THE HISTORY OF THE STONY HILL SCHOOL DISTRICT
BY MAX MISURKA

The year 1900 was the beginning of the settlement of what is now the Stony Hill School District. The pioneers were mostly Polish and Ukrainian people. They started settling Stony Hill creek from its mouth at the Whitemouth River following it south as far as the land was suitable for farming.

Andrew Kachur and Wasyl Swetz settled around 1900, the first in the district followed by John Padura in 1902, then followed by Alex Puirko, Joe Basarowich, Frank, Walenty anq Martin Sitar, Aftonko Melynchuk, Nick
Chomiak, John Kachur, Joe Rushowski, John Lucasiewich, Kost and Fred Bandola, Mike Rybak, Dan Stolarik, John Tuzyk, Steve and Wasyl Zarichanski, Frank Kochinski, Sempowich and Stefanik. By 1905 the last homesteads were taken by John and Lucas Misurka 2 1/2 miles south of where the Stony Hill School was.
Times were hard then; there were no roads, just trails from one homestead to another. The closest store where one could buy flour, groceries, etc. was in Whitemouth some eight miles away. There was just a trail; supplies
had to be carried on one's back. Later roads were built by hand with picks and shovels.

As the homesteaders children started growing up the need for a school was obvious. In 1907 the first school was built, named Stony Hill School # 1410, and that is how the area got its name. By 1918 families increased,
so a bigger school was built, and the old one became a teacherage. The Stony Hill Church was also built in 1907 by the homesteaders. It was made of logs squared with broad axes. It was located across the road from
the school. The cemetery was also located here. It was called the The National Catholic Church (St. Ludwiga). It served both the Ukrainian and Polish people. There weren't enough people for two churches, so they
joined together. The first Priest to serve was Bishop Markiewich.

In 1907 the C.N.R. mainline went through Elma; this was a great help to the people living in the district, as they were now able to get their supplies and groceries from Elma.

Then came the big day in the early 1920's when Martin Sitar (Julie's grandfather) bought an old steam engine and threshing machine. He was able to thresh his own grain and for the rest of the people in the district. About the same time a Model T car was driven the district by Mike Misurka, oldest son of John Misurka and a cousin of Max Misurka. The next to own a car was Martin Sitar. About the year 1921 William Kachur became a teacher, teaching many years in Juno school and other schools until his retirement. In the 1930's during the drought years came bush fires, helping the farmers to clear land to be used for grain and hay.

In 1928 Mike Rybak, the oldest pioneer in the district was the first man to receive Old Age Pension of $15.00 per month. He was Pete Rybak and Sophie Pawlyshyn's grandfather.

In 1946 Clarence Toews became the first Mennonite to settle in the district, followed by Peter Penner and Frank Friesen. In 1953 the telephone and hydro came to the district, which was a great improvement.
In the 1960's the old church was torn down because it was too old and unsafe to use. The cemetery is still there, kept up verv well. The school was closed in 1968; the children were taken to Whitemouth by school bus. The old school was bought by Mike and Joyce Martin, and changed into living quarters. Mike and Joyce still live there.

In the 1950's Highway # 15 was built through the district from Elma to Winnipeg. In the 1970's it was rebuilt and paved - another great day for the people.

Today the pioneers are almost all gone; only Julie Sitar, grand-daughter of Martin Sitar, and Mike and Joyce Martin grandson of Frank Sitar continues to live in the district. The rest of the farmers are mostly Mennonites.

FOOTNOTE:
Max Misurka was the middle son of Lucas and Katherine Misurka. Max took over the family farm in 1939 after his father's demise.
In 1943 he married Ann Zakaluk from the Elma area. Together they farmed and raised one daughter, Julie Misurka. Max served on the Stony Hill school board as secretary-treasurer for twenty-one years, from 1939 to 1959. In later years Max worked for the Manitoba government in the Department of Highways. He and his wife built a new home in Elma and retired there. Max passed away in May of 1998 at the age of 82 years.
 

Julie Sitar

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Editors Note: Julie Sitar passed away peacefully at the Victoria General Hospital at the age of 81 years on Friday, February 17, 2017.