TRADITIONAL SCHOOL CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES FROM THE LATE 1920S

by Farley Wuth

POPULAR CHRISTMAS PROGRAM PRESENTED AT OPERA HOUSE

The 1929 Christmas Season witnessed the annual Christmas Tree Program and Concert the evening of Tuesday, December 17th. It was sponsored by St. Michael’s Church. There were a large component of separate school teachers and students in attendance and participating in the activities. A filled to capacity crowd enthusiastically responded to the program. The presentation was held in the Pincher Creek Opera House located near what was then the north end of Christie Avenue, a spot opposite the rear of the former Lebel Store.

Helen McKenna, always community-minded, adeptly guided the religious and cultural program through its close to dozen presentations. There were no less than five piano duets scattered throughout the evening. One entitled “With Muted Strings” was musically presented by Dorothy Trono and Y. Ouellette. Helen McKenna and Josephine Cotte did a great job with a popular title “The Echo of Lucerne”. “The Jolly Blacksmith” was dueted by Agnes Cotte and Eunice Shayler.

The two festive season songs featured “The Christmas Story” and “The Eve of Christmas”. These were followed by two plays and operettas and plays “The Guardian Angel” and “A White Christmas” both of which saw excellent characterization. Interspersed into the program were two drills. One was the Sword Drill presented by the Junior Boys. The second was the Fan Drill performed by the Junior Girls.

The evening concluded with the traditional arrival of Santa Claus and gifts, fruit and candy were given to each child in the hall.

HAPPY RECOLLECTIONS OF COUNTRY SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

At the Heath Creek School nestled adjacent the Porcupine Hills, a “Christmas Tree” was hosted on Thursday, December 22nd, 1927. This was the popular name for the pioneer holiday program performed by country school students for their parents and families. Carefully directed by their teachers, the presentations featured ever favourite Christmas songs, recitations of poetry and short stories highlighting the meaning of Christmas and often a festive pageant. Students and teachers worked hard for several weeks to perfect their performance skills and these were much appreciated by rural audiences. One of the highlights was the appearance of Santa Claus who gave out treats for the children including the pre-schoolers. The Heath Creek School was tastefully decorated for the season – in one corner stood a recently harvested spruce tree adorned with home and student made streamers, stars and bulbs.

At the Heath Creek School, the Christmas festivities truly were community efforts by its students. Usually there was an enrollment of less than ten students spanning the eight rural grades so each student pulled their weight ensuring lively performances. The 1927 festivities were particularly challenging given the winter blizzard which swept through the district one afternoon that week. Students were caught in it on their way home from school and while most were able to make it home safely, one, Helen Lowe, suffered frost bite to her face. Drifting snow continued to make travel difficult. Yet a few days later, in the midst of the school’s Christmas break, local students were able to enjoy a tobogganing party at the William Wycliffe homestead. The community-minded Mrs. Wycliffe served as a trustee for the Heath Creek School District No. 3481 during this era. The school educated rural students for over a generation, from 1917 till the late 1930s.

Across the river to the west at the Maycroft School which hosted its 1927 Christmas Tree program the afternoon of Saturday, December 17th. A large number of community members attended the social in spite of the adverse weather conditions. They were very pleased with the students’ quality performances. A small portable stage placed near the teacher’s desk provided the physical space for the recitations. Santa Claus also was in attendance and the youngsters each received a gift. Special mention was made of visually appealing decorations and Christmas tree. Heartfelt thanks were given to Miss Kemmis, the school’s teacher and to volunteer Hannah (Grace) Price for their work in organizing the event. Grace Price and her husband Alfred ranched at Maycroft. Alfred also served on the Maycroft School Board. Established just prior to the First World War, classes at Maycroft continued until 1950.

Southeast of Pincher Creek were hosted in 1927 two very successful Christmas school concerts. The one at Fishburn was on Thursday, December 19th and the second at the Utopia School was four days later on Monday the 23rd. Local attendance at both festive events was particularly strong in spite of the poor winter road conditions. Good times were had by all. The Fishburn School, constructed in 1894, now sits as one of the historical buildings at the Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village. Its neighbor the Utopia School opened nearly a decade later in 1903/04 and was in operation till 1950. It boasts an impressive school reunion sign from 1979 and still sits at its original location.