The days could be numbered for an old building in Shellbrook that once housed Rayside School. (submitted photo/Kelly Hoare)

By Nigel Maxwell

Historic buildings

Historic school in Shellbrook headed for auction

Jan 17, 2023 | 2:00 PM

The process of selling off two historic buildings in Shellbrook and making room for some possible new commercial development, has taken another step forward.

During their Monday meeting, town council voted in favour of a motion to auction off Rayside school. A similar vote was held previously for the nearby old CN station.

“We felt the best use of that land is to have all that stuff removed. It’s not being used for anything at all and sooner than later before it gets stuck by lightning or vandals,” Mayor Amund Otterson told paNOW.

Noting there will be drainage issues to address, Otterson explained the items and artifacts contained within the buildings currently will be sold off and the proceeds used to support other developments in town.

The school, built in 1949, was originally located about eight miles north of Shellbrook, before being moved roughly 10 years ago to its present location near the town’s museum (the old CNR station) on the south end of Main Street.

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At one time there was an idea by town council to possibly move the historic building to an area off Highway 3, where it would act as a visitor information office and eventually be designated an official heritage site. After exploring the idea further, Otterson said they discovered that would be an expensive venture.

“I think we were quoted $60,000 just to move it over there and put some windows in it,” he said.

Otterson acknowledged there is an emotional attachment by the community and a hope that a group of former students might show enough interest in the building to do something with it, but added that wasn’t the case.

“There’s just not a willingness to get behind it and town council can’t see it as a priority way to use resources,” Otterson said.

The online auctions are expected to take place in March and while the expectation would be for the buildings to be moved off site as soon as possible, or torn apart for materials, Otterson said there would likely be some sort of grace period.

Town Councillor Brent Miller, who is also a former student at Rayside School and a member of the school’s Facebook group, told paNOW there is a plan to reach out to historical groups the Prince Albert, North Battleford and Saskatoon areas to see if there might be some interest in salvaging the old school building. He acknowledged a quick response is needed.

“If there’s even word of an expression of a little bit of interest we would this put off and just see if thats something real or not and perhaps delay the auction,” he said.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell