Century old school is transformed into a comfortable home
By Joan Janzen
LUSELAND - Victoria and Gene Knorr from Luseland discovered Abbnott School in 2014 and began renovating the building, which had been used as a granary for a short period of time. Two layers of exterior brick helped preserve the building, which was structurally sound but still needed a lot of work. Gene jackhammered the concrete in the basement and poured a new floor, and together the couple removed the entire ceiling and a significant amount of bird droppings. The resulting vaulted ceiling and open concept design creates an inviting home and the perfect place for Victoria to display her beautiful paintings.
Victoria and Gene Knorr have transformed the 100-year-old Abbnott School in the Luseland district into their comfortable home. PHOTO BY JOAN JANZEN
This photo from Luseland's history book 'Hub & Spokes' shows students on the steps of Abbnott School, which operated until 1959. PHOTO BY JOAN JANZEN
The house is heated with an efficient wood-burning stove, with the heat rising through an iron grate. PHOTO BY JOAN JANZEN
From her mezzanine sewing room, Victoria looks out the same windows as the former students of Abbnott School once did from their desks. PHOTO BY JOAN JANZEN
The Knorr's wood shed is well-stocked with a supply for their wood-burning stove. PHOTO BY JOAN JANZEN
Gene Knorr painstakingly cut these field stones, which adorn the front of their home. PHOTO BY JOAN JANZEN
Like true pioneers, Victoria and Gene camped out in a newly constructed shed while they began renovations. But after only nine months, they had moved into the former Abbnott School.
Their home is filled with surprises. A few steps lead to a cozy sitting area with a pull-out king-size bed and additional storage conveniently hidden underneath the floor. Another set of stairs leads up to a mezzanine, where Victoria can gaze out the front windows while she does her sewing. Tucked alongside is a cozy nook for the grandkids when they come to visit.
The home is heated with an efficient wood-burning stove, with the heat rising through a large iron grate rescued from another old school. And if you thought trees were rare in Saskatchewan, you would be surprised by Knorr's well-stocked wood shed.
The basement rafters reveal evidence of past students who attended Abbnott School, where their names are carved in the wood. Many of them have dropped by to see their old school, unaware that it has been transformed into a comfortable home.
"It was interesting to find out our neighbour had been a student here," Victoria said. "We hear different stories from people about the school." The Knorrs invite these special visitors to sign their guest book.
The school's history is recorded in Luseland's local history book 'Hub & Spokes'. The current brick building replaced the first school, which was built in 1910. The school's name was taken from the names of the first organizers, Frank Abbs and George Hoddinott.
The brick building was constructed in 1923 and opened the following year with Mary Janusson as teacher. She was the first of twenty-five teachers to instruct students between 1924 and 1959. During that time, only three teachers stayed for 3 to 4 years, and there were only two male teachers. Many of the female teachers married local farmers after their first year of teaching.
A teacher's salary in 1910 was between $700 and $800/year and rose to $1300/year in 1929. However, during the 1930s, the salary dropped to as low as $300/year.
Elizabeth Poggemiller was the last teacher employed at Abbnott School from 1956 to 1959. She also served as the janitor, chopping wood and breaking up huge chunks of coal for the stove. Students would often wear mitts while doing their schoolwork.
Because of low attendance, the Kerrobert School Unit Board closed the school in June 1959 and bussed the students to Luseland. The class of 1958-59 included: Herman German, Chris, Trudy and Linda Dvorak, Maureen Rambold, Louis Obrigewitch, Linda, Clara and Sandra Rambold, Karen Schroh and Rocky German.
The building continued to be used as a community centre for a number of years, hosting meetings, card parties, church services, a polling place, a picnic spot, dances, and local wedding dances. Now, Victoria and Gene Knorr have not only managed to preserve a piece of history but have transformed the century-old structure into their comfortable home.