Following World War 2 many soldiers returned home to Canada to settle in rural/remote properties because they were cheaper places for them to ‘start over’ with the family they already had, or to start the family they’d been waiting to have.
With the influx of children being located in smaller, remote settings, the government took the opportunity to build elementary schools “centrally located” between these kids to ensure they would all receive a proper education in spite of how far they may be from the nearest town or city. The idea was that while they were young, the schools would be as close to them as possible, and when they got old enough for high-school they would either bus into the nearest town or city each day, or their parents would keep them out of school to work full time on the farm. (The government obviously preferring the former over the latter)
Over the years, as kids grew up and moved away from the farm, technology expanded allowing for online education systems and, as a whole, people tended to settle closer to towns for access to medical services and such, the need for these schools fell by the waist-side. As a result, if you’ve spent any time driving British Columbia’s highways, you’ll have noticed dozens of empty/abandoned Elementary schools along the way.
This particular school caught my eye this past few weeks because, when I was driving past, I realized that someone bought it and turned it into a home.
All photos credit the realtor. Listing can be found here >
It’s clear in the pictures that it’s little messy these days, and a little cluttered… but imagine the potential of having an entire school for a home.
The built a nice little kitchen, upgraded the bathrooms. All the creature comforts necessary to make it a home.
Imagine having 7,700 square feet to work with and design as you please. The possibilities that space could provide are endless. And if you had the renovation budget, you could turn this school into a real palace. Or, leave it as is if you prefer a more simple life.
Oh, yeah the original gymnasium was kept in tact – basketball hoops and all. Could you imagine what an NBA player would do with their own gymnasium? Actually, NBA players make enough money they probably build gymnisums in their home… but that’s not the point. A gym! This home comes with a gym!
If you’re a handy person, you’d already have your own workshop, too. Workshop aside, imagine how big your bedroom would be if you turned a former classroom into your bedroom?
I think about the history that must exist in a place like this. If you’re the type of person that can live out of town, who wants land and who wants wide open spaces, a property like this could really be a dream come true.
A school that’s already been turned into your home not your fancy? You want your own school to work with? Well, take a drive down any major highway in BC and you’ll likely find an abandoned elementary school just waiting for the potential of someone with an open mind who wants room to grow.
That’s so interesting! As someone who grew up and went to school in the city, it’s hard to imagine how it is to live and go to school in rural areas. I did teach in a small town (12,000 people) in France where the middle school and high schools took students from even smaller towns and villages all over the region. Interesting how schools operate like that! PS probably wouldn’t buy the school, but it’d be a sweet deal for other investors!
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This particular school is right near a local mill. I think if someone were really wealthy and, really smart, they’d renovate it into a place they could rent out rooms to the guys who work in the mill. Because the mill is out of town, it’s a place where a lot of guys fly in for their two week shifts and then fly out. A place like that could easily be rented to them.
Also, this “town” the school is in is population like… 200? There might be 500 if you count all the people in the mill and those who own farms within a half hours distance.
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True, it could also work as a BnB. In that case, a population of 200-500 would be considered a village!
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That school would make an amazing home. They show homes on TV where people transformed old, abandoned buildings into incredible homes! Even turning this into a hotel/hostel would be a great business opportunity. If you have the time to do something like this, I would say go for it!
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I would love to do something like that. There’s one for sale near Radium Hot Springs, BC that’s got the most gorgeous mountain backdrop. Seeing this one turned into a home has me thinking how cool it would be to turn the one down by Radium Hot Springs into a home. It would be really, really cool!
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When my wife and I first started dating, she lived in an old mill that had been converted to apartments. They were beautiful apartments with high ceilings, plus it had a pool!
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Had family members rent a home years ago that used to be part of a high school. My cousin and I loved hanging out in some of the classrooms.
Unfortunately I ain’t rich enough to buy a school, but thanks for the memory.
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I bet that makes for some pretty cool stories around the campfire.
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That is wonderful. I grew up in the Catskill Mountains and our town had a small population but the brick school was the hub of the town and still is. Now they have just combined some of the towns. I would love to busy something like this and enjoy living there!But I am in Florida and it isn’t going to happen. Thanks for sharing.
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Ohhhh Florida. Minus the hurricanes, that sounds like a nice place to live. I don’t know though, I think I’d be more of a New York person at heart. Especially ‘upstate’ like where the Catskill Mountains are. Mountains, seasons, close to the city… did you love it there? I bet I’d love it there.
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Yes, it is a beautiful place to live but many of my classmates moved to the city of New York or ended up elsewhere for jobs after high school. Very had to make a living there. Yes, I did love it there!Florida is nice, also.
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Florida has gators and hurricanes though. lol
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and the wildlife including the people is interesting! Always changing.
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Love to buy, not busy.
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Very hard to make a living…so sorry, my eyes are tired. It has been a rough week!
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Awe, I’m sorry. If it helps, I get what you mean!
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That’s pretty amazing. So much room for activities!
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Oooooooh your stepbrothers reference is appreciated today!
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This is too awesome! 😍 I wonder what their electric bill is like though… 😅
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Ohhh, now that you say that I’m thinking it’s probably a lot. Although, in the listing you can see a photo of a wood stove. So if they heat with a wood stove that probably lessens the electric bill some…
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Hmmmmm… now you have me thinking …
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Thank you for the idea, V! https://billswritingplace.wordpress.com/2019/09/30/a-mansion-is-what-you-make-of-it/
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V, does it come with a full staff of janitors…lol?
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I think that’s what you have kids for, isn’t it? 🙂
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Cute V!
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