Hornby Island Community Archives
R.G. 10
Acc. No.: 2017-03-16/44, 2019-03-26/71
2019-11-21/95
Finding aid created by Hannah Wiseman
Last updated: September 2019
Title: Hornby Island Community School Collection
Level of description: collection
General material designation: textual records, graphic materials, architectural drawings, and objects
Extent: 88 cm
Creator(s): Hornby Island Community School (1892-present)
Dates of creation: 1923-2008
Administrative history:
The first private school on Hornby Island was located near the ferry landing at Shingle Spit. The school was constructed around 1880 and was supported by the Ford family. The Hornby Island School District formed on May 22, 1889 and was governed by school board members Gordon Heatherbell, D.L. Herbert, and George Howe. They built Hornby’s first public school in 1891 on an acre of land. The one-room schoolhouse measured 20 x 34 feet and consisted of pole floor joists, square nails, a high peaked roof, clapboard, rough lumber, and white paint.
Hornby Island School opened in March 1892. It closed for the winter in December 1892 and reopened in March 1893. The first teacher was Miss Sara Williams. The school closed for a period between 1905 and 1906, reopened for a time in 1907, and closed again from 1908 to 1913, when it reopened permanently.
Locally elected trustees ran Hornby’s school until the provincial government reorganized the educational system in the 1940s and the school began to be administered by the Comox Valley School District (SD #71).
The construction of a new school building was proposed in 1948. This second building, another one-room schoolhouse, was built in 1950. In 1966 the space heating system was replaced with an oil-burning hot air furnace. In 1972 a new well was drilled and the school was fitted with improved plumbing. A portable was added in 1973 to meet the needs of an expanding student population. In 1980 Hornby Island Educational Society (HIES), who has supported Hornby’s school for decades, constructed Room to Grow, a building designed to serve as an additional classroom for the school (the building was rented to SD #71). As enrolment continued to grow, a larger multi-room school building was needed.
The current school building was constructed between 1983 and 1984.
In 1992, HIES pursued obtaining community school status for the Hornby Island Elementary School. They submitted a proposal to the School District and, in August 1993, the school was officially designated as Hornby Island Community School.
The school is located at 2100 Sollans Road.
The island’s old schoolhouse was home to the Hornby Island Daycare Society from 1973 to 1984, when it was transferred to the care of the Hornby Island New Horizons Society and moved off of school grounds to its current location across from the New Horizons building. The schoolhouse is now the Betty Smith Centre and houses the Hornby Island Fabricators, a weaving and spinning club.
Scope and content: The records pertain to the history, students, teachers, staff, curricula, activities, and finances of the Hornby Island Community School. Many of the records were created and/or collected by David Gerow, a former principal and teacher of the school. The collection includes textual records, correspondence, newsletters, meeting agendas and minutes, financial documents, student and class projects, notes, reports, architectural drawings, newspaper clippings, and other ephemera, and objects.
Source of supplied title: Title is based on the creator of the collection.
Physical condition: Silvering of photographs in files 2-3 and 4-1.
Immediate source of acquisition: The collection contains several previously accessioned files, which were donated by David Gerow (985.24, 985.26, 985.30) in 1985, Hilary Brown (990.1.3) in 1990, Helen Onorah (Gerow) (991.35.1, 992.113) in 1991 and 1992, Joyce Jeffries (992.106, 992.109, 992.111) in 1991, Betty Hoover (992.108) in 1992, and Irene Ross (992.112) in 1992, as well as collected by the archivist/committee members (992.2.1, 992.75, 992.116, 992.198, 993.23) between 1990 and 1992. All other original accession date(s) and donor(s) are unknown as Hornby Island Community Archives acquired the records several years prior to their being accessioned in 2017.
Arrangement: The original filing scheme of the records was reconstructed during archival arrangement on the basis of file markings on the documents in order to retain as much of the original order as possible. However, some rearrangement of the records may have occurred between donation and accessioning as the records were stored for a number of years and then transferred to the archives building before being accessioned and processed in 2017.
Language of materials: English
Record no.: R.G. 10
Repository: Hornby Island Community Archives
Rights: Copyrights of architectural plans and technical drawings are held by the architects or engineers.
Finding aids: Finding aid available with file level control.
Associated material: Copies of the book “Hornby’s History” can be found in the collections of Library and Archives Canada and the Toronto Public Library.
Related groups of records: Other records relating to the Hornby Island Community School can be found in the Hornby Island Educational Society Collection (R.G. 11) and the Hornby Island Daycare Society Collection (R.G. 9) and the Photograph Collection (R.G. 24)
For records concerning the island’s early school and old schoolhouse, see: the Hornby Island New Horizons Society Collection (R.G. 4).
Accruals: Further accruals are expected.
File Inventory
Box 1
1-1 School picture, 1922 (1 photograph) *needs rehousing
1-2 School certificate – awarded to George Savoie, 1923
1-3 2 photocopies of photograps of schoool children circa 1930’s with notes by Betty Hoover
1-4 School certificates – awarded to Irene Ostby, 1926-1933
1-5 School art projects by Irene Ostby, c.1925-1933 (28 pieces)
1-6 Handwritten reminiscences of Hornby 1922-1935 by Irene Ostby, 1992
1-7 Textbook – “The Romance of British Columbia” by Arthur Anstey, 1942
1-8 School project – “Hornby Island” by Millie Arthurs, c.1944
1-9 Hornby Island School 50 years ago – transcript of talk given by Pat Heaney, February27, 1992
1-10 World War II dedication to Hornby students who served, n.d
1-11 Correspondence and ephemera, 1958-1969
Re: School savings program, original school opening date (1892), 4 generations at Hornby school, decision to transport secondary students into Courtenay and ferry transportation issues related to this, and miscellaneous
1-12 Class photographs – 1960, 1964 (4 photographs)
12-1 Div.1 1960
12-2 Div.2 1960
12-3 Hornby Island School June 15, 1964
12-4 Hornby Island School June 15, 1964 (laminated)
1-13 “Hornby’s History” – 2 copies, 1967
A Canadian centennial school project done by grades 1-5.
1-14 “Hornby’s History” – typed master and copy, 1967
1-15 “Hornby’s History” – correspndance, 1967-1968, 1985
1-16 “Hornby Honker”, 1972-1979
A publication produced by the Hornby school children
1-17 “Hornby Honker” originals and stencils, 1973, 1974, 1978
1-18 Correspondence, notices, notes and ephemera, 1971-1979 (1 photograph)
Re: exchange trip, school newspaper, progress report of Laura Gerow, CORE curriculum, reimbursement for board of students attending school on Vancouver Island, staffing, school newsletter, Kindergarten survey, Beaulah Ross bursary and miscellaneous
1-19 School crest designed by Aaron Wallace, 1978
Box 2
2-1 Correspondence, notes and ephemera, 1980
Re: projected enrolment, addition of third classroom, telephone list, enrichement programming, Community School concept, and miscellaneous
2-2 Room to Grow – correspondence, drawings and ephemera 1980-1981
Re: donation solicitation for community built interim classroom, story outline, floor plan and miscellaneous
2-3 Correspondence, financial documents and notes, 1981
Re: building situation, enrichement programming, staffing and portable projections, capital expense proposal, school zone concerns, playground equipment chemical concerns, field trip to Cortez, inventory for Kindergarten program, bottle drive theft, and miscellaneous
2-4 New School – Correspondence, financial documents, notes and drawings, 1981
2-5 Newsletters and notices to Parents, 1981
2-6 Parent survey, 1981
2-7 School District 71 – correspndance re: budgets, 1981-1982
2-8 Correspondence, notices and notes, 1982
Re: formaldehyde gas emmisions of portables, transportaion funds, enrichement programming, immunizations, provincial government budget cuts, school use of community hall, enrolment, staffing, and miscellaneous
2-9 New School – Correspondence, financial documents, notes and drawings, 1982
2-10 New School: site clearing–Correspondence, notices, maps, notes and drawings,1982
2-11 New School: Architectural Drawings, 1982
2-12 New School : David Gerow’s planning notes, c 1981-1982
2-13 Newsletters and notices to Parents, 1982
2-14 Enrolment forecasts – reports, lists and correspndance, 1980-1982
2-15 French programme – correspndance and reports, 1973-1983
2-16 Budgets- memos, correspndance, financial documents and notes, 1970, 1973-1983
Box 3
3-1 Court case : School District 71 correspndance and transcript, 1981-1983
Re: Slykhuis v Board of School Trustees. Eric Slykhuis claimed damages against SD 71 related to an injury involving a trampoline collapsing while acting as a volunteer with the Hornby school.
3-2 Correspondence and financial documents, 1983
Re: school news, public tender for new school build, Unicef, operating budget, supplies, bike safety, enrichement programming, strike of staff, kindergarten, final budget
3-3 Newsletters and notices to Parents, 1983
3-4 New School : Construction of – Correspondence and financial documents, 1983
Re: bid for tender, local interest in employment, local concerns and financail documents
3-5 New School : Architectual Drawings, 1983
3-6 New School : specifications for construcion, c.1983
3-7 New School : electrical contract and addendum, technical drawings/plans, correspndance and notes, 1983.
3-8 New School : subcontract quotations and correspndance, 1983
3-9 New School : technical drawings and interior specs., 1983
3-10 New School : inspection reports, 1983-1984
3-11 School District 71 – Principals’ meeting minutes and correspndance, 1979-1983
Box 4
4-1 Correspondence, financial documents and notices, 1984 (5 photographs)
Re: budget cuts, Kindergarten, staffing, rearrangement of 4 buildings, learning assesment, last day in old buildings, housing of the kiln, staff list, discussion paper “A Way Ahead”, and miscellaneous
1-1 Kayt: Top Girl Athlete
1-2 Last day in our “old buildings” May 1984
1-3 Last day in our “old buildings” May 1984
1-4 Last day in our “old buildings” May 1984
1-5 Last day in our “old buildings” May 1984
4-2 New School : Opening – Correspondence and ephemera, 1984 (2 photographs)
2-1 “Soda Pops” – School opening ceremony, June 1984
2-2 Hornby Island new school
4-3 Newsletters and notices to Parents, 1984
4-4 Hornby Island Elementary School Yearbook, 1983/84 (2 copies)
4-5 “Hornby Honker”, 1984
4-6 School District 71 – teachers’ salary agrrement, 1983-1984
4-7 Equipment and supplies, 1982-1984
4-8 Feild trips – forms, correspndance and newsletters, 1980-1984
4-9 Staffing – correspndance, forms and financial documents, 1975-1984
4-10 Correspondence, financial documents, newletters and notes, 1985
Re: budget cuts, discussion paper “A Way Ahead”, fiscal framework service levels, Burns plan/budget cuts, class size, playground behviour, enrichement programming, staffing, staff meeting minutes, grade 7 grad speech, and miscellaneous
4-11 Sports Day Ribbon (2), 1985
4-12 History of the Hornby School, c1980’s
4-13 “What Heritage Means To Me”, 1985 (1 photograph)
Charo Neville, grade 5, interviewing Betty Smith
13-1 Charo interviewing Betty (Bob Cain photo)
4-14 Hornby Island: Then and Now class project, 1986 (21 photographs)
4-15 Newsletters Correspondence, financial documents and ephemera, 1986-1988
Re: enrichement programming, ferry rates, conference notes, kindergarten, library, newsletters and miscellaneous
Box 5
5-1 Letters to Santa, 1987
5-2 Christmas concerts- programs, posters, scripts, correspndance and newspaper clippings, 1963, 1976-1977, 1979, 1980-1984,1986-1990
5-3 School Centennial : Correspondence and reminiscences, 1991-1992
5-4 School Centennial : Research of Hornby School history, 1991-1992
5-5 School Centennial : Planning for the event – Correspondence and notes, 1991-1992
5-6 School Centennial March 6, 1992
Invitations, program, correspondence, commemorative t-shirt, notes, and ephemera of the celebrations of 100 years of the Hornby School
5-7 School Centennial : Hornby Island Archives Exhibit, 1992 (1 photograph)
5-8 School Centennial : Newspaper clippings, 1992
5-9 Ephemera and notices, 1991-1993, 1995-1998
Re: “The Second Edition”, school news, Hammerstone – the story of an Island, Community programming, international high school and miscellaneous
5-10 Newspaper clippings, 1974, 1980, 1985-1987, 1989-1992
5-11 Island Images. Paintings of Hornby Island BC by Island Artists, 2000
Re: Hornby Island Community School’s first annual calandar fundraiser, 2 copies, one of them signed by all of the artists
5-12 Perspectives of Hornby Island History: Archives and the Community School project, 2008
Re: Introduction to the project and schedule of events for public viewing
5-13 Perspectives of Hornby Island History: Archives and the Community School project – Bertie and Keith Stonehouse, 2008 (13 photographs)
Re: biography of Bertie and Keith Stonehouse and copies of family photos, including Hornby Island Lodge and the schoolbus
5-14 Perspectives of Hornby Island History: Archives and the Community School project – Our Island Schools, 2008 (6 photographs)
Re: a history of Hornby Island schools, copies of class pictures between 1960-1972, copy of student registration 1972
5-15 Perspectives of Hornby Island History: Archives and the Community School project – Doris Savoie and the Ferry Service, 2008 ( 15 photographs)
Re: biography of Doris Savoie, copies of Savoie family photos, brief history of the ferry system, copies of photographs of boat built by the Savoies and photos of the Princess Mary at the governement wharf at Ford Cove
5-16 Perspectives of Hornby Island History: Archives and the Community School project – Francis and Patricia Savoie, 2008 ( 23 photographs)
Re: biography of Francis and Patricia, copies of Savoie family photographs mostly to do with fishing.
Box 6 Artifact Box
6-1 School Centennial t-shirt, 1992
Accural 2019-03-26/71
Box 7
7-1 School, class and staff photographs, 1966, 1978-1981, 1983-1986, 1988-1990, 1991-1992, 1994-1995, 1997-2000, 2006-2013 (32 photgraphs)
1-1 May 12, 1966
1-2 1978-1979 Intermediate
1-3 1979-1980 Intermediate
1-4 1980-1981 Group 1
1-5 1983-1984 Grade 4 & 5
1-6 1984-1985 Grade 2 & 3
1-7 1984-1985 Grade 6 & 7
1-8 1984-1985 (staff) ( 2 copies)
1-9 1985-1986 KDGN & Grade 1
1-10 1985-1986 Grade 4 & 5
1-11 1988-1989 Staff
1-12 1989-1990 Grade 4
1-13 1989-1990 Grade 5 & 6
1-14 1989-1990 (staff)(2 copies)
1-15 1991-1992 (staff)
1-16 1993-1994 (staff)
1-17 1994-1995 Grade 6 & 7 (2 copies)
7-1 School, class and staff photographs, 1966, 1978-1981, 1983-1986, 1988-1990, 1991-1992, 1994-1995, 1997-2000, 2006-2013 (32 photgraphs) (con’t)
1-18 1994-1995 (staff) (2 copies)
1-19 1997-1998 (staff)
1-20 1998-1999 (staff)
1-21 1999-2000 Gr. 6 & 7
1-22 1999-2000 (staff)
1-23 2006-2007 Staff
1-24 2007-2008 School
1-25 2008-2009 School
1-26 2010-2011 Kindergarten Thru 3 Div 1
1-27 2010-2011 Grades 4 Thru 7 Div 2
1-28 2012-2013 Staff (2 copies)
7-2 School Yearbook, 1983-1984 (120 photgraphs)
Re: Master layout pages, missing page 7 and one photgraph on page 2
Accural 2019-11-21/95
7-3 Ephemera, 1972, 1992, c1998, 2005 (1 photgraph)
Re: Register of Hornby Island Elementary School 1971-1972, 100 years of Hornby school celebration newspaper article, girls basketball team photo, natural history summer exhibit pamphlet