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The Gretna School District was created by the Rural Municipality of Douglas By-law No. 12 in August 1884. A one-room schoolhouse was built on SE5-1-1W in the rapidly developing urban settlement of Gretna on what later became Klassen Avenue. This was replaced in 1892 with a wooden building at the corner of 9th Street and Berlin Avenue designed by architect Hugh McCowan. It was replaced in 1911 by a solid brick structure on Montcalm Avenue designed by architect Eldred Dodsworth Tuttle which measured 30 feet by 25 feet. The school bell from the earlier building was transferred to it, and the bell later became part of a peace memorial monument at a ceremony on 11 November 1965. A plaque was added to the monument in 1967, in commemoration of the Canadian Confederation. The bell tower was restored in 2004. The school was replaced in 1957 by the structure across the street. The earlier school was used as a community centre for several years before being demolished.
The Gretna School District had always offered Grades 1 to 11 instruction but, in 1966, the Rhineland School Division opened W. C. Miller Collegiate in Altona for all high school students in the region. The school district became Gretna Consolidated School District in 1967 as a number of rural school districts with grades 1 to 8 joined Gretna, and by Order-in-Council it became part of the Rhineland School Division in 1971. Classrooms and a new gymnasium/auditorium were added as the School Division continued to use the school for Kindergarten to Grade 8 classes for students in the Gretna area.
Period
Principal
1891-1892
Daniel Armenius Wickware (1861-1917)
1893-1896
John Silas Poole (1872-1963)
1896-1897
T. J. Smith
1897-1898
Margaret Brown
1898-1899
R. J. Cooke
1899-1900
Roscoe Yeo Conklin (1874-1920)
1900-1904
Edward Howson Walker (1867-1927)
1904-1905
David Smith Tod (1870-1937)
1905
John Henry Conklin (1876-1955)
1906-1908
Norman Benson Tufts (1875-1921)
1908-1909
Thomas Flood Elmes (1848-1912)
1909-1912
William Martin
1912-1916
Joseph MacLennan
1917
Alexander Russell
1917
Margaret Wahn
1917-1918
Wilfred Almon Rideout (1878-1949)
1918-1920
Benjamin Hodkinson (1864-1948)
1920-1922
George E. Walkof
1922-1924
Kate T. Forrest
1924-1925
Peter S. Buhr (?-?)
1925-1929
Gerhard G. Neufeld (1884-1945)
1929-1942
Peter Brown (1896-1986)
1942-1949
Melbourne Walmsley
1949-1953
Douglas Gordon Pomeroy (1911-1968)
1953-1955
David Winter (1929-2013)
1955-1956
Joseph “Joe” [Szezygol] Shygol (c1928-1974)
1956-1959
John Dyck
1959-1965
Frank F. Enns
1965-1967
Joseph G. Plett
1967-1968
John Cornelius Braun
Among the early teachers who worked at Gretna School were Hy Kraft (Spring 1885), William Symington (c1885?), Ambrose William Stock (Fall 1885 - Fall 1889), and Flora Whidden (c1897?).
Period
Teachers
1890
Daniel Armenius Wickware (all grades)
1891
Minnie Hoffman (junior grades, Spring), Daniel Armenius Wickware (senior grades, Spring; all grades, Fall)
1892
Calista Post (junior grades), Daniel Armenius Wickware (senior grades)
1893
John Silas Poole (senior grades), Nellie R. Scott, Sadie Scott (Fall), Sara Scott (Spring)
1894
John Silas Poole (senior grades), Nellie R. Scott, S. Scott (Fall), Sarah Scott (Spring)
1895
John Silas Poole (senior grades), Nellie R. Scott, S. Scott
1896
Margaret Brown (senior grades, Fall), John Silas Poole (senior grades, Spring), Nellie R. Scott, S. Scott, T. J. Smith
1897
Mabel Maumwell? (Fall), Margaret Brown (senior grades), Nellie R. Scott (Spring), Sadie Scott, T. J. Smith (Spring), Carrie Maud Yuill (Fall)
1898
Edith E. Breen (Spring), Margaret Brown (senior grades, Spring), R. J. Cooke (Fall), M. A. Godley (Fall), Hilda Johnston (Fall), S. Scott, Carrie Maud Yuill (Spring)
1899
Roscoe Yeo Conklin (senior grades, Fall), R. J. Cooke (senior grades, Spring), Maude Davidson (Spring), Maude Mawhinney, William J. Mactavish [McTavish?] (Fall), Sarah Scott
1900
Roscoe Yeo Conklin (senior grades, Spring), Alfred W. Garratt, Maude Mawhinney, William J. Mactavish [McTavish?], Edward Howson Walker (senior grades, Fall)
1901
Alfred W. Garratt (Spring), Jean A. Gunn (Fall), Minnie Irving, Maude Mawhinney (Spring), William J. Mactavish [McTavish?] (Spring), W. A. McClelland (Fall), Edward Howson Walker
1902
E. M. Craig, Minnie J. Irving, Cecil Lorne St. John, Edward Howson Walker (senior grades)
1903
(records not available) ?
1904
(records not available) ?
1905
Jacob Braun (Fall), Edith M. Carruthers (Spring), John H. Conklin (senior grades, Spring), Ludwig Erk (Spring), Lena Gayton (Fall), Florence M. Nixon, David Smith Tod (senior grades, Fall), Edward Howson Walker (senior grades, Spring), Josephine G. Wahn (Spring)
1906
Jacob Braun (grades 2-3, January-June), Lena Gayton (grade 1, January-June; grades 2-3, September-December), Florence M. Nixon (grades 3-5), Norman Benson Tufts (grades 6-8), Josephine G. Wahn (grade 1, September-December)
1907
Annie Krause (grade 1), Florence M. Nixon (grades 3-5), Norman Benson Tufts (grades 6-8), Josephine G. Wahn (grades 2-3)
1908
Mary E. Armstrong (grades 3-5), Thomas Flood Elmes (grades 6-8, September-December), Annie Krause (grades 1-2), Norman Benson Tufts (grades 6-8, January-June)
1909
Thomas Flood Elmes (grades 6-8, January-June), Bessie R. Hoffman (grades 2-3, January-June), Annie Krause (grade 1), William Martin (grades 5-8, September-December), Ruth C. Milton (grade 4?, January-June), Clifford Knox Rogers (grade 4?, January-June), Josephine G. Wahn (grades 2-3, September-December)
1910
Annie Krause (grade 1), William Martin (grades 5-8), Ruth C. Milton (grades 3-4), Josephine G. Wahn (grades 2-3)
1911
Agnes Nairn Horn (grades 4-5, January-June), Annie Krause (grades 1-2, January-June; grade 1, September-December), William Martin (grades 7-8), Annie G. Milton (grades 4-6, September-December), Stella G. Snelgrove (grades 2-3, September-December), Josephine G. Wahn (grades 2-3, January-June)
1912
(January-June only): Annie Krause (grade 1), Martha Krause (grades 2-3), William Martin (grades 8-10), Annie G. Milton (grades 4-5)
1912-1913
Annie Krause (grade 1), Martha Krause (grades 2-3), Joseph MacLennan (grades 8-11), Annie G. Milton (grades 4-5)
1913-1914
Annie Krause (grades 1-2), Martha Krause (grades 3-4), Joseph MacLennan (grades 8-11), Annie G. Milton (grades 5-6)
1914-1915
Annie Krause (grade 1, August-December; grades 1-2, January-June), Martha Krause (grades 2-3), Joseph MacLennan (grades 8-11), Helen G. Wilmot (grades 4-7)
1915-1916
Gladys M. Irving (grades 2-4), Annie Krause (grade 1), Joseph MacLennan (grades 8-11), Helen G. Wilmot (grades 4-6)
1916-1917
Gladys M. Irving (grades 2-3), Annie Krause (grade 1), Joseph MacLennan (grades 8-9, August-December), Alexander “Alex” Russell (grades 8-9, January-February), Margaret Wahn (grades 8-9, March-June), Helen G. Wilmot (grades 4-7)
1917-1918
Gladys M. Irving (grades 2-3), Annie Krause (grade 1), Wilfred Almon Rideout (grades 8-10), Helen G. Wilmot (grades 4-6)
1918-1919
(school closed November-December due to influenza) Reta M. Babb (grades 4-6, September-December), Benjamin Hodkinson (grades 8-11), Gladys M. Irving (grades 2-3), Nelly L. King (grades 4-6, January-June), Annie Krause (grade 1)
1919-1920
Vera G. Cramm (grades 2-3, January-June), Benjamin Hodkinson (grades 8-12), Nelly L. King (grades 4-6, September-December), Annie Krause (grade 1), Phyllis M. Rea (grades 2-3, September-December), Ella S. Zinek (grades 4-6, January; grades 4-5, February-June)
1920-1921
Vera G. Cramm (grades 2-3), Grace W. Graham (grades 8-9, April-June), Annie Krause (grade 1), Clarence Record (grades 8-12, September-December; grades 8-9, January-March), George E. Walkof (grades 4-6)
1921-1922
Gladys E. Findlay (grades 4-6), Annie Krause (grade 1), Alice M. Pieper (grades 2-3), George E. Walkof (grades 8-10)
1922-1923
Frances H. Creighton (grades 1 & 3), Mary Derksen (grades 2-3, January-June), Kate Forrest (grades 9-11), Alice M. Pieper (grades 2-3, September-December), George E. Walkof (grades 4-7)
1923-1924
Vivian H. Durden (grades 3-4), Kate Forrest (grades 9-11), Alma F. Hanna (grades 1-2, September-April), George E. Walkof (grades 5-8), Margaret Vant (grades 1-2, May-June)
1924-1925
Peter S. Buhr (grades 9-11), Bethel A. Graham (grades 3-4), Marie Klassen (grades 1-2), George E. Walkof (grades 5-8)
1925-1926
John G. Feller (grades 6-7, January-June), Bethel A. Graham (grades 3-5), Marie Klassen (grades 1-2), Gerhard G. Neufeld (grades 9-11), Daniel Windsor (grades 5-7, September-December)
1926-1927
John G. Feller (grades 5-8), Annie Krause (grades 1-2), Gerhard G. Neufeld (grades 9-11), Marie Klassen Wall (grades 3-4)
1927-1928
John G. Feller (grades 5-8), Annie Krause (grades 1-2), Gerhard G. Neufeld (grades 9-11), Marie Klassen Wall (grades 3-4)
1928-1929
John G. Feller (grades 5-8), Helen Janzen (grades 3-4), Annie Krause (grades 1-2), Gerhard G. Neufeld (grades 9-10)
1929-1930
Peter Brown (grades 8-11), Kaethe M. D. Carstens (grades 5-7), Helen Janzen (grades 2-4), Annie Krause (grades 1-2)
1930-1931
Peter Brown (grades 8-11), Doreen Bernice Handel (grades 5-8), Helen Janzen (grades 2-4), Annie Krause (grades 1-2)
1931-1932
Albert Orde Anderson (grades 5-7), Peter Brown (grades 8-11), Helen Janzen (grades 3-4), Annie Krause (grades 1-2)
1932-1933
Thomas Duncan Anderson (grades 5-8), Peter Brown (grades 9-11), Helen Janzen (grades 3-4, September-October; grades 3-5, October-June), Annie Krause (grades 1-2)
1933-1934
Thomas Duncan Anderson (grades 6-8), Peter Brown (grades 9-11), Helen Janzen (grades 3-5), Annie Krause (grades 1-3)
1934-1935
Thomas Duncan Anderson (grades 6-8), Peter Brown (grades 9-11), Helen Janzen (grades 3-5), Annie Krause (grades 1-2)
1935-1936
Thomas Duncan Anderson (grades 6-8), Peter Brown (grades 9-11), Helen Janzen (grades 3-5), Annie Krause (grades 1-2)
1936-1937
Thomas Duncan Anderson (grades 6-8), Peter Brown (grades 9-11), Helen Janzen (grades 3-5), Annie Krause (grades 1-2)
1937-1938
Thomas Duncan Anderson (grades 6-8), Peter Brown (grades 9-11), Helen Janzen (grades 3-5), Annie Krause (grades 1-2)
1938-1939
Thomas Duncan Anderson (grades 6-8), Peter Brown (grades 9-11), Maxine Curran (grades 3-5), Annie Krause (grades 1-2)
1939-1940
Thomas Duncan Anderson (grades 6-8), Peter Brown (grades 9-11), Vera Laurie Johnston (grades 3-5), Annie Krause (grades 1-2)
1940-1941
Peter Brown (grades 9-11), Catherine Elizabeth Campbell (grades 1-2, September-December), Leona M. Fallis (grades 6-8, September-December), Dorothy Elizabeth Campbell Grainger (grades 1-2, January-June), Hermine Little (grades 3-5), William Harvey Van Sickle (grades 6-8, January-June)
1941-1942
Minnie Rose Bily (grades 3-5, January-June), Peter Brown (grades 9-11), Florence Mary Cullen (grades 6-8, September-December), Dorothy Elizabeth Campbell Grainger (grades 1-3), Hermine Little (grades 4-5, September-December; grades 6-8, January-June), William Harvey Van Sickle (grades 6-8, September)
1942-1943
Minnie Rose Bily (grades 4-5), Bertha Mae Elliot (grades 1-3), Isaac M. Fast (grades 6-7, September-May), Minnie Isenberg (grades 6-7, May-June), Melbourne Walmsley (grades 9-11)
1943-1944
Minnie Rose Bily (grades 4-5), Minnie Isenberg (grades 6-8), Betty Jane Smith (grades 1-3), Melbourne Walmsley (grades 9-11)
1944-1945
Minnie Rose Bily (grades 3-5), Mae Milne (grades 6-8), Betty Jane Smith (grades 1-2), Melbourne Walmsley (grades 9-11)
1945-1946
Minnie Rose Bily (grades 3-5), Mae Milne (grades 6-8), Betty Jane Smith (grades 1-2), Melbourne Walmsley (grades 9-11)
1946-1947
Minnie Rose Bily (grades 3-5), Vilborg Breckman (grades 1-2), Kate Klassen (grades 6-8), Melbourne Walmsley (grades 9-11)
1947-1948
Vilborg Breckman (grades 1-2), William Conway Davison (grades 6-8), Marie L. Friesen (grades 3-5), Melbourne Walmsley (grades 9-11)
1948-1949
Vilborg Breckman (grades 1-2), William Conway Davison (grades 6-8), Frances Hazel Madill (grades 3-5), Melbourne Walmsley (grades 9-11)
1949-1950
Vilborg Breckman (grades 1-2), William Conway Davison (grades 6-8), Douglas Gordon Pomeroy (grades 9-11), Catherine Elizabeth Shearer (grades 3-5)
1950-1951
Vilborg Breckman (grades 1-2), Douglas Gordon Pomeroy (grades 9-11), Catherine Elizabeth Shearer (grades 3-5), Jacob A. Thiessen (grades 6-8)
1951-1952
Vilborg Breckman (grades 1-2), Agatha Loeppky (grades 3-5), Douglas Gordon Pomeroy (grades 9-11), Rudolf Aron Schulz (grades 6-8)
1952-1953
Vilborg Breckman (grades 1-2), Agatha Loeppky (grades 3-4), Douglas Gordon Pomeroy (grades 9-11), Rudolf Aron Schulz (grades 7-8), David Winter (grades 5-6)
1953-1954
Joan Axelson (grades 5-6), Vilborg Breckman (grades 1-2), Jake Enns (grades 7-8), Esther Heinrichs (grades 3-4), David Winter (grades 9-11)
1954-1955
Joan Axelson (grades 5-6, September-October; grades 4-5, November-June), Vilborg Breckman (grades 1-2, September-October; grade 1, November-June), Jake Enns (grades 7-8, September-October; grades 6-8, November-June), Mary Toews (grades 3-4, September-October; grades 2-3, November-June), David Winter (grades 9-11)
1955-1956
Clayton William Allen (grades 6-8), Vilborg Breckman (grade 1), David M. Frisen (grades 4-5), Joseph “Joe” Shygol (grades 9-11), Elsie Tiessen (grades 2-3)
1956-1957
Vilborg Breckman (grade 1), John Dyck (grades 9-11), David M. Frisen (grades 4-5), Lily Schoenrath (grades 2-3), Jacob C. Winters (grades 6-8)
1957-1958
Vilborg Breckman (grades 1-2), John Dyck (grades 9-11), David M. Frisen (grades 5-6), Nettie Loewen (grades 3-4), Jacob C. Winters (grades 7-8)
1958-1959
Vilborg Breckman (grades 1-2, August-October; grade 1, October-June), John Dyck (grades 9-11), Susann Enns (grades 2-3, October-June), Edward Peter Falk (grades 7-8), David M. Frisen (grades 5-6), Patricia R. Pye (grades 3-4)
1959-1960
Vilborg Breckman (grade 1), John Bruckner (grades 9-10), Frank F. Enns (grade 11), Susann Enns (grades 2-3), Edward Peter Falk (grades 7-8), David M. Frisen (grades 5-6), Patricia R. Pye (grades 3-4)
1960-1961
Katherine Bernice Dyck (grades 3-4), Frank Elias (grade 9), Frank F. Enns (grades 10-11), Susann Enns (grades 6-7), David M. Frisen (grades 4-5), Evelyn Marie Harder (grade 2), Justina E. Hildebrandt (grade 1), Herman Isaac (grades 7-8)
1961-1962
Frank F. Enns (grades 10-11), Susann Enns (grade 6), Irene Fehr (grades 4-5, September-December), Judith Anne Frisen (grade 2), Susan Hildebrandt (grades 5-6, April-June), Herman Isaac (grades 7-8), John George Klassen (grade 9), Patricia Dianne Mann (grade 1), Marilyn Elda Thiessen (grade 3), David Isaac “Dave” Tiessen (grades 4-5, December-April)
1962-1963
Frank F. Enns (grades 10-11), Susann Enns (grade 9), Judith Anne Frisen (grade 4), Herman Isaac (grade 8), Patricia Dianne Mann (grades 2-3), Ruth Mary Sawatsky (grades 5-6), Jake E. Schroeder (grade 7), Kate Esther “Katie” Tiessen (grades 1-2)
1963-1964
Frank F. Enns (grade 11), Susann Enns (grade 10), Judith Anne Frisen (grade 4), Margaret Rose Froese (grades 1-2), Herman Isaac (grades 7-8), Gustav “Gus” Pokrant (grade 9), Ruth Mary Sawatsky (grade 5), Jake E. Schroeder (grades 6-7), Kate Esther “Katie” Tiessen (grades 2-3)
1964-1965
Margaret Rose Froese (grade 1), Herman Isaac (grades 7-8), Johnny David Peters (grade 5), Susan Irene Peters (grades 2-3), Mary Anne Schroeder (grades 3-4)
1965-1966
John Cornelius Braun (grades 5-6), Wanda Iris Dyck (grades 2-3, September-April), Jacob J. Enns (grades 4-5), Margaret Rose Froese Klassen (grades 1-2), Susan Irene Peters (grades 2-3, April-June), Joseph G. Plett (grade 8), Janet Don Roddick (kindergarten), Rudolph Dietrich Thiessen (grade 7)
1966-1967
John Cornelius Braun (grade 7), Alfred George Enns (grade 6), Carolyn Grace “Carol” Funk (grade 1), Margaret Rose Froese Klassen (grade 4), Carolyn Donalda Loewen (grade 5), Marion Loewen (grade 2), Joseph G. Plett (grade 8), Janet Don Roddick (kindergarten), Margarethe Eugenia Wall (grade 3)
1967-1968
Bill Bergman (grade 6), John Cornelius Braun (grade 8), Alfred George Enns (grade 7), Carolyn Grace “Carol” Funk (grade 4), Jolane Helen Hildebrand (kindergarten, September-June), Marion Loewen (grade 2), Susie Peters (grade 1), Janet Don Roddick (kindergarten, August-September), Carol Dianne Schroeder (grade 5), Margarethe Eugenia Wall (grade 3)
The original Gretna School building (1884)
Source: Peter Penner (Altona and District Heritage Research Centre)
The second Gretna School building (1892)
Source: Peter Penner (Altona and District Heritage Research Centre)
Gretna School No. 336 (circa 1910)
Source: Archives of Manitoba, School Inspectors Photographs, GR2664, C65.
The third Gretna School building (1911)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough, 2016-0006
Gretna Peace Bell on the site of the third Gretna School (January 2012)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough
Gretna Peace Bell on the site of the third Gretna School (July 2023)
Source: Glen Toews
The fourth Gretna School, built in 1957 (no date)
Source: Peter Penner (Altona and District Heritage Research Centre)
Gretna School (June 2024)
Source: Rose KuzinaSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.00687, W97.56590
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Mennonite Collegiate Institute (Gretna, Municipality of Rhineland)
“The Indian famine fund,” Winnipeg Tribune, 4 March 1897, page 4.
“Teachers wanted,” Manitoba Morning Free Press, 6 August 1900, page 9.
“Personal [Roscoe Yeo Conklin],” Manitoba Morning Free Press, 18 September 1900, page 6.
“Tenders,” Manitoba Free Press, 2 May 1911, page 2.
Annual Reports of the Manitoba Department of Education, Manitoba Legislative Library.
“Gretna, Man.,” Western Canada Fire Underwriters’ Association map, March 1912, Archives of Manitoba.
“Arlington Board of Trade head dies [Roscoe Yeo Conklin],” Boston Post, 9 February 1920, page 3.
Black & Gold, Gretna School, 1937. [Legislative Library of Manitoba, F5649.G74 Gre]
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.
Board of Education registers (A 0050), GR7643, Archives of Manitoba.
Summative half-yearly returns for school districts (A 0051), GR0571, Archives of Manitoba.
Board of Education meeting minutes and office files (A 0052), GR1622, Archives of Manitoba.
School division half-yearly attendance reports (E 0757), Archives of Manitoba.
Manitoba School Records Collection, Gretna School District No. 336 - Daily Registers, GR2656, Archives of Manitoba.
Winnipeg estate files (ATG 0025A), #7960 - Ambrose William Stock, GR0170, Archives of Manitoba.
We thank Al Schmidt (Altona and District Heritage Research Centre), Peter Penner, Marie Dueck, Glen Toews, and Rose Kuzina for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer and Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 9 December 2024
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