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

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' V. b MALAH R Srujlisk. £r ' hutlhx. yuitics MISS M.€.STOK£y r W[xxt.ijor . W. J. ELLIOTT S A 7 • ' Vu oLp ciate bditors: Edith McCrae. Betty George. Christine Mac 1 Gordon Wilso Gordon Blott. Clarence Kittle Frank Whiting E. W. Cormac

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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 ]

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Ivy Moulder Torlief Larsen Betty George Burton Seale Mary Chomyc Philip Austin IVY MOULDER Hardisty: Ivy is the only straight second year girl who has completed both years here, and her happy smile and blonde curls have rendered her a popular waitress. A hard worker, she is seen to advantage on the dance floor as well as in the class room. TORLIEF LARSEN Irma: For all round athlete the palm this year undoubtedly goes to Torlief, the hockey team’s deadly shooting centre, and captain of the aggressive Viking” basketballers. He also shines at gymnasium work. His influence in all athletics has been of the best, and the students owe much to Toriief s wise and efficient guidance as chairman of the Gym. Committee. A good steady student, he is a young man on whom we look with pride and confidence in his future. ELIZABETH IRENE GEORGE Lioydminster: Betty ' s dark little head has brightened many committees and other activities, and there ' s a lot in that fascinating head too—as her winning of the all round scholarship at O.S.A. in the first year girls last year will indicate. As a bed wrecker she is unexcelled, but her warm-hearted fun was never taken amiss, and she leaves a host of friends in both wings. BURTON SEALE Wainwright: Another man who was in such a hurry for his education that he went to Olds for his first year. Repenting his indiscretion, Burton heard the call of the North, landed in our halls of learning last fall, and has never regreted his action. The championship in cattle at the Little Royal” indicates one of Burton ' s interests, and his work in the carpentry and blacksmithing classes speaks for itself. Being of a quiet disposition he does not advertise his other activities, but we might state that he is very popular with the occupants of the East Wing. His chief pastime, finding alternative methods of working math, problems. MARy CHOMyC Musidora: Mary brightened the halls of the O.S.A. last year, but decided to get a little finish at the nearer V.S.A. As a waitress she has shown herself capable of seeking the nearest way to the masculine heart, and has no foolish underestimate when it comes to supply¬ ing pancakes. Good luck, Mary, keep that cheery smile of yours! PHILIP MERL AUSTIN Ranfurly: One of the gang that brightened O.S.A. halls last year, he decided V.S.A. was much more attractive. Philip has a decided ability for upsetting beds. He might also be a musician, if he played any¬ thing but a jew’s harp. Sob stuff is Philip’s strong suit, and he would do well over the radio. [ Page nine ]