Sunday, September 4 in the afternoon, folks gathered at the Rumsey Drop-in center to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the Two Valley View Schoolhouse. This structure is now the home of the Rumsey Drop-in.
Fifteen former students and five past teachers were able to attend the function. The afternoon was organized by the Two Valley View birthday club which was formed 100 years ago when the school was built and is still active today. Teachers attending were; Stella Holowath, Helen Sandell, Freda Befus, Dorothy Ryning, and Lorraine Hoff. These names are who they were known by when they were teaching.
The Two Valley Views school was built in 1910 with classes beginning in January of 1911. The school cost $275.50 and was built by Mr. A. Stewart. The 2 acres of land was bought from Mr. McCartney for $90. Miss L.C. Moore was the first teacher receiving a salary of $750 a year. The first teachers boarded with families in the area. The teacherage was built in 1938 and in 1947 was moved across the road and closed in 1955 in June.
The students were then bused into Rumsey for school and later on went to Drumheller or Red Deer for high school. During the operation of the school there were 37 different teachers with none staying longer than two years. In total 131 students were taught from 49 different families over the years.
The last teachers to teach at Two Valley View School were; 1942, Helen Dodds, 43, Helen Langford, 44-45, Helen Hogan, 46 Helen Sandel, 47 Dorothy Ryning, 48-49, Eileen Toliver, 50 Freda Befus, 51, Kany McVeigh, 52, Mrs. McLeod, 53, Stella Holowath, and 54, Lorraine Hoff. Len Hodgson was the first bus driver.
There are a couple of unanswered questions arising from the visiting that went on at the party. Why was the schoolhouse moved across the road? Which direction did the entry door face? How long did Mrs. McLeod teach prior to Stella Holowath taking over? Phone me at 403-368-2132 if you have any of the answers to these questions.
