I'm sending along a few notes of what I remember of
McMahon School in its early days. I may not be able to
add anything you don't already have, and some of these
points may be a little too trivial, but you will use your own
judgement of what you put in your write up.

School began in Sept. 1927 but as there was no school
building on the site, it was held upstairs in the Patching
house. Charles Patching constructed a table and benches
plus whatever else was needed for school classes (Grades
I to 10)

Later into the fall a building was moved on to a three acre
site on the S.E. of 15-7-19. The land was I believe donated
by Mart McMahon but I don't know for sure where the
building came from - probably a Hutterite Colony. Not
too long after the building was used the upper west
windows were covered up so that it was easier to see
the blackboard on the west wall. Heat was provided by a
pot bellied stove at the back of the room. If it was not
warm enough for classes first thing in the morning, the
students would run in a circle around the room to warm
up.

The first school board I believe was C. Patching, W.
Robinson, and probably Harold Hudson. First families
were Jorgensons, Patchings, Wocknitz, and Robinsons.
A year or so later they were joined by Hydechuks and
M. Hudsons, and Robinsons left and were replaced by
McMahons. (Not sure of year). First teachers at the
school in order - I year each - Helen James, Margary
Rossiter, Dorothy Glasser, Dorothy Robertson. They
were single and I believe at their first school. Later
Muriel Toppley.

All boarded with a family near by except for Toppley who
lived at the Wocknitz place after they moved out to
Creston.

Later families to attend were Smiths, and G. Hickey.

The men of the district built a school barn but those
that rode horses to school usually pastured their horses
in the school yard.

A well was dug inside the school yard. Testing was done
with extensions on a post hole auger. Water was found
and a well dug by hand and then a wood crib put in.
This was not too far from a slough just north of the school
yard. There was a problem of ants in the water for a time.

About 1935 or so a basement was dug under the school
building so that a furnace could be put there, giving
better heat.

The slough outside of the grounds provided some of the
recreation. In the summer there was a raft made out of
old fence posts which contributed to lots of wet clothes
as we fell off and there was a problem too of some
getting stranded on the rock island in the centre about
bell time. In the winter and spring we often skated there,
sometimes falling through the thin ice into shallow water.
We could change our skates fast even able to get a
skate during a 15 minute recess.

An experience, not easy to forget was the visit or visits of
the school inspector. Mr. Morgan would come around once
in a while. It was a terrifying experience, even to the students
as well as the young teacher.

The most sought after job of janitor was held by one of the
older boys, one year at a time. He swept the floors and
looked after the stove. Pay was $4.00 a month in the
warmer months and $8.00 in the winter.

Games played - - Run sheep run; Dare base; Pump up
pullaway, Marbles, Soft ball, etc.

Although the early teachers were courted in the district by
local farmers, none married in the district.

Of the early students most went on to get their grades I I
and 12 and most went on to get post high school
educations.

Can't think of much also of interest at the time, or of
anything else that we think should be made public.

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