Historic Sites of Manitoba: Asquith School No. 1844 (RM of Mountain)

The Asquith School District was established formally in November 1916, named for British Prime Minister H. H. Asquith (1852-1928). Initially, the schoolhouse was situated about a half mile east of the village of Pulp River. In 1928, it was moved to SE3-33-20W to become Jubilee School No. 2169. The following year, a new Asquith School building was erected at its present location, SE1-33-21W in what would eventually become the Rural Municipality of Mountain. In 1967, the school closed and its area became part of the Duck Mountain School Division. The former school building became the Pulp River Community Centre.

The teachers of the first Asquith School (1916-1928) were Mr. Speckman, Mrs. Hill, Miss Dohan, and Mr. Malkowich. The teachers of the second Asquith School (1929-1967) were Mary Lesch Venger, Miss Chernieko, Mr. Doroschuk, Myrtle Overby, Miss Sylvia Karpiak, Mike Syrnyk, Mrs. Steve Gengera, Steve Gengera, Mrs. Farden (1957-1958), Leonard Boychuk (1958-1962), Miss Eleanor Serwa (1962-1963), Mrs. Berna Bulas (1963), Mrs. Olga Kopachynski (1964-1967).

The first Asquith School, built in 1916 (no date) by J. S. Peach Source: Archives of Manitoba, School Inspectors Photographs, GR8461, A0233, C131-3, page 44. The second Asquith School building, built in 1929, now used as a community centre (May 2012) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Interior of the former Asquith School building (May 2012) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Site Coordinates (lat/long): N51.79880, W100.29823 denoted by symbol on the map above

Sources:

One Hundred Years in the History of the Rural Schools of Manitoba: Their Formation, Reorganization and Dissolution (1871-1971) by Mary B. Perfect, MEd thesis, University of Manitoba, April 1978.

Hardships to Happiness: History Flows from Pine River and District by Pine River History Committee, 1982. [Manitoba Legislative Library, F5649.P60 Har]

A Study of Public School Buildings in Manitoba by David Butterfield, Historic Resources Branch, Manitoba Department of Culture, Heritage and Tourism, 1994, 230 pages.

This page was prepared by Alan Mason and Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 26 November 2019

Historic Sites of Manitoba This is a collection of historic sites in Manitoba compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. The information is offered for historical interest only. SEARCH the collection Browse lists of: Museums/Archives | Buildings | Monuments | Cemeteries | Locations | Other Inclusion in this collection does not confer special status or protection. Official heritage designation may only come from municipal, provincial, or federal governments. Some sites are on private property and permission to visit must be secured from the owner. Site information is provided by the Manitoba Historical Society as a free public service only for non-commercial purposes. Send corrections and additions to this page to the MHS Webmaster at webmaster@mhs.mb.ca. Search Tips | Suggest an Historic Site | FAQ Help us keep history alive!