In the early 1900’s the one room schools were few and far between with children driving horse and buggys four or more miles. The Lone Ridge School was filled up and couldn’t take any more. The Goodhands, my grandparents, who had started the Brightview Post Office, store and stopping place helped organize a new school district on April 22, 1909. Fred Leschert was the chairman and Angus Goodhand, Treasurer. A debenture was drawn up for the Brightview School District of the NorthWest Territories, December 11, 1909 to borrow $700.00 at 5 1/2 % interest to build a new school. The school must have been built before the money was borrowed because classes started November 15, 1909 and Miss Helen Howlett was the first teacher. It was built on N.W. 8-46-25-W4.
It is not certain when the organ was bought but one of the teachers (my mother) Bessie Goodhand, mentioned mice nesting in the organ in 1921. My mother and her siblings attended the school and then she came back and taught in 1921 – 1922. Dad, Russell Stevens, taught in 1929 – 1930. When the school was sold I bought the organ for $5.00. Our children learned to play on it.