History of Frobisher and District Schools


Frobisher School # 810

Frobisher's first school was built in 1903 before Saskatchewan was a province, but when the village was still in district of Assiniboia, North West Territories. This was a one room wooden structure approximately 26'x 36' and was located two streets west of our present school. It was used until 1914 when too many students dictated a larger school.


In 1914, a new, 2 classroom, brick building with basement was built just to the east of our present school. Misfortune intervened and this school burned in Jan. 1916, so now the approximately 60-70 students made another move. The junior class went back to the old one-room schoolhouse and the senior class had classes in Riddell's hall - above the old store.

 

 


 

The local people were not defeated but went immediately to work and built a second brick school, almost identical to the one lost to fire, on the same site. This school opened in Aug, 1916, with approx 68 students enrolled.

 

 

 


 

The first frame school was then sold and later moved to Main Street where Richardson's Garage is now located and converted into a garage. A lean-to office was added to it which is all that remains at present.

 

 

The school population continued to grow and between 1927-1929 two more classrooms with basement were added to the brick school, completing the four classroom brick structure seen below. It opened in 1929 with three teachers and grades 1 - 12.


During this time each small area or district had its own schoolhouse as population demanded. In the 1940's, school units were formed and in 1946 Frobisher, along with many rural school districts in the area, became part of the Estevan School Unit #2, subunit #1. Wonderful conveniences like electricity and telephone were installed in Frobisher School.


Some of the districts in the area that became part of the Frobisher Subunit #1 were Ernewein, Munro, Rockland, South Frobisher, Vineberg, Ansell, SunnyLea, Hirsch, Nivelle, Rich Prairie, Kingsford, Roseview, Steelman, East Star, Bienfait Rural, Bienfait, and Lignite. ( A short history of several of these schools will follow).

1957-1958 saw the beginning of the Frobisher centralized Subunit #1 and another growth in the population of Frobisher School as rural schools were closed and the rural students bussed to Frobisher. The four room school could not hold all of the students so three rural schools were moved into the school yard to accommodate the larger population. These schools were Madigan, Thorson, and Glasston - none of which were from our Subunit, but from the Estevan School Unit. (After it was no longer needed as a schoolhouse, Madigan School was sold and moved to a farmyard and converted into a farm dwelling where is still stands.

Madigan School as farm house in 2000.

 

A the time of writing this, we were unable to find out what became of the other one-room schoolhouses.) School buses in summer and bombardiers in winter brought the rural students to the now seven classroom Grade 1 - 12 Frobisher School. As well as the surrounding areas, students from Steelman and Hirsch came to school here. There was a 2 year period when, due to staffing problems, we did not have Grades 1 - 12. In 1956, Grade 12 went to Bienfait, and in 1957 grades 10 - 12 went as well. All grades returned to Frobisher in 1958.


 

The new and present school was built here in 1963 and opened in November of that year. Both the old brick school and the new school were both in use and all grades 1 - 12 were here until 1966. During that year Grade nines were moved to Bienfait and Grades 10 - 12 were moved to the Estevan Comprehensive School.

 

 

 


The old brick school was torn down in 1972 and all that remains of it are the cement sign now seen outside our school and the old bell from the bell tower which is on display at the Village Office.

 


1974 saw the first Kindergarten class in our school and the school was renovated to create adjoining classrooms out of a classroom and the old lab room to accommodate the kindergartners.
We continued as a K - 8 school until 1992 when grades 7 & 8 were bussed to Bienfait Weldon School. We continue today with K-6 and 2 1/2 teachers on staff.\
We offer an up to date educational program in our school. We are equipped with modern computers, on the internet, and are supplemented by a complete line of itinerant teachers who help with things like band, computer, library, speech therapy, remedial, and social skills. We have been fortunate to have had a piano teacher over the years who comes into the school to offer piano lessons to those students interested. We appreciate the great community support and continue to have events like track and field and Christmas concert.


Ansell School
Little is known about the beginning of this school. However, after centralization some of the students from Ansell district were bussed to Frobisher. The Ansell School building was moved to Frobisher Village and place on a lot adjacent to the Frobisher School and converted into a teacherage. This building was later sold and is still used as a private residence in Frobisher.

Ansell School as residence in 2000.

Ernewein School
Ernewein School opened in 1910 and classes continued there until 1939. It was sold to Mr. Stobart and moved to his farmyard and remodeled into a farm home.

Hirsch School
We found out very little about the beginnings of the Hirsch School. There were, however, two schools in Hirsch over the years. The first school was sold and moved to Frobisher village where it is still used as a residence. The second school remains in Hirsch and is a private residence. The school was closed for classes in 1960 and some of the students were bussed to Frobisher and some to Bienfait.

Hirsch School as residence in 2000.

 

Munro School # 544
Munro School, an 18' x 26' wooden building, opened May 1, 1901, in Assiniboia District, North West Territories, As it was the first school in the area students from surrounding districts of Rockland, Frobisher, Vineberg, and Mayflower paid tuition to attend. A new school was built on the site in 1951 and the old school was moved to Frobisher and converted into a residence. When centralization occurred in 1958 Munro closed its doors as a school and the students were bussed to Frobisher. The school (new) and site were sold and converted into a family home, later to be torn down. A stone cairn remains at the site.

 

Nivelle School District
To our understanding there was never a school in this district but the students were taught in the home of a local resident. These students later went to Minto School in North Portal.

 

Rockland School #800
This school was built in 1903, also in Assiniboia District, North West Territories. It was closed for a spell during 1914 due to a measles epidemic. It reopened shortly after and grades 1 - 8 were taught there until it closed in 1962 and the students were bussed, some to Frobisher, and some to Lampman. The schoolhouse was sold to Clarence Fleck, moved to his farm site and converted into a farm shop. It still stands as a farm shop today.

 

 

 

 

South Frobisher #4167
This was a brick school house which opened in August 1920. In 1945 it became part of the Oxbow School Unit #1 and in 1955 was transferred to the Estevan School Unit. In its later years a teacherage was on site for the teacher. Classes were terminated in 1958 and the students were bussed to Frobisher. The school building was sold and dismantled.

 

 

SunnyLea School District
To the best of our investigations, there was never a school in the SunnyLea District.

 

Vineberg #284
The Vineberg school district was formed in 1893 by the Jewish Colonization Society. However, no school was built at that time. The 1903, a meeting was called by settlers and trustees were appointed. It was decided to build a school house which opened July 1, 1904.
Area residents attended school there until 1958. The students were later bussed to Frobisher. The building was sold to Mr. Lorne Brandon and it is believed to have been moved to Carlyle Lake and converted into a cabin.