Vermilion School of Agriculture - Yearbook (Vermilion, Alberta Canada)

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By E. A. Howes, Dean of Agriculture, University of Alberta Early Days T HE Vermilion School opened its doors for work in the fall of 1913, and we who had the privilege of being the first actors on the scene, both teachers and students, must be pardoned if we look back with deep interest, some quiet amusement, and a great deal of pride, to the foundational period during which we were permitted to play a part. As a matter of interest I might name the first staff: E. A. Howes, Principal,- now Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Alberta. J. G. Taggart, Instructor in Animal Husbandry; now Minister of Agri¬ culture for the Province of Saskatchewan. E. S. Hopkins, Instructor in Science,- now Dominion Agrostologist at Ottawa. Lawson Shanks, Instructor in Mechanics,- now Professor of Agricultural Engineering at the Unversity of Manitoba. Dr. P. R. Talbot, then as now, Provincial Veterinarian. George Scott, Instructor in Dairying and Poultry,- still with the Provincial Dairy Branch. Miss Marjorie Goldie and Miss Nan Lawson, Domestic Science teachers. There was no Agronomy and Live Stock building in those days. The Animal Husbandry lectures were given in the regular class room and the demonstrations held in the room now flourishing as a laundry room. The animals used in demonstration would slide into this room, and scramble out of it, in a way that was diverting, to say the least. There was no Mechanics building at the start, but importunity succeeded in securing a limited sum, beyond which we were told construction would cease. We secured the superintendence of a genuine carpenter, and the principal, three of the staff and some of the students succeeded in erecting the present building; of course the carpenter helped too. If any of the present day frequenters find evidences of jagged saw-cuts, poorly matched v-joint or ill driven nails, the blame rests upon two members of the staff, names withheld for politic reasons. The water supply was supposed to be maintained by means of some newly devised pump, fearfully and wonderfully made, the hoped for pressure being automatically maintained somewhere down in the well. This pump did not break; it did not just quit at once, but like David Harum’s calf, it sort of gin out. Local experts were called in, but by the time the pump was hoisted into a forty below atmosphere, the all-important bonspiel was on and the inevitable happened. Next spring we scrapped the pump and installed the present system. To speak of the early student body in an adequate manner would require much space, so only a few sketches must be here attempted. The first year we opened up with thirty-four boys, and about fifteen girls joined the two- months’ course in the spring. [ Page six } The boys of the first years were somewhat older on the average than the students of today. Coming to the Province under extreme pioneer con¬ ditions, these boys had often been unable to attend school, even when such came within reach. Grown older they could not, or would not, enter classes of Junior pupils, so that they had not on the whole much in the way of school education. They welcomed the advent of the School of Agri¬ culture as a fine last chance to secure education which had hitherto been denied them. In one way these early students were a serious minded group, because they had been well schooled in experience. On the other hand they had only elementary ideas of discipline, and one smiles as he recalls how they expected to be somehow punished for minor misdemeanors—what were teachers for? It took a few weeks or more for the idea to sink in, that they had arrived at an age where they had to assume responsibility, individually as well as collectively. One thing may be said without fear of contradiction—our first lads were earnest dancers,- not that they favored noticeably the waltz, two-step or fox trot, but that when they organized a good old quadrille performance, it reminded one of the old darky’s description: They knocked the dust plum out de floor, And jarred de shingles on de roof. Did they indulge in mischief occasionally? Well, what do you think? It would take a book to record this part of the history, and it would all be just as amusing, just as harmless eventually, as the record of any school of lively young people. We early established a form of student government. Gordon Fletcher was president, and he had a committee of four or five to back him up. The scheme was eminently successful, but we always had a reserve idea that the success was somehow due to Gordon himself. Our boys played hockey on a somewhat rude outdoor rink at which, as usual, a willing group labored in the co nstruction and maintenance—some were willing to work and others were willing to allow the privilege. Our hockey was only fair, it may be supposed; it improved during the second year when the Barr boys, Leslie and Fife and some others swung into action. The graduating year challenged the staff in the Spring and an historical game was staged to a draw. The class seemed somewhat disappointed—they still blame the referee and the time-keeper. Our chief indoor exercises were wrestling and boxing, carried on in what was then our stock judging pavilion(?). The boxing was not organized or systematic but was quite exciting at times—like the dancing, it was earnest. I have a photo of the first group which I consider very valuable. I have also a good photo of the second group. After that I passed on to another field and lost my direct contact with the girls and boys of the Vermilion School of Agriculture.

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■Mut ' €bttorial A S WE come to the end of the college term it is interesting to look back over the more outstanding events and activities of a winter which, I am sure, has been both profitable and enjoyable to every one of us in new acquaintances and friendships made, in new experiences and new learning. It is with the purpose of keeping these memories fresh in our minds that the yearbook Staff presents the ninth issue of the V.S.A. Yearbook. We have endeavoured to make this book bigger and better than ever, and to keep in mind, as much as possible, the many-sidedness of the year’s activities. In spite of the depression and the fact that the school was closed last year we have a larger enrollment than in 1932-33. Let us, to use the words of our principal, Get behind the institution and push,” so that the school may be opened next fall with an attendance still greater than that of this term. The V.S.A. Alumni has suffered greatly with having the school closed. This Association is the best way of keeping in contact with the V.S.A. and it is hoped that all of this year’s students will take advantage of the opportunity and join up, and, in addition, try to get more of the ex-students interested. Remember the V.S.A. Reunion next fall! In reviewing the winter’s sports activities we find that the Civic League Hockey was possibly the most outstanding event though our team did not capture the trophy. Much interest was also shown in the House League Hockey and House League Basketball games. The Literary and Social Committees and the Versatile Club have done their parts admirably in supplying the student body with well received entertainments. Special mention should be made of the work of Miss Beth Henderson who gave so freely of her time to preside at the piano, both with the orchestra and at our weekly sing-song. It is to be regretted that the play, which was begun by the Dramatic Club, had to be given up on account of sickness and lack of time and support. We must not forget to mention our studies, for, after all, they were our primary reasons for attending this institution. These varied, with the girls, from public speaking to sewing and even carpentering,- and with the boys, from the study of insects to blacksmithing. We have included as many of the pictures of these classes as space would permit, as well as the pictures concerning the other activities. We all owe a debt of gratitude to our staff for their patience and hard work in making this term such a successful one in spite of the handicap of having so many students absent on account of sickness. In closing, on behalf of the Yearbook Staff, I wish to thank all those who have contributed epitaphs, poems, reports, jokes and other features. I wish particularly to thank Mr. Patrick, our genial stockman, for his splendid pen drawing of the school grounds. In this work he was ably assisted by his wife (nee Eva Wilson, Class ’29). Several of the headings and other drawings in the book are the work of P. Harrison, and to him, too, we wish to proffer our thanks. The many business firms, whose names appear in the advertising section, have also done much to make this book possible. Kindly extend to them your patronage. J.S.B. [ Page five ]

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Further Historical Comment Contributed by Miss Goodall and S. H. Gandier In the preceding article, the First Principal tells of the launching of the school upon its career as an educational institution. That the foundations were well and truly laid is beyond dispute. Little did the staff of those early days realize the development that was to result from their first efforts, and the expansion in buildings and student body which was to take place within a twenty year period. The mechanics building, to which Dean Howes refers with pardonable pride, still remains as a monument to the zeal and versatility of the first Principal and his staff. The details of its con¬ struction are a present source of wonder and awe, and its staunchness to withstand the ravages of time, fire and overgrown classes, cannot be denied. When Mr. Howes left the school in 1915 to become Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at Edmonton, a member of the Olds School staff was ap¬ pointed to succeed him at Vermilion. The new appointee was none other than our present Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. F. S. Grisdale. Mr. Grisdale continued as head of the school for four years, and during his regime the attendance showed a steady increase. In those days, there being no dormitory, all students trudged back and forth between town and school. For the convenience of the girls and the lady members of the staff, a covered bus drawn by a farm team plied back and forth three times a day. Naturally, the exterior of this conveyance was liberally decorated with male students wherever a foothold might be obtained, provided that George Newson, the driver, was in sufficiently good humor to carry the extra load! Yes, it is the same George whose wares are now brooms, mops and floor wax. He has persisted through the years and surely deserves honorable mention. Another name of local interest of those times is that of Mrs. (Dr.) Knoll, then Miss Lavelle, of the Home Economics staff. In August, 1917, a railway excursion to the school from all points be¬ tween Edmonton and Lloydminster was arranged in order that farmers of the entire district might become acquainted with the school and the ex¬ perimental work of the plots and farm. Over three hundred excursions arrived for this special day. It was in the same period that the war was in progress, and in the fall, 1917, several soldiers in uniform awaiting their discharge from the army, registered for the regular course. From the school records we find that the Alumni of the V.S.A. nobly rose to the occasion during the war years, fifty-nine enlisting for war service. Fortunately only three of this number were called upon to make the supreme sacrifice, and it is with reverence and appreciation that their names are here mentioned: William Jones, Ponoka, Class ' 15; J. D. McPherson, Red Deer, Class 15; Wilfred Eyre, Vermilion, Class ' 16. The first break in the operation of the school came in the fall of ' 18 when the main building was converted into a district hospital to take care of those stricken with the flu” which then raged at its height. It overflowed with patients during the following winter, and its acquisition permitted the local flu” situation to be handled efficiently and symstematically. In 1919, Mrs. Grisdale was appointed to the Princi pa I sh ip at Olds and was succeeded by the present Minister of Agriculture for Saskatchewan, Mr. J. G. Taggart. The school was not reopened that year to the regular classes, the sixty applicants being transferred to the schools at Olds and Claresholm. A special class of fifty returned soldiers taking up land under the Soldier Settlement Act, was admitted in November for a three months’ course. Besides classes in agriculture bachelors of the group also took cooking classes under the instruction of Miss Goodall. It is reported that the finest concerts ever rendered in the old assembly hall were put on by these soldiers, some of whom were very talented musicians and entertainers. In February of ’20 when the Soldier’s course was over, free short courses for the public in agriculture and home economics were offered. Nearly one hundred young men and women came in for this instruction. Regular courses recommenced in the fall of this year. (Continued on page 36) (For Key to the above picture see page 32) [ Page seven ]