as a junk "drawer" lol...your caption made me laugh! That is a big bell tower, I guess the bell had to ring loud and far to get people's attention? Interesting about the gap in years too.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rain! Someone one asked me whatever happened to all the bells, and he was right, we see a lot of bell towers but rarely is there a bell still in them...interesting.
DeleteLOL doesn't everyone have a junk drawer or some kind?
The bells were often taken out of the bell towers of schools and churches to relieve stress on the building structure. And once the bell was on the ground someone would take it home for "safe keeping."
DeleteI've seen a number of church and school bells mounted at the site of an old cemetery or church and sometimes as a memorial in a nearby town. I don't believe I've ever seen a school with the bell present but Lac Qui Parle Lutheran Church near Torquay, Saskatchewan still has both (yes, two of them!) original bells in the bell tower...and there are still ropes attached to them. Ringing them at sunset was a thrill! Highly Recommended!
Cool, thanks for the info Michael. I have seen a bell mounted outside a nearby school but can't recall any others. We have rung bells at several Ukrainian churches since the bell towers are separate structures. In fact, we rung some yesterday!
DeleteThe bottom floor of bell towers were often used as cloak rooms/mud rooms.
ReplyDeleteHi Gorges, yes that was the case here I think. I wonder where the bell is now?
DeleteI love the photos, especially the B&W. You always capture the spirit of a place.
ReplyDeleteThanks Marie, it has such character, I am glad to have seen it.
DeleteThis one is truly a beauty to behold...and it still has its flagpole too!
ReplyDeleteThanks Michael!! It is definitely near the top of my list of favourite schools!!
DeleteWhat a lovely building!
ReplyDeleteThanks Steve, it’s a really cool building!
DeletePuts a new meaning to the name old school
ReplyDeleteHi Adam, lol I love everything old school
DeleteYou raise interesting questions about this unusual old schoolhouse! Hope you find out lots about it!
ReplyDeleteLove your photos of it!
Thanks Christine, my online historical research site has been down for months and I am missing it!!
DeleteNot sure if I've seen a schoolhouse with a bell tower before Jenn! Beautifully shown here ✨
ReplyDeleteHi PDP, looking back through all my school photos, there are a few, but more often then not...no bell tower. This day I saw 5 old schools, 2 with and 3 without bell towers.
DeleteAnother interesting story, Thanks Jenn
ReplyDeleteThanks Frank, one of those great exploring days with great sights to be seen.
DeleteThat first pic is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThanks RedPat! It was a bitterly cold windy day when I was there, glad I got some good photos lol!
DeleteHi i just love your pictures and the old roads, is there any of this old abandoned towns, houses that are very close to Calgary wouldn't mind driving for a small adventure close to home
ReplyDeleteHi, lots of abandonment south and east of Calgary, I guess the closest place that comes to mind is Sharples, near Carbon. You never know what you'll find though if you just pick a back road and go.
DeleteIt does look like an interesting building, at least from the outside. I can't imagine storing that much junk! I hope you'll do a post if you find out about the gaps in when the school was used.
ReplyDeleteThanks Danielle! Yes, I wonder how long some of that stuff has just been sitting there! It's too bad the building isn't fixed up.
DeleteLovely captures of a historic but not-forgotten schoolhouse. Hope it's being maintained. Maybe the bell had a broad range of movement as it swung, hence the large tower. During WW11, students were either drafted if of age & younger men stayed home to farm the much-needed grain & livestock.
ReplyDeleteHi Caro, thank you for the comment! Whatever the case may be here about the bell, it sure is an interesting old school.
DeleteI just love old abandonded places. Nice Images you have. I also enjoy photographing Historic places around my area here in PA. It's full of them. I am following.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lester! It is great that there are people all over taking photos of these old places so they aren't forgotten.
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