A visitor to the area was struck by the beauty and uniqueness of a prairie icon, and is hoping that it can remain for generations to enjoy.
Earle Nault and his wife share an anniversary with their son and his wife. They celebrated with a road trip through the area, and happened upon the Springwater School near Delia. He was enamored.
“I thought it was a beautiful building, both my mother and mother-in-law were teachers and I thought it is just a shame to see that building deteriorate the way it is,” said Nault.
The Springwater area was opened to settlement in 1910 and by 1913, farmers began to petition for a school.
According to interpretation at the site in 1922, Mr. Shields, a stonemason, was hired to build the school. Costs were reduced as the community volunteered to haul building supplies. Mrs. P Manchester became the first teacher. She would travel to the school by horse and buggy. Teachers would board with local farm families.
The school became a social hub for everything from dances to fundraisers. Its stage was used to showcase local talent and travelling entertainers, as well as student concerts and fairs.
The school closed in 1952, however the Majestic/ Farrell Lake Alberta Women’s Institute purchased the school and it lived on as a community centre. There they hosted everything from bridal showers to weddings, the basement also served as “social club” where card games with “refreshments” were the attraction.
In 1980, a new roof was installed and the building was declared a historical site. In 1995, the Women’s Institute folded, and the Springwater School Foundation was formed. Today the school is under the care of the Delia Historical Society.
Gary Pearson of the Delia Historical Society says they continue to maintain the school.
“You can go any time, we don’t lock it, we try to keep the windows fixed up and the birds out but every once and in a while a bird hits the windows and they break,” said Pearson. There is somebody there once a month to keep things ship shape and mow the grass a few times a year.”
He adds they patched up the roof a short time ago to keep it from deteriorating more.
“We’re pretty old and not as active as we used to be,” he said. “We are a small organization and we do as much as we can…we don’t have too much extra funds to spend on it.”
Nault said they would like to see more care put into the historic school and hopefully find a way for it to be utilized.
“Whether it be night classes, or summer camps there are different things it could be used for, and it should be used on a daily basis.
Nault said the ATA recently donated to help preserve a teacherage in Stony Plain and feel they could also show support for the historic school.
Tom Ward, manager of Heritage Conservation Advisory Services explained that it is a registered historic resource, however that does not afford it very much protection. Over the last decade, they have begun to engage with communities to have sites such as this designated as a municipal historic resource so that more funding could be made available.
He hopes to do the same in Delia.
“My intention is to contact my conservation advisor and say ‘can you reengage with the local historical society and County to see what the status of this is and what are the next steps to make sure the building is protected.’”
“It is quite a unique one-room stone school for sure so we are definitely interested in it,” said Ward, adding that there are resources available to help with organization, fundraising and succession planning.
