The official opening of Crandall's new two-storey, fully modern, $70,000 school was held on Saturday, November 8 at 2p.m. Mr. Ed. Morison, chairman of Crandall School Board welcomed and introduced the speakers.
Inspector Thorkelson of Virden brought greetings from the Department of Education.
Mr. Ian Brown, Brandon, architect from Smith, Carter and Katelnikoff who designed the building described the construction.
Reeve H. S. Hyndman extendded the best wishes of the Municipality.
Rev. Friebert. congratulated the designors, school board, rate payers, teachers and pupils on the excellent facilities provided and on behalf of the Community presented the School Board members with a gift. He also thanked the staff and pupils for co-operation and the caretakers Mr. and Mrs. Hyndman for the tremendous amount of extra work they have so willingly done.
Mr. Davison, Principal, expressed the appreciation of the staff and the pupils on the improved surroundings given to them. Added beauty was given to the school by the many flowers donated.
Mr. Wm. Hoffman spoke on behalf of the contractors.
Mr. E. Morison cut the ribbon and handed the keys of the New School to principal Wm. Davison who openened the doors of the school for inspection. A silver tea was served by the Student Council.
The school comprises of four class rooms, a chemistry room and teachers office on the top floor and on the first floor, a class room, auditorium, library, furnace room and toilet facilities. It is indeed a building to be proud of built under the direction of Hoffman and Sons of Morris. Great credit should also be given to the present school board, Roy Amy, James Angus, W.H, Crandall, H.V. Johnston, Ed Morison (Chairman) and M.H. Johnston, Secretary, who have put forth every effort to see that this building and its equipment were the best that could be had.
The staff of the school are Wm. Davison, Principal; Mrs. S. Rampling, Vice; Mrs. M. Smuttell grades 7&8; Mrs. W. Fowlie, grades 4,5&6; Miss Margaret Skinner, Primary.
With the coming of the new, the old must go. The old Crandall School buildings have been sold to Mr. J. Morton of Miniota.The first room was built in 1904 with Miss Edna Warren (Mrs A. Frame, Lenore) as teacher. Later two rooms were built to the north of the first room and in 1918 Crandall Consolidated with the neighbouring schools. Two rural schools, Carlingville and Lakeview were drawn in, which made a total of five classrooms.
Let's turn back another page in history and we find that this was not the first school in this district which up, until the extension of the railroad from Hamiota in 1899 was known as Clarlingville. The post office was kept by Mr. T. Hamilton in his log home on the N.W. corner, of the farm now owned by Wallace Hyndman. With the coming of the C.P.R., Mr. Hamilton moved to town site which was named Crandall after the districts pioneer, Doctor Crandell upon whose land the new town was to be built.
The first Carlingville School was built in 1866 on the S.W. corner of R. L. Dickey's farm with Miss Ida Lynch (Mrs. J. Elliot, Arrow River), who this year moved to Brandon, was its first teacher. The pupils who attended during the first term in this school were Olive Johnst (Mrs. Crawford); Annette Johnston, Leonard Johnston, Clara Johnston, John Irvine, Charles Stewart, Rupert Stewart, Gertrude Eyre, Frank Hunt, Len Hunt, Mel Hazelwood, Phillip Mark.
This school burned down in 1911. Several pupils went to the Crandall School and the remainder were taught in R. Lee's house for the remainder of the term. In 1912, a new Carlingville School was built but this time on the N. E. corner of Luther Switzer's farm now owned by John Dnistranski. At the time of Consolidation, this school was moved into town and has been used as a classroom until the present time.
The Lakeview School which was brought in from 6 miles north and two miles east of Crandall was used until 1948 when it was removed from the school yard and converted into a teacherage.