THIS SIGN IS RIGHT BESIDE A BUSY HIGHWAY.
THERE IS A PULL-OFF RIGHT BESIDE THE SIGN.
USE CAUTION WHEN PULLING OFF AND ONTO THE HIGHWAY.
The Panima School District was formed in May 1903 and named by a Mr. Gray on whose land the school was built. No information found as to the significance of the name.
The school was the usual design; frame structure and gable roof, windows on East side, blackboard on North end behind the teacher’s desk, and a large stove. The oldest boy in the school was responsible for lighting and keeping the fire and was paid a nominal fee of 25 cents (per day, not likely, per month? or annual?). An additional 10 cents was added for cleaning duties.
Most of the students rode horses to school and one end of the school yard was fenced off for the horses and s structure built. This didn’t work very well as one horse would stand in the entrance and prevent other horses from entering. The boys cut Poplar poles and made stalls and mangers so the horses could be tied inside.
Panima School along with all other rural schools was the community centre and used for any and all public events, even an election polling centre. At one election, a Scottish lady was very upset and irate to find her name omitted from the voter’s list. The Returning Officer, said no problem, that she could be sworn in and then vote. However, no Bible could be found, so the Eaton’s catalogue was wrapped in brown paper and the voter sworn in and then she voted.
In 1927 a new school was built with a full basement and the furnace located down there, so there was more room for desks and pupils. The desks were the “modern” ones with the desk top that were hinged and could lift up for book storage.
The Panima SD became part of the Foothills School Division in 1937 and the school closed.
The building was moved into Okotoks in 1950 and used for a Home Economics classroom,
When a new and larger school was built in Okotoks, the old school was sold to the Okotoks Gunclub and moved to the East end of town. It was destroyed by fire in 1978.
Information taken from “A Century of Memories” the History of Okotoks and District 1883 - 1983