From the beginning of the 1900's the White School was the
focal point for community activities. It was the class room
the church, the place for farmers' meetings, and the social
center for the community.

October was the time for Thanksgiving, time to meet and
give thanks for our very existence. It was also a time for
Hallowe'en parties, masquerades, and hard time dances
held at the school.

In December, Christmas concerts were put on by the
teacher, and every child took part. We learned all the
Christmas carols, entered in the nativity scenes, the marches,
plays and drills. I always recall the new dress and patent
leather shoes I got for just that occasion. I know others did
the same. It was a special time of the year. I can remember
having my hair put up in rags, so I would have some curls.
One of the best remembered Christmas concerts was the
time Winnie Berry mimicked Henry Viney commentating on
the hockey game. I remember Christmas bags with the prized
Japanese oranges, candy, and the arrival of Santa Claus in
the sleigh.

Prior to the organization of Home and School, members of
the community co-operated with the teacher. They held
Work Bees to make costumes for the Xmas concert, and
fill the candy bags. Men from the community set up the stage
for the concerts. The stage props were stored in the rafters
of the horse barn. They raised money through raffles. Jack
Tiffin donated a calf for a raffle held to raise money to buy a
piano.

The Bobby Burns night in January was the highlight of the
winter, celebrated by the scottish people and many others.
There was a pot luck supper, organized by Mrs. Coupland,
with the 'haggis' made by Mrs. Graham, and piped in by a
real Scottish piper, Mr. Lowe. Coffee was made in a wash
boiler on a coal stove. There were Scottish poems recited,
and songs like 'Oh Danny Boy' were sung. There was also
a lassie dancing the sword dance and highland fling. All
during the evening the Scottish brogue became broader and
broader.

Weekend dance dates would alternate with other schools so
we could attend our own dance, and all the others. There
was no elctricity, we used gas lanterns. The seats were
pushes back against the wall or stacked in the cloakroom.
The men were charged fifty cents, and the women got in
free if they brought a cake of sandwiches. Whole families
would attend. The dances started at nine o'clock and ended
two o'clock with a break in between for lunch. Many times
we would like to dance longer, so a collection was gathered to
pay the orchestra. During the late twenties and early thirties,
music was provided by Alex Henderson and C. E. Parry on
violin, Kate Andrews on piano and Hebert (Shrimp) Salmon
on drums. The popular orchestras at our time were: Max
Batemen, Norman Hurst, Alberta Ranch Boys, and the
Raymond Canadians. Those were wonderful times, everyone
learned to dance every kind of dance, like the Heel and Toe
Polka, Circle two Step, French Minuet, Call of the Pipes, and
square dances. Of couse we mustn't forget the moonlight
waltzes. The last dance held in White School was a welcome
home dance for the servicemen.

I wish our young people could see how we dressed. The women
wore dresses, high heeled shoes and 'silk' stockings. The
Coupland boys, under the care of Molly always come in white
starched shirts, and scrubbed clean.

For Valentine's Day we would often have a box social. Every
lady would bring a box lunch for two. The owner of the box
was unknown and it was sold to the highest bidder.

Other than the special occasions, variety programs or short
programs were held after business meetings, and included skits
and plays, songs and take-offs on district events, spelling bees,
and recitations (Jack Tiffin's rendition of "Old Mother Hubbard").
At many gatherings, especially bridal showers, everyone took
part in a contest striving for the first prize of perhaps second prize.

During winter months, there were the card parties. Lily Henderson
recalls a charge of twenty-five cents levied to buy a gas lamp.
Up until the time of the gas lamp, everyone brought their own
lamps.

Members of the community also helped with School Fairs, Field
Days, and Music Festivals.

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