This week I share with you my grandma's school days in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
The inspiration for this week's blog is a tea mug that my grandmother brought home with her from the 75th Anniversary of Hillhurst School in 1987.
Grandma loved this mug, and it is still in perfect condition after 32 years. Grandma cared for it until her death in 2005. My father cared for it until he gave it to me several months ago. Grandma was born in Scotland, and took her tea very seriously.The lack of stains suggests Grandma never used this mug. I too take my tea seriously -- this mug will never be used because it just doesn't hold enough tea. This mug has a special place in the heart of my kitchen - as the base for our Google Home Mini beside the glass canister holding the tea bags.
All of the schools grandma attended are still standing, and in use as schools today.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Grandma attended Sunnyside School for her Elementary years.
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Mary Elizabeth Thomson (elementary school age) with her doll and stroller
Mary Elizabeth Thomson (elementary school age) with
her father Thomas Thomson, and older sister Marion Isabelle (known as Maisie) Thomson |
Sunnyside School, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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| Sunnyside School, Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
Click the link to view the CELEBRATING 100 YEARS at SUNNYSIDE
https://www.btcalgary.ca/videos/sunnyside-school-turns-100/
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JUNIOR HIGH (AKA MIDDLE) SCHOOL
Grandma attended Hillhurst School for her Middle School years.
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| Mary Elizabeth Thomson, about middle school age |
Grandma attended Hillhurst School for her Middle School Years.
The present day elementary school once served as a junior highschool.
Hillhurst School, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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| Hillhurst School, Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
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HIGH SCHOOL
Grandma attended Crescent Heights High School for her High School years.
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| Mary Elizabeth Thomson, about high school age |
Crescent Heights Highschool was built in 1928, and opened on January 7th 1929. Grandma was still in middle school when the highschool opened so wasn't one of the first students to attend.
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| Crescent Heights High School, Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
The first day she attended Crescent Heights High School she would have walked under the sign labeled as the GIRLS entrance that had been carved by her father, Thomas Thomson.
1 "There were two separate entrances, one for girls and one for boys."
Thomas Thomson was a well known stonemason who traveled all over North America for work. He carved many monuments in the Calgary area. Grandma told me stories of her father carving the BOYS & GIRLS entry signage for a school she attended. Only Crescent Heights had that signage which leaves me to conclude those signs were carved by my great grandfather Thomas Thomson.* Thomas was well known for his Gargoyle carvings. There are many carvings all over Canada and the United States that were carved by Thomas.
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| Crescent Heights High School Calgary, Alberta, Canada 2 |
*Not to be confused with the famous Canadian Artist Thomas Thomson - who may be a relative, but whether that is true is currently unknown.
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Grandma enjoyed her school days. While I was growing up she told me many stories that included her sister, cousins, and school friends. Grandma told me that wished she had pursued journalism. She was a great writer, and wrote many poems. She would be pleased that I am writing the family stories.
Historical information & artifacts bringing stories to life!
This is why I search -
Cause ...
You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!
***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***
Sources:
1 Calgary Public Library, historic, Crescent Heights High School, Retrieved September 4th 2019 from
https://web.archive.org/web/20021221213418/http://calgarypubliclibrary.com/calgary/historic_tours/corner/chhs.htm
2 Alberta Heritage Markers, Way Marking, Crescent Heights High School Calgary, AB, Retrieved September 4th 2019 from
http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMZAP2_Crescent_Heights_High_School_Calgary_AB
Links:
Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/
Crescent Heights School
http://school.cbe.ab.ca/school/CrescentHeights/Pages/default.aspx
Hillhurst School
http://school.cbe.ab.ca/school/Hillhurst/Pages/default.aspx
Sunnyside School
http://school.cbe.ab.ca/school/sunnyside/Pages/default.aspx
Somehow Related Previous Blogs:
Somehow Related Blog Spot, Remembering - Thomas & Elizabeth Young (nee Slicer) Thomson, and politics,
https://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/2019/02/remembering-thomas-elizabeth-young-nee.html
Somehow Related Blog Spot, 3 Bricks in the Wall ~ Thomas Thomson (Stonemason, Brick House, Genealogical Brick Wall),
https://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/2019/04/3-bricks-in-wall-thomas-thomson.html
Somehow Related Blog Spot, Elizabeth & Thomas - Together Again,
https://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/2019/05/elizabeth-thomas-together-again.html
Somehow Related Blog Spot, School Autograph Books, Calgary: 1927 to 1932 ~ Marion (Maisie) Thomson,
https://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/2019/06/school-autograph-books-calgary-1927-to.html
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include a link to the specific blog and
credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/
My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.
All rights reserved.
Please & Thank you!
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