Summary information
| Repository: | South Peace Regional Archives |
| Title: | Hermit Lake School History fonds |
| Reference code: | 0440 |
| Date: | 1916-1978 (date of creation) |
| Physical description: | 1 cm textual records
20 photographs |
| Dates of creation, revision and deletion: | Processed by Karen Burgess March 2011 Added to new database October 2023 – TD |
| Note: | This fonds has been identified as having Indigenous related content. Researchers may encounter language that is outdated and offensive. To learn more about Indigenous records at the South Peace Regional Archives please see our guide. |
Administrative history / Biographical sketch
Hermit Lake School District was formed in 1916 and an elected Board of Trustees began planning to build a school. Two acres of land in the south-east corner of Bill Grant’s farm were purchased at $.25 an acre. The school was built by William Sharp and finished in time for classes to start in March, 1917, with Mrs. Molly Sharp, Bill’s wife, as the first teacher. Some of the earliest families attending the school were the Jebbs, Cranstons, Kennedys, Fergusons, Aikens and Andersons. Teachers who taught at the school at its original location include Mrs. Sharp, Major Tawney, Miss Emmet, Miss Kerr, Miss Nettie Sharp, Miss Moffat, Miss E. Holmes, Miss Rea Chambers, Miss Lena Morden, and Miss Thelma Fisher. In 1928 the school was moved to a new location on the SE-5-72-7-W6. purchased from Fred Evans. School Board trustees included Bill Grant, Rollie Wood, Bill Mc Levin, Leo Ferguson, Alex Ross, Elmer Gillespie, and Ken Anderson Sr. In June, 1956, Hermit Lake School was closed and students transferred to Wembley, Lake Saskatoon, or Grande Prairie County School.
Custodial history
The records were donated to the South Peace Regional Archives by Ellen Craig, resident of the Hermit Lake District in 2010. A second scrapbook, also documenting the Hermit Lake School Reunion, was donated by Pearl Fee in 2013.
Scope and content
The fonds consists of a Hermit Lake School history book researched by Grace (Wishart) Stewart, a former teacher, when the school was moved to the museum. It was compiled by Ellen Craig and contains history of the school and community, lists of families and teachers, photographs, stories from former students, documents, news clippings, school census records (1937-1955) and a history of its becoming the pioneer school of Grande Prairie’s Pioneer Museum in 1978.
An accrual, donated in 2013, contains original records compiled by Kay Dunlop after the 1978 reunion and added to a scrapbook by Ina Fee, who was also a student at Hermit Lake School. This scrapbook also contains news clippings related to the City of Grande Prairie, the Grande Prairie Museum, and people and history from the Grande Prairie area. There is also a circular list regarding an RCAF/WAAF Reunion held in Vancouver in 1976, which included several women from Grande Prairie.
Notes
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title of fonds based on contents.
Restrictions on access
Class lists and attendance records are restricted due to personal information.
Access points
- Textual record (documentary form)
- Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)
- Education (subject)
Series descriptions
| Series 0440.01: Hermit Lake School History Photographs
Date: 1936-1978 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of the photographs contained in the Hermit Lake School history book researched by Grace (Wishart) Stewart, a former teacher. It was compiled by Ellen Craig and contains history of the school and community. Photos include school children (1935-1938), Hermit Lake Community Club (1939 -1940 c.) and a reunion of teachers and students after the School became part of the Grande Prairie Pioneer Museum (1977-1978). Physical description: 1 cm textual records 20 photographs Access points: • Graphic material – photograph (documentary form) |
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| File / item list | |||
| Reference code | Title | Dates | Physical description |
| 0440.01.01-.02 | Item – Hermit Lake School Moves to Pioneer Museum | 1977 | 2 photographs : colour ; 3 x 3 in. |
| Scope and content:
Hermit Lake School on skids ready for its trip to the Pioneer Museum in Grande Prairie, Sept. 1977. |
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| 0440.01.03-.05 | Item – Hermit Lake School Now Part of Pioneer Museum | 1978 | 3 photographs : colour ; 3 x 3 in. |
| Scope and content:
Hermit Lake School located in its new home at the Pioneer Museum in Grande Prairie. The two women in the photos are Grace Wishart (in the dress )and Kay (Ross) Dunlop. Hermit Lake School was Grace Wishart’s first school where she taught from 1936-1939. |
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| 0440.01.06 | Item – Students of Hermit Lake School | ca. 1936 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Hermit Lake School students in front of their school. Inscription on the back, “Daddy can you fined me?” |
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| 0440.01.07 | Item – Hermit Lake School Students | ca. 1936 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Hermit Lake School students in front of their school. Students: Neil Madsen, Leland Campbell, Bruce McLevin, Mary Wood, Connie Campbell, Francis Ramsden, Charles Gillespie, Dorothy Dunfield, June Ramsden, Alice Wood, Grace Campbell, Olive Gillespie, Ivy Gilmour, Doreen & Barbara Gillespie. Grace Wishart, teacher. |
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| 0440.01.08 | Item – A Group of Hermit Lake School Students | ca. 1939 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Hermit Lake School students Mary Wood, Ivy Gilmour, Francis Ramsden, Bruce McLevin. |
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| 0440.01.09 | Item – Hermit Lake School Students Going Skating | ca. 1938 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Hermit Lake School students going skating: Olive Gillespie, Ivy Gilmour, Barbara Gillespie, Bruce McLevin, Doreen Gillespie. |
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| 0440.01.10 | Item – Hermit Lake School at Pioneer Museum | ca. 1978 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Hermit Lake School when it was established at the Pioneer Museum in Grande Prairie. Grace Wishart, teacher at the school from 1936-1939, stands in front. |
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| 0440.01.11 | Item – Inside Original Hermit Lake School | ca. 1936 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Hermit Lake School interior as it looked in its original setting. |
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| 0440.01.12 | Item – Students Sitting Beside Hermit School | ca. 1936 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Hermit Lake School students seated outside beside the corner of their school building: Doris Ward, Barbara Gillespie, Helen Hays, Anne Wood |
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| 0440.01.13 | Item – Four Female Students at Hermit Lake School | ca. 1939 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Four female students at Hermit Lake School: Olive Gillespie, June Ramsden, Dorothy Dunfield, Doreen Gillespie. |
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| 0440.01.14 | Item – Leslie Toutant | ca. 1939 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Leslie Toutant, student at Hermit Lake School |
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| 0440.01.15 | Item – Hermit Lake Community Club at Cranston’s | 1939 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Hermit Lake Community Club at Cranston’s. |
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| 0440.01.16 | Item – Hermit Lake Community Club | ca. 1945 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Hermit Lake Community Club: L-R Mrs. A. Craig, Mrs. R. Wood, Mrs. A. Brown, Mrs. E. Gillespie, Mrs. D. Dunfield, Jean Prentiss, Violet Dryer, Willma Cranston, Mrs. M. McLevin, Mrs. Alex Ross, Rosemary Brown in front and baby brother with mother. |
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| 0440.01.17-20 | Item – Hermit Lake School Tribute | ca. 1978 | 4 photographs : colour ; 4 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
A reunion of former teachers and students of Hermit Lake School. |
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| 0440.01.21.04 | Item – Hermit Lake School by Alice Scorgie | ca. 1978 | textual records |
| Scope and content:
Document is Alice Scorgie’s memories of the Hermit Lake School. It includes the names of teachers who taught there (Dorothy Donaldson, Grace Wishart, Wilma Robinson, Fred Howlett, Eileen Murray), and also classmates (Ray Ferguson, Dorothy Dunfield, and Charles Gillespie). It also contains other highlights like activities they did and how students got to school. |
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