MARY'S GENEALOGY TREASURES
Boundary Creek
Chief Mountain Country" pages 59 - 61
Boundary Creek has the distinction of being the most
extreme southwesterly organized area in Alberta, ex-
cluding National Parks. It is not known who named the
creek, but it is an appropriate name as the creek rises in
Pike Lake barely within Montana and empties into the
St. Mary River again inside Montana's borders. Between
these two points it describes an irregular ark as it winds
its way into Alberta. At its extreme it is some five miles
from the International Boundary.
It could be that the first building site given the name
"Boundary Creek" was the R.N.W.M.P. barracks which
were on the south shore of Police Lake, near its west end.
The house consisted of three rooms. It was constructed of
logs with wooden pegs in the corners rather than nails.
The roof was made of sods. There was a horse stable
nearby. It was probably last occupied around 1905
Alvin Beazer, an old-timer of the Beazer area men-
tioned recently that he could remember when there were
only four people on Boundary Creek-Furman, Lin-
quist, Christensen and Savoy. This would be right at the
turn of the century. None of these names figure in the
area now, although Freeman Cook is a grandson of John
Furman.
A man named Ewings, who lived north of the Salt
Ranch buildings, went about with a petition to secure the
first post office for Boundary Creek. The Post Office was
probably the first organized institution in Boundary
Creek. "Billy" Fidler was the first postmaster. The Post
Office was on the present Ed Neimann ranch but on the
north side of the Creek. Mr. Fidler was succeeded as
postmaster by Victor Hillmer, who in turn was succeeded
by a Mr. J. E. Hansen, still on the same location. When
Mr. Hansen gave up the Post Office it was taken over by
Mrs. Stuart Selby on the location where Earl Hansen
now lives. Mrs. John Vair became the next postmistress
in her home now occupied by her grandson, George Vair.
It is of interest to note that on this site the Boundary
Creek Post Office was actually a few feet into the Beazer
district. In the mid-thirties Mrs. Vair retired. Again Mrs.
Selby assumed the postmistress' duties in the old Enders
home. This was about a mile south and west of Mrs.
Vair's. In February 1947 Mrs. Selby relinquished the
duties of postmistress. Henceforth the Cardston Post Of-
fice became the post office for the Boundary Creek dis-
trict. Michael Archibald was an early mail carrier. He
gave up this job about 1910. Stuart Selby succeeded him
as mail carrier, only quitting after the "Hard Winter"
1920 because of the loss of horses and the poor condition
of his surviving horses.
A Presbyterian Church was built in the early days in
the western reaches of the present Salt ranch near the
banks of Boundary Creek. This was abandoned about
1920. The building was sold and moved. At one time
summer Presbyterian services were held in the house on
the Michael Archibald homestead, SEI/4-24-1-27-W4.
This was almost on the spot where the road leads west
from the junction north of the present Boundary Creek
school. In early days the Anglicans came into the area.
Church was held in the school.
In the late thirties and early forties L.D.S. Church
services were held in the Boundary Creek School.
One notable thing that had a concern with the
Presbyterian Church was the tragic drowning of a young
R.C.M.P. officer in Police Lake shortly before 1919. In
preparation to attending a church picnic this Constable
and his companion went for a swim in the lake. Somehow
he got into difficulty and was lost. It was some days until
the body was recovered.
The Boundary Creek S.D. No. 1838 was organized in
1908. From the minutes we learn debentures were issued
at 8% for $1000. for the building of a school and procur-
ing the site. Two acres of N .W. t/4- 13- 1 -27-4 were
purchased from Alfred Gales for the school site. This
first school was situated about one block west of the
Alfred Gales home, and about two miles west of the loca-
tion of the present school. The first school was a tall one-
room wooden building with a lean-to built on for an en-
trance.
The minutes of the first school meeting were dated
June 1, 1908. The minutes of the second meeting were
dated July 11, 1908. This meeting was held at the home
of Chas. Holmes, with Chairman - Chas. Holmes;
Secretary-Edwin Blaser; Treasurer-James Crerar.
Miss Mary Smith of Mountain View was the teacher in
1910; her salary was $60. per month. Early assessors
were paid $20. per year and the assessment April 30,
1910 was 71/2 cents per acre.
At a board meeting December 7, 1910 it was decided
that cables should be attached to the west side of the
school building. The building was tall and the west wind
presented a real problem. As a safety measure these large
cables were installed to secure the building. These cables
remained for the duration of the school.
The school served as the "community centre". It was
the centre of all activity and everyone participated. The
School Board was actually in charge of the social affairs
of the district, as they were in charge of the school. Many
wonderful times were held at the school-plays, parties,
dances, socials, picnics, meetings and Christmas con-
certs. People came from all around and far away to at-
tend these functions.
A former student Mary Martin (Coombs) tells about
the "Basket Social", held each November. The girls
made beautiful baskets each filled with a bountiful lunch
-a work of culinary art. These baskets were auctioned
and later the proceeds were distributed among the
families to ensure a Christmas gift for every child of
school age and pre-schoolers-school children were
allotted a bit more than pre-schoolers. Much time was
spent "browsing through the catalogue" to select just the
right gift to comply with the amount they were allotted to
spend. Orders were mailed so that these 'gifts' would
arrive in plenty of time for Christmas. For many children
(and this applied to many districts at that time) this was
the only gift the child received. Mary remembers at this
time her one wish was to receive a little bottle of nail
polish ('cause "teacher" had some and it was something
new). Her wish was granted plus a manicure set. About
1939 times were better and sufficient funds were raised so
that everyone, even the babies, received a sack-treat con-
taining candy, nuts, popcorn, an orange, and even an ap-
ple.
Community spirit was truly evident at Christmas.
Everyone helped to make this a happy event for all. Often
times were hard, but the spirit of these noble people
reigned. The Christmas concert was a community effort.
First, a wire was strung across the front of the
schoolroom and curtains were hung to set up a stage.
Then the big tree was brought in and decorated. Some
say it was 12' high. Then came the night of the concert.
When everyone was in and seated the little wax candles
were lit, the kerosene lamp carried out and young and old
alike sat spellbound as they watched their "magnificent"
tree shine in all its glory-and as the candles began to
splutter amid the oh's and the ah's, the candles were
blown out (a safety precaution), the lamp returned and
the program began.
Following the program jolly Santa always happened
to be at the right school at the right time! Such merri-
ment for everyone-especially the children, as gifts were
passed around. As times became better treats were
provided for old and young alike. The program was
usually followed by a dance, so it was not until the 'wee
hours' that many a tired and happy soul set out for home.
Of all the memories of the little country school, perhaps
the Christmas concert is the most nostalgic!
The annual picnic was another great event. Everyone
assembled at the school at a given time. When everyone
was ready, away they all went to the "dug-way" or some
other selected place for a day of fun. Often Mrs. Martin
(who had an ice-cream freezer) provided home-made ice
cream, an added treat for all to enjoy.
In 1928 coal was hauled to the school for $2.40 a ton
and wood was $10. per cord. No inflation there!
There was no water at the school. Elva Gales
(Atwood) tells this story. Each week two children took
their turn, going to a spring about a mile northwest of the
school. Between them they carried the water in a pail
back to the school, often trudging through snow up to
their waists. The water (what was left in the pail after this
hike) was poured into a large round earthenware crock.
Each child had their own "collapsible" cup. With this set-
up a degree of sanitation was ensured.
As in many districts in the 'dirty' Thirties the raising
of funds presented a major problem. At a School Board
meeting in 1933 it was decided to ask the teacher to take
a cut in salary from $75. to $65. per month. The depres-
sion was taking its toll. When the old school was closed it
was sold to Vares and moved to their land and used as a
granary. A new school was built in 1939. It was erected
on four acres purchased from William Simpson Sr. on
the N . E. l/4- 13- 1 -27-W4. The new school was considerably
larger than the old one. Miss Helen Bews was the last
teacher in the old school and the first teacher in the new
school. From 1940 until 1944 High School grades were
taught as well as elementary grades. Then High School
went to Cardston and Boundary Creek School reverted
to a one room school again. The school was closed in
1956 and children were vanned to Cardston. The last
teacher was Mr. J. H. McMillan. Some of the later
teachers were Marjorie Cheney, Katherine Long, Muriel
Matkin, Joseph Morris, Hugh Leavitt, Helen Bews, J.
Allred, Jean Low, F. Searle, M. Jensen, L. Zemp, Annie
Dawson and John Stevenson. The School is now a com-
munity hall. It is nice to know the little white school
house (with curtains at the windows) is still serving a
useful purpose. As the many vacationers pass the school
on their way to Police Lake they must surely look up at
the school standing as a sentinel on the hillside and
wonder "What was it really like in the days of the little
one-room rural school?"
Return Ghost Towns of Alberta
Mary Tollestrup