Historic Sites of Manitoba: Old High Bluff School No. 13 (RM of Portage la Prairie)

High Bluff School was established at this site in 1859 with John Norquay as its teacher. The school was destroyed by fire in 1876. A new school was built in 1879 and was called High Bluff No. 13, becoming Old High Bluff School when the High Bluff Village School No. 771 was formed. The school was replaced by a new structure in 1893. It closed permanently in 1963, merging with Cochrane School No. 43, North High Bluff School No. 23, Flee Island School No. 527, Portage Creek School No. 505, and High Bluff Village School No. 771 to become High Bluff Consolidated School No. 2418. The building was sold and used as a private residence.

Some of the teachers who worked at Old High Bluff School through the years were John Norquay, Mr. Gerrond, Mary Bell, K. Hammond, Annie M. Cole, Winnie E. Jeffery, Millie Tweddle, Violet Y. Wilton, Lens J. Grant, A. G. Huskins, Kennina M. McKay, May Tidsbury, Ethel Rowley, Vida Lloyd, Ellen Cook, Miss Limbrick, I. Steen, R. G. Joseph, Sylvia G. Olson, Phyllis McKay, Colena Muir, Bernice Nixon, Annie Cruickshank, Marion P. Wilkes, Kathleen Trimble, Sally Williamson Hicks, E. Martins, Miss Clark, Gwendalyn Lewis, Shoemaker, John Jackson, Mrs. Duchny, Vera Arrell, Mrs. V. M. Prestash, Mrs. M. Rutledge, Franz Solmundson, Mary Rutledge, Ethel M. Mathews, and Ethel Tidsbury.

Old High Bluff School (no date) by A. B. Fallis Source: Archives of Manitoba, School Inspectors Photographs, GR8461, A0233, C131-1, page 9. Old High Bluff School commemorative sign (2010) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.993140, W98.149190 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.

Rural Schools of Portage la Prairie School Division #24 by Muriel Wright, 1996.

We thank Shirley Christianson for providing information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 10 February 2021

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!