In late June 2013 Eagle Hills Community Centre held a final social event and supper at the centre before it closes its doors for good.
Nancy Wapple, a local club member, read the history of Eagle Hills School and Community Centre.
"We would be like to welcome everyone to our final event at the Eagle Hills Community Centre. We are all here to socialize, celebrate, listen to good music and share all the good memories of Eagle Hills," she said.
Entertainment for the afternoon was provided by Neil Smith and Eagle Hills Band, who have been playing music for all the dances for many years.
Eagle hills school was built in 1905 on SW 21-42-16 on land owned by W.R. Waines. The builder was Charles Boughey, a carpenter and Massey Harris dealer in Battleford. The school was 20 by 28 feet and built at the cost of $800. The first teacher was Miss Gladys Pilgram. She later married Carl Simpson. Some of the first students were Roy, Jay and Pearl Laycock, Rita Waines, the Rebitts, Alice Price, Rosalie and Caroline Pambrum, Jim, Johonnie and George Ballendine.
The first Christmas concert was held in 1905. Church service and dances were held regularly in the early years.
On Valentine Day 1945, the old school house was destroyed by a fire. Then classes were held temporarily in Ralph Owens' home until a new school was built.
In the years of operation there were 45 teachers boarding at the homes of W.R.Waines, Jim Cameron, C.G.I. Smith and Roy Owens. The schoolhouse played an important part in the lives of the rural people. Church service with weekly Sunday school classes, teas, plays, bridle showers, ski parties, election meetings and dances were all among the activities.
The school closed in 1967 with students being transported by a bus to Battleford. The last teacher to teach at the Eagle Hills school was Helen Robison and she was at the final closing social. The Eagle Hills Community Club was formed in 1968, taking over the building as a non profit organization. A 20 foot addition was added to the north end of the building. The hall continues to be a very active part of the community with reunions every five years form 1970 to 2005. In 2005 a centennial was celebrated. Many organizations used the school and the community centre over the years.
Here is a list: Waines Grain Growers Association No. 1128; Battleford Eagle Hills Rural Telephone Company; Eagle Hill United Farmers; Dacer and Porter elevator meetings; Eagle Hills snow plow club; provincial and federal elections; 4-H Clubs used the facility for their monthly meetings; events were held to honour our pioneers; First Nations Pambram Reunion in 2003; heritage presentations; many weddings; country gospel jamboree 2002-2004; Eagle Hills Community Club entered floats in the Battleford parade; Hosted Smilin' Johnnie and Eleanor Dahl Show; stopping place for the 1985 wagon trek; Eagle Hills Community Centre held several family reunions; family Christmas gatherings; Kaiser card tournaments for 10 years; EMO meetings; Battleford Treasure Hunters Club yearly meets.
The community club supported BCYC youth group, Telemiracle, 4-H achievement days, hospital foundation, as well as many other non profit organizations.
The highlight of the community club was the publishing of two history books. In 1985 The Eagle Hills Re Eochoing Times, a hard cover book Volume I, was published. In 2005 Volume II was published. After thousands of hours of research and interviews with pioneers, we produced a book we were proud to present to the public for sale. We are proud to say they are all sold. So if you have one that is not wanted, please contact the Fred Light Museum on Battleford.
A barbecue supper was supplied by everyone served up by the cooks, Lenard Godin, Darwin Madsen. Refreshments were served by Bruce Crawford.
Souvenirs and history books from the reunion were available.
Eagle Hills memory cake was cut by Anna Roberts, a 101-year-old former resident with Gussie Weran, Doris Neale, Willie Neale and Jessie Smith. Cake severs were Sherri Ripka, Murphye and Sabrina (Ripka) Mardot.
In 2013 a meeting was held with a decision to dispense of the community centre and the land.
Stewart Southgate has purchased the Eagle Hills Community Centre and property.
Special thanks to everyone who brought food, cooked the hamburgers and beverage servers. Also to the Eagle Hills band for the music and more special thanks to everyone who took the time to come and make our final event such a memorial day. We all have so many wonderful memories of times at Eagle Hills. Also a big thank you to Brian Wappel for showing some very interesting DVDs of the district, the community centre, plus all his nature scenes and other interesting items. Photos were taken of the former students outside the community centre.
