We have been led to believe that the "Then" photo here was taken in 1911, just as the building was being completed. Wear and tear on the stairway and objects in the windows, however, indicate otherwise, so we'll go with a more reasonable date, circa 1915. Both it and the "Now" photo were taken from the street in front of the building, looking northwest.
Construction on this, and an identical school in South Red Deer, commenced in 1911, with the school opening for the 1912 school year. Remaining in the Alberta School system until 1966, the building may have been vacant until 1989, in which year it became part of the
Alternative School of the Red Deer Public School District. The school provides flexibility with coursework and attendance that differs from a traditional school setting, allowing many to attend high school who could not otherwise due to work or other unusual circumstances.
With the peak of the immigration boom between 1910 and 1913, classroom space proved to be inadequate and the Red Deer Protestant Public School Board decided to build two identical cottage schools, one on either side of the river. Constructed in 1911, the low-cost, wood-frame buildings were much like the temporary, pre-war cottage schools erected in Calgary and Edmonton. Architect C.A. Julian Sharman adapted the simple, two storey design to meet local requirements and the firm of Baird and Mackenzie was awarded the construction contract, the building's final cost coming to $3,925.00.
An Alberta Historical marker stands in front of the school, bearing the following text.
North Red Deer Cottage School
The North Red Deer Cottage School was completed in 1912, and the first class of 32 students was taught by one teacher. The school closed in 1966; however, it re-opened over 20 years later, and today it serves as North Cottage High School.
This style of two-storey, two-room cottage school was common in Alberta; it was based on a Provincial Department of Education architectural plan and designed by C.A. Julian Sharman. Originally, the school was faced with wood siding and a full porch with decorative fascia trim. Several improvements were added over the years, including a fire escape in 1929, electricity in 1936 and indoor plumbing in 1949.
North Red Deer Cottage School is one of the few remaining structures that dates back to the founding of North Red Deer as a village, and it is one of the oldest school buildings in Alberta. It is designated as a Municipal Historic Resource.