Dunach Traditional Cache

Dunach was one of Abbotsford's oldest surviving schools. So old, in fact, its early history is largely compiled from people's later recollections in newspapers or archives, some of which are stored with historical photos at the Reach Gallery Museum Abbotsford.

The first Dunach school, built in the 1880s, was a typical rural one-room schoolhouse.

It was located just south of its present location at the intersection of Downes and Mt. Lehman roads in west Abbotsford.

The name Dunach was selected by area residents in recognition of their Scottish heritage.

The building acted as more than a school. It was the site of for the inaugural meeting of the new Municipality of Matsqui, which was held Dec. 17, 1892.

Council continued to meet there until the school reportedly burnt down in the late 1890s.

A new one-room school was built and re-opened at its present location in 1899.

Dunach remained untouched until 1929 when a second classroom was added and the school was re-christened Mt. Lehman High School.

At a later date, two more rooms were added and Dunach was renamed Mt. Lehman Superior School, housing students in Grades 7 through 9 before they went off to Philip Sheffield High School in the centre of Abbotsford.

In 1935 Matsqui School District amalgamated those of Abbotsford and Sumas and the school's name was changed again to Mt. Lehman South School, as opposed to Mt. Lehman School, located towards the north.

Even as late as the mid 1940s the school had no indoor plumbing.

The school had outhouses and students got water from a nearby farmer's spring. It was reported that in the fall you could see the odd dead salmon float by.

In 1961 the school's principal Jim Reid returned to school's original name because he thought it better reflected the area's history and eliminated continued confusion with the Mt. Lehman school further up the road.

In 1976 Dunach underwent another series of renovations and gained a new gym, classroom and office area and one existing class was converted into a library.

Currently the school houses 109 students from kindergarten to Grade 7.

The school Had a computer lab, library, multipurpose room, library, gym and indoor plumbing.



Students, parents and even some trustees shed tears as it became clear the small rural school on Downes Road - a part of the community for over 100 years - would be shutting its doors in June 2011.