聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 The Sturgis Station House Museum opened its doors on August 11 to a new addition: the Brookeview School.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 "A milestone in the life of Brookeview School marked an end to a new beginning," said Linda Knutson. "The end was the removal of the school from its original site on the southwest corner of NW 20-36-4W. It ended with a road trip and the settling of the school at its new home on the grounds of the Sturgis Station House Museum."
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The history of the school was taken from the Brookeview Treasured Memories history book.
Residents of the Brookeview area realized that their children would benefit from education and so the dream of building a school began in April 1920, the history book says. The election of the first trustees and the raising of the school took place with the completion in the summer of 1922.
The first day of school was August 7, 1922, it said. 鈥淒uring the 38 years of the Brookeview history, 332 students attended the school where 31 teachers taught them a love of literature, mental arithmetic, correctness of speech, basic human decencies and fair play.鈥�
As enrolment declined, centralization caused the school to close in June 1960 with the following term's students being bussed to Sturgis.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 "The school stood vacant for many years, used only for an occasional local event,鈥� it said. 鈥淣o maintenance was done, the exterior deteriorated, windows were broken, much damage was created by the elements that included birds and rodents.
鈥淚t was then that former Brookeview students embarked on a mission to save their beloved school. And that they did until the summer of 2014. Former students were contracted to aid in financing the cleanup and repairs. The response was excellent and the 鈥榮tudents鈥� were excited to see repairs being made. Window panes were replaced, minor repairs were done to the exterior siding and everything was painted. The school looked like its former self," said Knutson.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Over the years volunteers kept up the grounds and the school. A devastating hail storm caused much damage to windows and shingles, but once again the former students rallied together to repair the damage. This work was completed in June 1988.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 As time went by it became apparent that the aging committee was finding it more difficult to maintain their building. They were happy when the school was donated by the Good Spirit School Division to the Sturgis Station House Museum in 2014.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 At the museum grounds, the building would be maintained inside and out and an classroom setting would be displayed for the public, Knutson said. 鈥淏rookeview School will remain for generations to come as a reminder of the hardships endured to acquire an education, something that is so easily taken for granted today."
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 There were numerous individuals who made the move possible. Aaron Bartch of Aaron's Building Movers Inc., who moved the building for no fee and provided the labour; Hyena Enterprises for cleaning up the site; Frank Babiarz of BBB Construction for the foundation and stabilizing the school for the move; Jamie Lario and Bret Konkel for relocating the storage sheds to make room for the school, and the Town of Sturgis for financial support and foundation preparation.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 "The move was a great experience with many people involved,鈥� said Aaron Bartch. 鈥淪teve German surprised the crew with breakfast. Rob Wilcott and Blair Secundiak provided a SaskPower escort. Brad Secundiak of the Town of Sturgis provided assistance. Greg Bartch personally was involved in the move of the museum and the caboose as well as the school."
