1918: the school district and its site

On March 23, 1918, Shank’s Lake School District No. 3329 advertised for tenders to build a schoolhouse on Section 2, Township 2, Range 21, west of the Fourth Meridian. W. L. Baxter was secretary-treasurer, with a Del Bonita postal address. The notice placed Baxter’s residence on Section 25, Township 1, Range 21, west of the Fourth Meridian. Lethbridge Daily Herald, March 23, 1918, p. 2

1931: the Hillmer and Gibb children

A group of Shanks Lake School children in 1931.
Shanks Lake School children, 1931. Galt Museum & Archives, accession 19841071022. Full source record · Download the preserved photograph.

Galt identifies the children, from left to right, as Phil Hillmer, Keith Gibb, Don Gibb, John Gibb, Albert Hillmer, Merman Hillmer, Bertha and Myrtle Hillmer, and Mary Gibb. These are the names and spellings in the museum catalogue.

The original photograph belonged to Ernie Hillmer of Magrath. Galt acquired the copy through the Del Bonita Historical Society. Galt catalogue

1936: the schoolhouse

Shanks Lake School, a wooden schoolhouse with an enclosed entrance porch, with a horse nearby.
From Heritage of the High Country (Del Bonita Historical Society, 1981), p. 56. “Shanks Lake School — 1936.” Full provenance. Also held by Galt Museum & Archives, accession 19841071039, dated 1936; museum copy.

The community history book preserves this view of the schoolhouse three years before its move to Del Bonita.

1939: the move to Del Bonita

The July 14, 1939 Lethbridge Herald reported that St. Mary’s school division had purchased land north of Del Bonita’s post office for a consolidated school. The Shanks Lake schoolhouse had already been moved to the new site. Lethbridge Herald, July 14, 1939, p. 14

Del Bonita School and Community Hall · The post office · History and photographs