If any physical records of the Sylvan School District exist before 1916 I do not have access to them.
The following letters have been selected from the carbon copy correspondence book kept between 1916 and 1928 by two of the Secretary-Treasurers, Mr. John Haigh (1916-18) (SW36-53-4-W5) and Mr. Thomas Street (1918-30) of Wabamun.
These letters reflect the concerns of the various school boards of Sylvan: Assessment, mailing tax notices, collecting tax arrears, maintaining the school building and grounds, hiring and paying teachers, setting the District borders and wading through the bureaucracy of the Department of Education.
Each page of the book is numbered and the bold numbers beneath each letter correspond to these pages.
The numbers begin on page 7.
Pages 32 and 80 are blank.
Pages 36, 84, 127, 131, 149 are missing
Page 100 is illegible due to double carbon copying.
Page 148, a letter of March 17th, 1928, is the last page used of the 199 available.
Each page from p. 50 onward is stamped at the top in green ink: Sylvan School District No. 1739

Anyone who wants more information can e-mail me at the address on the HOME page.

Collecting Taxes

John Haigh
Chairman

27 July, 1916
A. Gentle, Bailiff
Rm. 45, Jackson Block
235 Jasper Avenue East
Edmonton
Dear Sirs,
Your letter to Mr. W. Walker of 24 June, duly received.
The board desire a copy of the instructions sent to you for collection of arrears of taxes, which presumably gives the various sums owing by the different occupiers, in addition to the names a list of which has not been kept on file here.
The Board would also like to hear if you have attempted to obtain the cost of collection, as per Schedule of chapter 34 of the Consolidated Ordinances 1898.
The Board hope you will press Dr. W.C. Dunn for arrears which on the 1st July of this year amount to $21.75 (Twenty one Dollars 75 cents) - without cost of collection.
The Board have not heard of or from Luke Locke: his arrears 1st July, 1916 amount to $67.66 without cost of collection, your request is considered reasonable & just.
Thanking you for the steps you have already taken, & trusting you will be further successful.
Believe me yrs truly
John Haigh
Chairman
(7)
------------------------------------------------------------

John Haigh ......9th August

Great Western Agencies
A. Gentle
Rm. 45, Jackson Block
235 Jasper Avenue East
Edmonton
Dear Sir,
Your letter of the 28th July duly to hand.
Owing to the reconstruction of the Board, necessary through the resignation of Mr. Waide Walker, who has left the neighbourhood, I have been appointed, at a Special Meeting, Secretary-Treasurer.
Kindly consider the list of Delinquents re Tax arrears given you by Mr. Farr cancelled, & substitute the following, which the Board trust you will successfuly handle on the same terms, viz 10% of sums collected -
Luke Locke - No. of Assessment 16 ...$77.29
J.K. McDonald.. D: 68... $4.30
Wabamun P. & C. Co. D: ...70 - 73 ... $25.86
O. Larson ... D: ... 75 ... 34.31
W. C. Dunn ... D: ... 81 ...21.75
Mrs. Minnie Dunn ... D: ... 82 ... 22.60
C. H. Dunn ... D: ... 83 ... 90.08(from 1908)
C. E. F.

Vide Page 2. (end of p.8)

John Haigh ..... Page2
W. F.Boswell ... No. of Assessment 90 ... $14.11
F. S. Cassan ... D: ... 89 ... 14.11
J. Hellum ... D: ... 88 ... 46.03
W. McOwan ... D: ... 84 ... 19.67
Curry Street
Edmonton
Percy F. Carre --- D: --- 86 --- 14.11
With reference to enclosure of letter of 24th June it is stated that P. Rudyk paid $48.92 for NE 11 - 53 - 4 - 5.
Kindly advise if this is for arrears originally in the name of the
Conners Coal Co. ... N W - 11 / S W 14 - 53 - 4 - 5.
As regards C.H. Dunn's property, it is understood that Revillon Freres, Wholesale Merchants are in possession, & the property is rented.
We believe that by visiting Mr. Mathieson of Hyndman, Milner & Mathieson of the Royal Bank Bldg, you will be able to get information re O. Larson's, J. Hellum's, F.E. Cassan, W.F. Boswell's land: possibly also of Percy F. Carre.
Kindly return any Tax Notices that you are unable to deal with.
Believe me
Yours truly
John Haigh
Sect. Treasurer
(9)

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