Historic Sites of Manitoba: Margaret Scott School / Isaac Newton School No. 2 (Alfred Avenue, Winnipeg)

Link to:
Principals | Vice-Principals | Teachers | Photos & Coordinates | Sources

In 1920, with the population of the Winnipeg’s North End growing rapidly, the Winnipeg School Board purchased a block of land on Arlington Street, between Alfred and Aberdeen avenues. Later that year, day labourers under the supervision of the Sutherland Construction Company erected a one-storey school designed by local architect John Nelson Semmens, comprising 15 classrooms and an assembly hall, at a cost of $127,000. When the school opened in September 1920, it was named for nurse Margaret Scott.

A portrait unveiling ceremony was held on 25 February 1921, wherein Mrs. R. T. Riley, President of the Margaret Scott Nursing Mission, unveiled a brass-framed and life-sized crayon portrait of Scott and presented it to School Board Chairman William John Bulman. Mrs. Scott, also in attendance, was presented with a bouquet of roses. Amongst the crowd of prominent citizens in attendance were senior district trustee Richard R. Knox and Mayor Edward Parnell.

On 18 June 1957, the School Board announced that henceforth the school would operate as a part of the nearby Isaac Newton High School, which was converted into a Junior High School and called Isaac Newton School No. 1. Margaret Scott School took the name Isaac Newton School No. 2, with administration by the Vice-Principal of Isaac Newton School. The school also hosted staggered classes for students from Sisler High School prior to that school’s completion in the fall of 1957.

Plans as of June 1961 called for Isaac Newton School No. 2 to be replaced in 1962 but these designs failed to materialize. The school stood empty and was informally decommissioned following recommendations Oto the board that it was “structurally unsound.” Administrators authorized its demolition without consultation with the Board. Early stages of demolition took place in 1963. Doors, some classroom fixtures, and washroom elements were removed for use in other facilities and a large hole was cut by contractors in the ceiling and walls to facilitate access. Meanwhile, a petition of 500 local residents was collected and presented to the Board. Demolition was halted and the building was ordered repaired and returned to operational status. The school was given back its original name and it reopened to students in the fall of 1963.

In January 1990, the school was badly in need of renovation but the School Board would not commit the necessary resources. Instead, the school was closed and its remaining students were transferred to nearby Isaac Newton School. The building was demolished in June 1990 and its fomer site is now a public playground.

Principals

Period	Principal
1920-1921	Arthur Victor Balam Lamont (1887-1937)
1921-1931	Arthur Bailey (1885-?)
1931-1937	William Wallace Pierce (1880-1965)
1937-1941	Verne Henry Essery (1887-1973)
1941-1945	Frank Crossley Davey (1894-1982)
1945-1947	Victor Norman Riddle (1897-1952)
1947-1952	Arthur Foster Brown (1900-1996)
1952-1955	Wallace Henry McIntyre (1904-1960)
1955-1957	John Hiram Armstrong (1900-1966)
1957-?	See Vice-Principals of Isaac Newton School
?-1963	School closed
1963-1966	John Arthur Lionel Holmes (1913-1968)
1966-1970	William James “Bill” McKee (1929-2021)
1970-1972	Leslie Leopold “Les” Kolt (c1928-2004)
1972-1973	J. W. Hughes
1973-1983	Henry Andrew Moroz (1924-2008)
1983-1989	Don J. Soutter

Teachers

School Year	Teachers
1920-1921	Miss Hamilton (music)
1921-1922	V. Armstrong, R. Black, J. M. Drydon, A. Cross, E. J. Hamilton, Mary Kerr, M. A. Moore, I. Milhusen, K. McCallum, B. McDonnell, M. Sherrin, I. Wallace
1922-1923	V. M. Armstrong, J. M. Brydon, E. Black, A. Cross, E. J. Hamilton, M. Kerr, I. Milhausen, A. Moore, K. A. McLeod, B. McDonald, K. McCallum, L. M. Ormand, M. Sherrin, I. Wallace
1923-1924	V. F. Armstrong, J. M. Brydon, A. Cross, E. J. Hamilton, I. Milhausen, M. A. Moore, K. McCallum, B. McDonnell, K. McLeod, L. M. Ormond, I. Schmok, I. Wallace
1924-1925	V. F. Armstrong, J. M. Brydon, D. Beech, A. Cross, Miss Freda Halparin, E. J. Hamilton, I. Malhausen, M. A. Moore, K. McCllum, B. McDonnell, F. McLeod, K. McLeod, I. Schmok, I. Wallace
1925-1926	D. Beech, M. E. Barker, A. Cross, V. F. Armstrong, E. J. Hamilton, Miss Freda Halparin, K. McCallum, I. Milhausen, B. McDonnell, A. E. Moore, F. McLeo, K. McLeod, I. Schmok, I. Wallace
1926-1927	M. E. Barker, D. Beech, A. Cross, E. Flanders, Miss Freda Halparin, K. McCallum, F. McLeod, B. McDonnell, A. Moore, K. McLeod, D. McLean, D. Newton, M. Sparling, I. Schmok
1927-1928	M. E. Barker, D. Beech, A. Cross, E. Flanders, Miss Freda Halparin, A. Moore, D. McLean, K. McLeod, B. McDonnell, K. McCallum, D. Newton, M. Sparling
1928-1929	M. E. Barker, D. Beech, E. Flanders, Miss Freda Halparin, I. Jeffries, K. McCallum, B. McDonnell, K. McLeod, D. Newton, M. B. Sparling, B. McDonald
1929-1930	E. Cross, M. R. Haves, Miss Freda Halparin, I. Jeffries, B. MacDonald, B. McDonnell, R. Soronow, H. Smith
1930-1931	C. Cohen, E. Cross, S. Goodman, Miss Freda Halparin, I. Hichliffe, B. Macdonald, B. McDonnell, L. Pearlman, H. Smith, R. Soronow
1931-1932	E. Cross, I. Hinchliffe, Miss Freda Halparin, Olga Lesik, B. McDonnell, B. McDonald, L. Pearlman, R. Soronow, S. Goodman, H. Smith
1932-1933	E. R. Aitkenhead, E. Cross, S. Goodman, Miss Freda Halparin, I. Hinchliffe, Olga Lesik, B. McDonnell, L. Pearlman, R. Soronow, H. Smith
1933-1934	C. O. Lloyd, E. Cross, S. Goodman, I. Hinchliffe, Miss Freda Halparin, Olga Lesik, B. McDonnell, L. Pearlman, H. Smith, R. Soronow
1934-1935	C. O. Boyd, E. Cross, S. Goodman, Miss Freda Halparin, I. Hinchliffe, Olga Lesik, B. McDonnell, L. Pearlman, H. Smith, R. Soronow
1935-1936	C. O. Boyd, E. Cross, S. Goodman, Miss Freda Halparin, I. Hinchliffe, Olga Lesik, B. McDonnell, L. Pearlman, H. Smith, Sybil Francis Shack
1936-1937	C. O. Boyd, M. Corbould, E. Cross, Miss Freda Halparin, Olga Lesik, B. McDonnell. L. Pearlman, M. Ritchie, O. Sask, Sybil Francis Shack
1937-1938	C. O. Boyd, E. Cross, F. Dickson, Miss Freda Halparin, Olga Lesik, B. McDonnell, R. O’Neill, L. Pearlman, M. A. Ritchie, O. Sask, Sybil Francis Shack
1938-1939	C. O. Boyd, E. Cross, F. Dickson, Olga Lesik, B. McDonnell, R. O’Neill, M. A. Ritchie, O. E. Sask, Sybil Francis Shack, E. Wasserman
1939-1940	C. O. Boyd, E. Cross, F. Dickson, Olga Lesik, B. McDonnell, R. O’Neill, M. A. Ritchie, O. E. Sask, Sybil Francis Shack
1940-1941	M. E. Bentley, C. G.Boyd, I. E. Church, E. A. Cross, F. Dickson, Olga Lesik, B. McDonnell, R. O’Neill, M. A. Ritchie, O. E. Sask, Sybil Francis Shack, J. Burnside (Industrial Arts)
1941-1942	M. E. Bentley, C. O. Boyd, E. A. Cross, F. Dickson, Olga Lesik, B. McDonnell, R. O’Neill, M. A. Riotchie, Sybil Francis Shack
1942-1943	C. O. Boyd, E. A. Cross, F. Dickson, E. Fraser, B. McDonell, E. Krell
1943-1944	E. Cross, C. Greenway, B. McDonald, B. Protasiewich, G. Shepherd
1944-1945	E. Cross, E. Cummings, M. Larson, B. McDonnell, M. McIntyre, B. Protasiewich, G. Shepherd, G. Walby
1945-1946	C. Campbell, E. Cross, E. Cummings, E. Harvey, M. Larson, B. McDonnell, G. Shepherd, L. Stratychuk, G. Walbey
1946-1947	E. Cross, E. Cummings, M. Larson, B. McDonnell, Eva Mae Harvey “Eve” Muldrew, A. Nekoriak, G. Shepherd, L. Stratychuk, P. Whiteacre
1947-1948	E. Cross, H. Crowe, E. Cumming, Teresa Demchuk, H. Fast, D. Fraser, M. Larson, B. McDonnell, Eva Mae Harvey “Eve” Muldrew, G. Shepherd, P. Whiteacre, I. C. Pelk
1948-1949	Miss E. Cross, Mrs. E. Cumming, Miss L. Danychuk, Miss D. Fraser, Miss M. Larson, Miss M. Masson, Miss B. McDonnell, Mrs. A. O. Nazerovich, Miss G. L. Nielser, Miss I. C. Polk, Miss G. Shepherd
1949-1950	Miss E. Cross, Mrs. E. Cummings, Miss L. Danylchuk, Miss D. Coplin, Mrs. E. M. Henderson, Miss M. Larson, Miss C. D. McQuarrie, Miss M. Masson, Miss G. Parker, Mrs. E. Sharkey
1950-1951	Miss E. Cross, Mrs. E. Cumming, Miss C. E. Gray, Miss D. Coplin, Mrs. E. M. Henderson, Miss M. Masson, Miss C. D. McQuarrie, Miss C. L. Neilson, Mrs. A. Sucharov, Miss O. Wozniak
1951-1952	Miss E. Cross, Mrs. E. Cumming, Miss D. Goplin, Miss G. E. Gray, Mrs. E. N. Henderson, Miss M. E. Henselwood, Mrs. L. Kobrinsky, Miss M. Masson, Miss G. Nielen, Mrs. A. Sucharov, Miss O. Wozniak
1952-1953	Miss E. Cross, Miss D. Goplin, Miss G. E. Gray, Mrs. L. Kobrinsky, Mrs. A. Lyons, Miss M. Masson, Miss G. Nielsen, G. H. Phillips, Mrs. A. Sucharov, Miss O. Wozniak
1953-1954	Miss E. Cross, Miss D. Goplin, Mrs. G. Brown, Mrs. L. Kobrinsky, Mrs. A. Lyons, Miss M. Masson, G. H. Phillips, Mrs. E. Steer, Mrs. A. Sucharov, Miss O. Wozniak
1954-1955	Mrs. A. Bell, Borislaw Nicholas Bilash, Mrs. C. D. Brown, Miss G. DeVries, Miss R. Dubovsky, Miss D. Goplin, Miss R. I. King, Mrs. L. Kobrinsky, Miss L. Langford, Miss M. Masson, Miss J. Mozel, Mrs. E. Steer
1955-1956	Mrs. A. Bell, Miss R. Dubovsky, Miss D. Goplin, Mrs. T. Kerr, Miss R. King, Mrs. L. Kobrinsky, Miss L. Langford, Miss M. Meder, Miss D. Moody, Miss H. Penner, V. Pruden, Miss E. Wall
1956-1957	Mrs. A. Bell, Miss R. Dubovsky, Miss M. Huband, Miss M. Karpetz, Mrs. T. Kerr, Miss L. Langford, Miss D. Lucas, Miss E. Maza, Miss M. Meder, Miss D. Moody, Miss H. Penner, Miss S. Sisler, Miss J. Sparrow, Miss G. Staples, Miss E. Wall
1957-?	See Isaac Newton School
?-1963	School closed
1963-1964	P. Bodnaruk, Miss J. Kulchyski, Miss N. Loewen, Mrs. S. McCullough, Mrs. E. Stange, A. Thiessen, Miss J. Wanless, Mrs. D. A. Wiend, Miss L. Wylie
1964-1965	P. Bodnaruk, Mrs. M. Harrison, Miss D. Kosakwich, Mrs. S. McCullough, Miss B. A. Roe, Miss C. Van Morlehem, Miss J. Wanless, Mrs. D. Wiend, Miss J. Wylie
1965-1966	P. Bodnaruk, Mrs. B. Gowan, Mrs. H. Harrison, Miss D. Kosakwich, Mrs. S. McCullough, Mrs. P. Podruski, Mrs. J. Trump, Mrs. D. Wiend, Miss J. Wylie
1966-1967	P. Bodnaruk, Mrs. M. Harrison, Miss D. Kosakwich, Mrs. S. McCullough, Mrs. R. K. Porduski, Miss D. Romanik, Mrs. J. Shackleford, Mrs. M. Spryszak, Mrs. J. Trump
1967-1968	P. Bodnaruk, Miss B. Foskett, Mrs. D. Gair, Miss H. Gonske, Mrs. M. Harrison, Miss R. Kahana, Miss I. Kruk, Miss E. Ostrove, Mrs. H. Pegg, Mrs. R. Podruski, Miss D. Romanik, E. Russin, Mrs. Mae Evelyn Spryszak (grade 1)
1968-1969	P. Bodnaruk, G. Emberly, Miss H. Gonske (kindergarten), F. Kawat, Mrs. P. Kirk, Miss M. MacDonald, Mrs. N. Nordlinger, Miss H. Overgaard, Mrs. J. Pessah, Mrs. R. Podruski, Miss D. Romanik, Mrs. E. Sokolow, Mrs. Mae Evelyn Spryszak (grade 2), A. Miki
1969-1970	Ms. D. E. Aftanas (grade 3), Mrs. R. Podruski, ?
1970-1971	Ms. E. C. Kereliuk (grades 1-2), Ms. R. McMillan (grade 4), Mrs. R. Podruski, ?
1971-1972	Mrs. Claire Soloudre MacKenzie (grade 5), Ms. R. McMillan (grade 3), Mrs. R. Podruski, ?
1972-1973	Mrs. B. Poworoznyk (grade 4), Mrs. R. Podruski, , Mr. R. Woroniak (grade 6), ?
1973-1974	Mrs. R. Podruski (grade 5), Mr. R. Woroniak (grade 6), ?
1974-1975	George E. Johnston (grade 6), Mr. R. Woroniak (grade 6), ?

Among the other teachers of Margaret Scott School was Eleanor A. Weselake Olynyk (French, Guidance, and Music, ?-1974).

Photos & Coordinates

Margaret Scott School (1920) Source: Winnipeg School Board, Annual Report 1920, Legislative Library of Manitoba. Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.92327, W97.15386 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Memorable Manitobans: John Nelson Semmens (1879-1960)

Manitoba Business: Sutherland Construction Company

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Isaac Newton School (730 Aberdeen Avenue, Winnipeg)

Sources:

“Portrait unveiled,” Manitoba Free Press, 26 February 1921, page 9.

“Winnipeg schools, No. 41—Margaret Scott,” Manitoba Free Press, 2 December 1922, page 18.

“Two schools - one name,” Winnipeg Free Press, 19 June 1957, page 3.

“To convert Newton into Junior High,” Winnipeg Free Press, 28 August 1957, page 3.

“You’ll have your school, parents told,” Winnipeg Free Press, 7 June 1961, page 3.

“Isaac Newton High prepares for its 40th anniversary,” Winnipeg Free Press, February 1962, page 70.

“‘Unsound’ school bldg. to be used,” Winnipeg Free Press, 5 June 1963, page 1.

“School,” Winnipeg Free Press, 5 June 1963, page 10.

“School posts filled,” Winnipeg Free Press, 5 May 1973, page 74.

Obituary [Eleanor A. Weselake Olynyk (1909-1981)], Winnipeg Free Press, 13 November 1981, page 29.

Obituary [Eva Mae Harvey “Eve” Muldrew (c1923-1984)], Winnipeg Free Press, 5 July 1984, page 40.

“School succumbs to wrecker’s ball,” Winnipeg Free Press, 3 June 1990, page 38.

We thank the Winnipeg School Division and Brian Wowk for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 19 July 2023

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