Historic Sites of Manitoba: Melita School No. 440 / Antler River Museum (41 Ash Street, Melita)

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

The museum occupies the former building of the Melita Consolidated School No. 440 in the Town of Melita. Constructed in 1893, on a design by architect Walter Henderson Shillinglaw, it was a four-room school with its main entrance on the south side. Four more rooms, designed by architect William Alexander Elliott were added in 1905 and brick veneer was added later by contractor John James Morrow. Cornerstones are located in the south and northwest corners of the building.

Through the years, the rural schools that consolidated with it included Bede School No. 1683, Brown School No. 625, Chesterfield School No. 408, Dobbyn School No. 986, Peninsula School No. 907, Sourisford School No. 906, and West Brenda School No. 388.

On the grounds in front of the museum is a bell cast in 1910 bearing the names of Melita municipal officials that year: Mayor Robert Mowbray Graham; councillors R. McB. McKay, T. S. Menarry, T. W. Oxley, W. Griffith, and James Robertson; and secretary-treasurer and constable John Graves. Nearby is a plaque commemorating those from Melita School killed in the First World War, and a plaque describing the ancient Aboriginal traders of southern Manitoba, erected by the Manitoba Heritage Council. Also on the grounds is a small outbuilding housing the Fred Jensen collection of mounted animal specimens.

Exhibits inside the museum include:

• Old-time picture room with walls covered in photographs of Melita and the surrounding country
• Aboriginal heritage room with an extensive collection of projectile points, baskets, grinders, stone hammers, dioramas, and more
• Rural school room recreating a turn-of-the-century, one-room school with desks, pot-bellied stove, water cooler, readers, textbooks and library
• Pioneer home room circa 1900 with furniture and articles in the parlour, dining room, bedroom, kitchen, and back shed
• Military room containing uniforms, badges, medals and equipment used in two world wars, and a memorial to those killed in them
• Main floor corridor with agricultural exhibits including an 1881 breaking plow, sleigh with buffalo robe, saws, axes, farm tools, and the first linotype machine used by a newspaper in Western Canada
• Wildlife exhibit containing over 300 specimens of mounted birds, egs, and other animals
• Art gallery of work by local artists from the surrounding community
• Antiques room containing many items used in earlier times
• Community history room including exhibits on organizations that have operated in the district, including the Browns Fastball Club, Masons (Oriental Lodge No. 54), IOOF (Lodge No. 20), Memorial Hospital, and Anglican, Roman Catholic, and United Churches. Also featured are photographs and school record books for several small schools that operated in the vicinity: South Antler School No. 351 (1884-1962), West Brenda School No. 388 (1885-1960), Chesterfield School No. 408 (1885-1964), Purple Hill School No. 487 (1887-1959), Brown School No. 625 (1891-1961), Tremblay School No. 707 (1892-1959), and Peninsula School No. 907 (1897-1961).
• Fashions exhibit with turn-of-the-20th-century clothing, dolls, and carriages
• Antique tool display with over 1000 wrenches and other hand tools, including a display of miniature-scale horses and wagons, and cast iron seats from antique farm equipment
• Miscellaneous exhibits including a display on the Melita town council (1927-2002) and profiles of noteworthy Melita citizens

Principals

Period	Principal
1892-1893	R. M. White
1893-1895	George Darling Shortreed (1870-1940)
1895-1899	R. J. Cooke
1899	Charles William “Charlie” St. John (1874-1951)
1899-1900	Ernest Forster Haffner (1876-1942)
1900-1903	John Henry Conklin (1876-1955)
1903-1904	Samuel Couch
1904-1905	Duncan Crerar (1877-1910)
1905-1908	William Fletcher Loucks (1876-1953)
1908-1911	David Williamson Yuill (1878-1970)
1911-1913	Herbert Wellington Huntley (1879-1974)
1913-1915	George Robert Farrar Prowse (1860-1946)
1915-1916	William McLaws Eadie (1868-1935)
1916-1917	Edward Sandford Lord (1869-1922)
1918	Hermann G. Harris
1918-1923	John Alexius Peterson (1885-1959)
1923-1924	David Iverach (1871-1946)
1924-1928	Albert Livingstone “Bert” Mills (1901-1984)
1928-1934	George Isaac Herman Garrett (1884-1977)
1934-1936	Henry Irvine Graham (1903-1991)
1936-1940	William Skidmore (c1885-?)
1940-1942	Edward Eldjarn Johnson (1900-1978)
1942-1943	Howard Melville Dunfield (1912-2000)
1943-1949	Sanford Stephen Harvey (1911-1980)
1949-1950	Raymond Ronald Bailey (1922-2015)
1950-1951	Gordon W. McIvor
1951-1955	Robert Richard “Dick” Partridge (1921-1990)
1955-1956	James Ogel Beckstead (1883-1985)
1956-1957	Johann Edvald Sigurjonsson (1900-1972)
1957-1959	Arthur Kendall Stratton (1895-1961)
1959-1961	James Keith Cooper (1931-2000)
1961-1962	Robert Graham
1962-1963	John Macgregor Wilkie (1904-1991)
1963-1965	Glen Wayne Hanna
1965-1970	Gary G. Gordon
1970-1971	Manhomohan Malhi
1971-1973	William G. McGavin
1973-1975	Jean A. Beaumont (1943-2016)
1975-1976	Ted Yarema
1977-1979	Elroy Tank
1979-1980	Joe Mudrey
1980-1982	Ken Karlander

Teachers

Among the early teachers of Melita School were A. D. Wheeler (1887-1888), Ida Crowell (1888-1889), D. D. McQueen (1889-1891), Miss E. E. Ferguson (1891-1892), and Maggie Aitcheson (1892-1893).

School Year	Teachers
1893-1894	Jean Brown
1894-1895	Jean Brown, William Jesse Grant
1895-1896	Jean Brown, Robert Simpson
1896-1897	Jean Brown, Robert Simpson
1897-1898	Jean Brown, Robert Simpson
1898-1899	Jean Brown, Frances Kinley
1899-1900	Jean Brown, Frances Kinley
1900-1901	Jean Brown, Margaret Brown, Arthur Fisher, Frances Kinley
1901-1902	Margaret Brown, David Carswell, Arthur Fisher, Mabel Gray, Frances Kinley
1902-1903	Miss Graham, ?
1903-1904	Isabel Disney, ?
1904-1905	Isabel Disney, ?
1905-1906	Nellie Lewis, Isabel McKinnen, A. D. McKinnow, Mary Olisen
1906-1907	Jennie Cobb, Nellie Lewis, Andrew Mackinnen, Bertha McKnight, Mary Olisen
1907-1908	Mary Beattie, Jennie Cobb, Nellie Lewis, Daniel McClung, Bertha McKnight, Maggie Robb
1908-1909	Jennie Cobb, Nellie Lewis, Janet McClung, Bertha McKnight, Duncan McLeod, Maggie Robb
1909-1910	Jennie Cobb, Nellie Lewis, Janet McClung, Bertha McKnight, Duncan McLeod, Maggie Robb, Nellie Thompson
1910-1911	Sherman Arnold, Jean Brown, Jennie Cobb, Nellie Lewis, Bertha McKnight, Nellie Thompson
1911-1912	Sherman Arnold, Jean Brown, Jennie Cobb, Nellie Lewis, Eva McQueen, Jessie Rothwell
1912-1913	Sherman Arnold, Agnes Barbour, Jean Brown, Ethel Currie, E. S. Everall, Lenore Kantlback, Nellie Lewis, Eva McQueen, Clara Robinson, Jessie Rothwell
1913-1914	Agnes Barbour, Jean Brown, Ethel Gemill, Nellie Lewis, Anna Muckle, Clara Robinson, Ethel Sutton
1914-1915	Jean Brown, Pearl Code, Ethel Gemill, Helen McKillar, Nellie McKillar, Ethel Sutton
1915-1916	Nellie Amy (grades 3-4), Jean Brown (grades 6-7), William McLean Eadie (grade 11), Olive Vine Falconer (grade 1), Annie Haight (grades 9-10), Clarence Moore (grade 8, Fall), Robert Cecil Paris (grade 8, Spring), Jessie R. Phoenix (grades 9-10)
1916-1917	Nellie Amy (grades 2-3), Jean Brown (grades 4 & 6), Edward Sandford Lord (grade 11), Robert Cecil Paris (grades 7-8), Jessie R. Phoenix (grades 9-10), Ila Mina Pollock (grade 1, wife of John Alexius Peterson), Fanny Woodlinger (grades 2-4)
1917-1918	Nellie Amy (grade 3), Jean Brown (grades 4 & 6), Hermann G. Harris (grades 11-12, Spring), Phyllis Leslie, Edward Sandford Lord (grades 10-11, Fall), Isabella Muriel Miller (grade 2), Robert Cecil Paris (grades 7-8), Jessie R. Phoenix (grades 9-10), Ila Mina Pollock (grade 1)
1918-1919	E. Pearl Blakeman (grades 3-4), Myrtle Hazel Leonard (grades 5-6), John Alexius Peterson (grades 9-10), Annie D. Phillips (grade 1), Ila Mina Pollock (grade 2), Hazel A. Richardson (grade 11), Alice M. Wilson (grades 7-8)
1919-1920	Frances Collin, Alfred Longman, Margaret Munro, Vivian Tuckey
1920-1921	Viva Evans, Ida McCulloch, May McKinney, A. M. Rudolf, Adelaide Strachan
1921-1922	Miss A. Alexander, E. A. Mackay, Ida McCulloch, Gladys Sexton
1922-1923	Wilfred Belleau, Mabel Govier, Esther Kemp, Eva Lyons, Norah Matheson, Hilda Morrison, Gladys Sexton
1923-1924	Stella Bolton, Mabel Govier, Esther Kemp, Flora McGregor, Hilda Morrison
1924-1925	Stella Bolton, Elvina Collen, Esther Kemp, Mina Kerr, Flora McGregor, Anna Smith
1925-1926	Stella Bolton, Elvina Collen, Esther Kemp, Mina Kerr, Flora McGregor, Anna Smith
1926-1927	Stella Bolton, Elvina Collen, Jesse Carlyle French, Esther Kemp, Mina Kerr, Flora McGregor, Anna Smith
1927-1928	Birdie Gamey, Esther Kemp, Mina Kerr, Violet Kerr, Flora McGregor, Mignon Taylor
1928-1929	Birdie Gamey, Helen Garvie, William George Hume, Violet Kerr, Flora McGregor, Mignon Taylor
1929-1930	Freda Chapman, Birdie Gamey, William George Hume, Annie McFadden, Flora McGregor, Frances Pierce, Marjorie Taylor, Mignon Taylor
1930-1931	Winnifred Cook, William George Hume, Annie McFadden, Flora McGregor, Frances Pierce, Margaret Street, Mignon Taylor
1931-1932	Winnifred Cook, William George Hume, Annie McFadden, Ardith Merryweather, Frances Pierce, Margaret Street, Mignon Taylor
1932-1933	William George Hume, Annie McFadden, Ardith Merryweather, Frances Pierce, Margaret Street, Mignon Taylor
1933-1934	Luella Dann, Dora Dunbar, William George Hume, Annie McFadden, Frances Pierce, Mignon Taylor
1934-1935	Luella Dann, Dora Dunbar, William George Hume, Annie McFadden, Frances Pierce, Mignon Taylor
1935-1936	Luella Dann, Dora Dunbar, Frances Pierce, Mignon Taylor, Andrew Young
1936-1937	Luella Dann, Dora Dunbar, Frances Pierce, Mignon Taylor, Andrew Young
1937-1938	Luella Dann, Dora Dunbar, Margaret Martin, Frances Pierce, Mignon Taylor, Andrew Young
1938-1939	Luella Dann, Dora Dunbar, Cecil Foster, Margaret Martin, Frances Pierce, Mona Trewin
1939-1940	Jean Arthur, Luella Dann, Dora Dunbar, Howard Gibson, Frances Pierce,
1940-1941	Jean Arthur, Luella Dann, Dora Dunbar, Howard Gibson, Sybil O'Neil, Agnes Sellers
1941-1942	Warda Duxbury, Agnes Sellers, Helen Wright
1942-1943	Gertrude Dobbyn, Warda Duxbury, Zetta Mills, Agnes Sellers, Mary Vickers, John Wawrykow
1943-1944	Inez Boddy, Edith Dewar, Julia Dyer, Doreen Handel, Myrtle LeBarron, Evelyn Leech, John Wawrykow
1944-1945	Inez Boddy, Edith Dewar, Julia Dyer, Hazel Elliott, Myrtle LeBarron, John Wawrykow
1945-1946	Anne Black, Edith Dewar, Julia Dyer, Harry Itzkow, Myrtle LeBarron, Pauline McArthur
1946-1947	Anne Black, Julia Dyer, Margaret Kelly, Myrtle LeBarron, Anne Susansky, Lorene Walker
1947-1948	Margaret Robertson, Margaret Simmons, Marjorie Spencer, Jane Thompson, Lorene Walker
1948-1949	Flora Moore, Joan Pettipher, Marie Phillips, Aleck Robson, Marjorie Spencer, Jane Thompson
1949-1950	Ethel Barclay, John Cameron, Guy Costly, Muriel Fewings, Helen Large, Flora Moore, Marjorie Spencer
1950-1951	Flora Moore, William Oleksy, Richard Partridge, Marjorie Spencer, David Stewart, Joan Hemphill Yarish
1951-1952	Mary Fewings Dziadow, Margaret Hay, Laura Giles McNutt, Flora Moore, John Nixon, Del Lee Plummer, Marjorie Spencer,
1952-1953	Eva Calverley, Marian Elliott Greig, Laura Giles McNutt, John Nixon, Marjorie Spencer,
1953-1954	Isla Defoe, Walter Dziadow, Ivey Graham, Marian Elliott Greig, Betty Hamilton Jobbins, Keith Edward Malcolm, Laura Giles McNutt
1954-1955	Ruby Burnash Andrews, Lorna Hainsworth Coleman, Mrs. Mae Dobbyn, Vincenyt Federovich, Marian Elliott Greig, Betty Hamilton Jobbins, Audrey Low, Laura Giles McNutt
1955-1956	Ruby Burnash Andrews, Lorna Hainsworth Coleman, Mrs. Mae Dobbyn, Gertrude Gilliland Gordon, Marian Elliott Greig, Mrs. Joyce Lynn, Donald Mutch, Lois Reynolds Snyder, Ivan Llewellyn Traill
1956-1957	Ruby Burnash Andrews, Lois Knight Bowman, Lorna Hainsworth Coleman, Mrs. Mae Dobbyn, Gertrude Gilliland Gordon, Marian Elliott Greig, Edna Lee, Bessie Marie Hill, Ivan Llewellyn Traill, Mrs. Pat Traill, Keith Wilson
1957-1958	Ruby Burnash Andrews, Lorna Hainsworth Coleman, James Keith Cooper, Joy Dickey, Mrs. Mae Dobbyn, Alex Domytrak, Marian Elliott Greig, Bessie Marie Hill, Ewart Hudson, Grace Hudson Renwick, Mrs. Melba Snyder, Keith Wilson
1958-1959	Ruby Burnash Andrews, Lorna Hainsworth Coleman, James Keith Cooper, Ramona DePauw, Mrs. Mae Dobbyn, Fae Trail Elliott, Marian Elliott Greig, Gerald Hayden, Bessie Marie Hill, Georgina Hill Matiation, Erla Cuthbert Shanks, Larry Yanick
1959-1960	Ruby Burnash Andrews, Robert Boyes, Ann Carson, Lorna Hainsworth Coleman, Shirley Cummins, Ramona DePauw, Mrs. Mae Dobbyn, Marian Elliott Greig, Bessie Marie Hill, Georgina Hill Matiation, Mrs. Evelyn McCallum, Juanita Pollock, Erla Cuthbert Shanks, Tom Stemshorn, Larry Yanick
1960-1961	Ruby Burnash Andrews, Lorna Hainsworth Coleman, Shirley Cummins, Mrs. Constance Dann, Mrs. Mae Dobbyn, Fred Doucet, Marian Elliott Greig, Mrs. Margaret Hathaway, Bessie Marie Hill, Georgina Hill Matiation, Mrs. Irene Nelson, Elizabeth Penner, Kenneth Rodenbush, Lois Reynolds Snyder
1961-1962	Ruby Burnash Andrews, Lorna Hainsworth Coleman, Shirley Cummins, Mrs. Constance Dann, Mrs. Mae Dobbyn, Fred Doucet, Marian Elliott Greig, Mrs. Margaret Hathaway, Bessie Marie Hill, Myrna Lohr, Elizabeth Penner, Kenneth Rodenbush, Lois Reynolds Snyder, Ray Zelowsky
1962-1963	Ruby Burnash Andrews, David Bradell, Lorna Hainsworth Coleman, Shirley Cummins, Mrs. Constance Dann, Mrs. Mae Dobbyn, Joyce Foster, Gary G. Gordon, Marian Elliott Greig, Mrs. Margaret Hathaway, Reta Jenner, Myrna Lohr, Kenneth Rodenbush, Albert Schmidt, Wilma Wright, Larry Yanick
1963-1964	Ruby Burnash Andrews, Ron Bawtinhiemer, Mrs. Heather Bawtinhiemer, David Bradell, Lorna Hainsworth Coleman, Shirley Cummins, Mrs. Constance Dann, Mrs. Mae Dobbyn, Sylvia Friesen, Gary G. Gordon, Jean Moran Hicks, Joanne Korolyk, Verna Moore, Kenneth Rodenbush, Albert Schmidt, Larry Yanick, Ken Zamzow
1964-1965	Ruby Burnash Andrews, Ron Bawtinhiemer, Mrs. Heather Bawtinhiemer, Mrs. Dorothy Brown, Lorna Hainsworth Coleman, Mrs. Constance Dann, Mrs. Mae Dobbyn, Norma Wilson Dobbyn, Gail Gerelus, Gary G. Gordon, Joanne Korolyk, Grace Michaluk, John Murphy, Ernest Walker, Larry Yanick, Ken Zamzow
1965-1966	Jim Ballard, Ron Bawtinhiemer, Mrs. Heather Bawtinhiemer, Mrs. Dorothy Brown, Colleen Hagan Buckleschuk, Mrs. Constance Dann, Mrs. Mae Dobbyn, Norma Wilson Dobbyn, Manhomohan Malhi, Archie McTaggart, Grace Michaluk, Mrs. Gladys Nelms, Harry Schellenberg, Ernest Walker, Mrs. Frances Yanick, Larry Yanick, Ken Zamzow
1966-1967	Mrs. Joan Bolton, Mrs. Dorothy Brown, Colleen Hagan Buckleschuk, Wesley Codling, George Collier, Mrs. Constance Dann, Janice Day, Mrs. Margaret Derkson, Mrs. Mae Dobbyn, Norma Wilson Dobbyn, Ronald Friesen, Clare Haralson, Jean Moran Hicks, Denise Sharp Holden, Manhomohan Malhi, Grace Michaluk, Mrs. Gladys Nelms, Wayne Nylin, Douglas Reynolds, Mrs. Shirley Reynolds, Ken Zamzow
1967-1968	Mrs. Dorothy Brown, Mrs. Bonnie Cheyne, Mrs. Loretta Clarke, Wesley Codling, George Collier, Mrs. Constance Dann, Mrs. Margaret Derkson, Mrs. Mae Dobbyn, Mrs. Lillian Downey, Linda Johnson Downey, Sharon Elford, Clare Haralson, Wayne Heatherington, Denise Sharp Holden, Barbara Bernard Knuttila, Manhomohan Malhi, Joseph McLellan, Mrs. Gladys Nelms, Wayne Nylin, Douglas Reynolds, Mrs. Shirley Reynolds, Gloria Wheelans Vanbeselaere, Ken Zamzow
1968-1969	Gordon Alvare, Henrietta Andre, Mrs. Mary Atkinson, Robert Barnstable, Mrs. Dorothy Brown, Norman Brown, Wesley Codling, Mrs. Constance Dann, Mrs. Margaret Derkson, Mrs. Mae Dobbyn, Linda Johnson Downey, Lynne Fletcher Furtney, Clare Haralson, Denise Sharp Holden, Manhomohan Malhi, Joseph McLellan, Donna McMillan, Sandra Graham Moody, Eva Muir, Mrs. Gladys Nelms, Wayne Nylin, Dennis Redman, Douglas Reynolds, Mrs. Shirley Reynolds, Franklin Snyder, Mrs. Alma Toms
1969-1970	Robert Barnstable, Mrs. Dorothy Brown, Norman Brown, Mrs. Bonnie Cheyne, Wesley Codling, Mrs. Constance Dann, Mrs. Mae Dobbyn, Linda Johnson Downey, Mrs. Linda Eyvindson, Peter Eyvindson, Lynne Fletcher Furtney, Mrs. Delilah Hancock, William Hancock, Clare Haralson, Denise Sharp Holden, Charlene Whiteman Hunter, Barry McKinnon, Donna McMillan, Sandra Graham Moody, Mrs. Gladys Nelms, Douglas Reynolds, Jim Stangel, Mrs. Alma Toms
1970-1971	Mrs. Dianne Arndt, Robert Barnstable, Mrs. Dorothy Brown, Shirley Carson, Wesley Codling, Mrs. Constance Dann, Mrs. Mae Dobbyn, Linda Johnson Downey, Mrs. Linda Eyvindson, Peter Eyvindson, Mrs. Hazel Lamport, Lyle Markowski, Mrs. Gladys Nelms, Richard Pander, Douglas Reynolds, Michael September, Donald Sinclair, Allen Snart, Jim Stangel, Mrs. Alma Toms, Ellen Draywon Walker, Zofia Walotek, William Warren, Suneethe Williams, Margaret Zadorozwy
1971-1972	Douglas Anderson, Robert Barnstable, Mrs. Dorothy Brown, Shirley Carson, Wesley Codling, Betty Conroy, Mrs. Constance Dann, Linda Johnson Downey, Mrs. Linda Eyvindson, Peter Eyvindson, Ken Karlander, Wayne Krislock, Mrs. Hazel Lamport, Lyle Markowski, Mrs. Ruth McAuley, Mrs. Gladys Nelms, Richard Pander, Harold Ramdahin, Douglas Reynolds, Donald Sinclair, Jim Stangel, Mervin Street, Mrs. Alma Toms, Ellen Draywon Walker, William Warren
1972-1973	Mrs. Lorna Annell, Niels Annell, Robert Barnstable, Mrs. Dorothy Brown, Mrs. Bonnie Cheyne, Betty Conroy, Mrs. Constance Dann, Mrs. Linda Eyvindson, Peter Eyvindson, Nick Kalynuik, Ken Karlander, Wendel Keeler, Wayne Krislock, Mrs. Hazel Lamport, Mrs. Gladys Nelms, Richard Pander, Linton Pointon, Donald Sinclair, Jim Stangel, Mrs. Alma Toms, Ellen Draywon Walker, William Warren
1973-1974	Niels Annell, Robert Barnstable, Mrs. Dorothy Brown, Shirley Carson, Joanne Kerick Codling, Betty Conroy, Mrs. Constance Dann, Iverson Groves, Giselle Johnson, Nick Kalynuik, Ken Karlander, Wendel Keeler, Wayne Krislock, Mrs. Hazel Lamport, Cheryl Leoppky, Barbara McLenehan, Richard Pander, Linton Pointon, Donald Sinclair, Jim Stangel, Mrs. Alma Toms, William Warren
1974-1975	Niels Annell, Robert Barnstable, Shirley Carson, Joanne Kerick Codling, Wesley Codling, Betty Conroy, Mrs. Robyn Creighton, Mrs. Constance Dann, Iverson Groves, Giselle Johnson, Ken Karlander, Mrs. Hazel Lamport, Cheryl Leoppky, Elva Sambrook Mosset, Margaret Nelin, Richard Pander, Randy Penner, Donald Sinclair, Gordon Sweeney, Mrs. Alma Toms, Mrs. Barbara Walker, William Warren
1975-1976	Durwin Buchy, Andrzy Bursa, Mrs. Prema Bursa, Helen Hastings Cassan, Joanne Kerick Codling, Betty Conroy, Mrs. Constance Dann, Iverson Groves, Mrs. Grace Judd, Ken Karlander, Mrs. Hazel Lamport, Cheryl Leoppky, Richard Pander, Mrs. Gloria Penner, Randy Penner, Rene Perreault, Allan Sargent, Donald Sinclair, Karen Stewart Turnbull, Ben Veselovsky, John Warkentin, William Warren
1976-1977	Durwin Buchy, Eric Calrow, Joanne Kerick Codling, Mrs. Constance Dann, Elizabeth Perrault Downey, Mrs. Grace Judd, Ken Karlander, Wendel Keeler, Lucy Lachapelle, Mrs. Hazel Lamport, Yoland Levesque, Alma Malmus, Richard Pander, Randy Penner, Josephine Shipp, Donald Sinclair, Dennis Streuber, Mrs. Alma Toms, Karen Stewart Turnbull, Ben Veselovsky, John Warkentin, William Warren, Philip Winkless
1977-1978	Devon Best, Durwin Buchy, Mrs. Laura Jean Campbell, Joanne Kerick Codling, Mrs. Grace Judd, Ken Karlander, Mrs. Hazel Lamport, Alma Malmus, Trevor McLoughlin, Richard Pander, Randy Penner, Donald Sinclair, Russell Slade, Ken Storie, Ben Veselovsky, John Warkentin, William Warren, Paul Wilt, Philip Winkless
1978-1979	Devon Best, Durwin Buchy, Elizabeth Chisholm, Susan Craig, Karen Falloon, Gerry Joynt, Mrs. Grace Judd, Ken Karlander, Mrs. Hazel Lamport, Alma Malmus, Trevor McLoughlin, Richard Pander, Randy Penner, Mrs. Gloria Saunders, Lonnie Schmidt, Donald Sinclair, Russell Slade, Ken Storie, Ben Veselovsky, John Warkentin, William Warren, Paul Wilt
1979-1980	Devon Best, Durwin Buchy, Mrs. Grace Judd, Ken Karlander, Mrs. Hazel Lamport, Alma Malmus, Don McIntosh, Trevor McLoughlin, Jim O'Rourke, Richard Pander, Randy Penner, Lonnie Schmidt, Donald Sinclair, Russell Slade, Kim Smith, Ken Storie, Ben Veselovsky, John Warkentin, William Warren, Paul Wilt
1980-1981	Devon Best, Sandra Dixon, Ian Fraser, Mrs. Grace Judd, Mrs. Hazel Lamport, Trevor McLoughlin, Heather Miller, Jim O'Rourke, Richard Pander, Kevin Parker, Lonnie Schmidt, Donald Sinclair, Russell Slade, Ken Storie, Alison Tarr, Ben Veselovsky, John Warkentin, William Warren, Paul Wilt
1981-1982	Devon Best, Sandra Dixon, Ian Fraser, Mrs. Grace Judd, Mrs. Hazel Lamport, Richard Lochhead, Trevor McLoughlin, Jim O'Rourke, Richard Pander, Kevin Parker, Lonnie Schmidt, Mark Sefton, Donald Sinclair, Marlene Spencer, Ken Storie, Alison Tarr, Ben Veselovsky, John Warkentin, William Warren, Paul Wilt
1982-1983	Devon Best, Sandra Dixon, Mrs. Grace Judd, Mrs. Hazel Lamport, Richard Lochhead, Trevor McLoughlin, Jim O'Rourke, Richard Pander, Kevin Parker, Lonnie Schmidt, Mark Sefton, Donald Sinclair, Marlene Spencer, Alison Tarr, Joanne Tomalin, Ben Veselovsky, John Warkentin, William Warren, Paul Wilt

Photos & Coordinates

Postcard view of Melita School showing the start of construction for its expansion from four to eight classrooms (circa 1905) by F. E. Watts Source: Gordon Goldsborough, 2013-0178 Melita High School building erected in 1906 (1906) Source: Education Department Report, 1906, Manitoba Legislative Library. Melita Consolidated School on Fair Day (26 September 1917) Source: Education Department Report, 1917, Manitoba Legislative Library. Children exercising outside Melita School (no date) by George Hunter Source: Archives of Manitoba, School Inspectors Photographs, GR8461, A0233, C131-1, page 56. Postcard view of Melita Collegiate (no date) Source: Rob McInnes, MN0031 Melita School (August 1966) Source: Archives of Manitoba, Architectural Survey - Melita 12. Antler River Museum (July 2010) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Antler River Museum (August 2021) Source: George Penner Anti-tank gun at the Antler River Museum, on loan from the Royal Canadian Artillery Museum (September 2012) Source: Tighe McManus Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.27308, W100.99186 denoted by symbol on the map above

Melita School Students Killed in the First World War

Name	Occupation	Service	Rank	Birth Date	Death Date
Lewis Harold Barnard	Bank Clerk	23rd Battalion, Army	Lieutenant	31 October 1892	25 August 1916
Joseph Ralph Bilton	Farmer	43rd Battalion, Canadian Infantry	Private	23 August 1895	16 November 1917
Edgar William Brook [Melita, Victoria Methodist]	Farmer	16th Battalion, Canadian Infantry	Private	23 March 1890	8 October 1916
Albert Vail Cosgrove [First Baptist, Melita, Next of Kin]	Chauffeur	27 Squadron, Royal Air Force	Second Lieutenant	21 March 1894	25 September 1918 (died in aerial combat)
Kenneth Brown Downie	Student	43rd Battery, Canadian Field Artillery	Gunner	18 October 1894	10 August 1916
Wilfred John Evans [Reston]	Student	Canadian Infantry	Lance Corporal	9 September 1894	15 September 1916
Albert Edward Farmer	Farmer	28th Battalion, Canadian Infantry	Private	2 July 1895	3 September 1918
Herbert Joshua Fletcher	Farmer	78th Battalion, Canadian Infantry	Private	23 February 1897	24 April 1917
Thomas Veitch Gibson [Melita, Verona School, Waskada]	Hardware Merchant	46th Battalion, Canadian Infantry	Private	12 October 1884	8 April 1917
Andrew Benson Grierson	Farm Labourer	46th Battalion, Canadian Infantry	Private	26 April 1897	12 April 1917
Frederick Hart	Farmer	5th Battalion, Canadian Infantry	Private	23 February 1888	25 July 1916
Wilfred Maurice Holden	Bank Clerk	1st Canadian Mounted Rifles	Private	25 November 1895	20 August 1917
Franklin Robert Kelly [Melita, Victoria Methodist, Vimy Ridge]	Farmer	44th Battalion, Canadian Infantry	Private	19 February 1896	11 May 1917
George Francis Gordon Pitcher	Farmer	46th Battalion, Canadian Infantry	Private	1 May 1898	26 October 1917
Norman Allan Pope	Rodman	7th Battalion, Canadian Infantry	Private	28 April 1887	4 June 1916
Franklin Saunby [Melita, Salvation Army]	Farmer	1st Canadian Mounted Rifles	Private	25 June 1896	24 July 1916
Howard Clarence Sparling	Mechanic	1st Ammunition Supply Park	Private	17 April 1893	5 June 1917
Harry Nelson Thompson	Civil Servant	5th Battalion, Canadian Infantry	Lieutenant	6 October 1887	9 April 1917
Frederick John Wheler [Melita]	Farmer	102nd Battalion, Canadian Infantry	Private	31 December 1895	13 November 1917
Leslie Reuel Wilson	Farmer	102nd Battalion, Canadian Infantry	Private	26 January 1896	23 March 1917
Harold John Warin	Banker	Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry	Private	19 February 1893	12 April 1916

See also:

Memorable Manitobans: Walter Henderson Shillinglaw (1864-1957)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Melita War Memorial (Veterans Way, Melita)

Sources:

Annual Reports of the Manitoba Department of Education, Manitoba Legislative Library.

Antler River Museum brochure.

For the names of First World War casualities from Manitoba who do not appear on any physical monument in the province, see the Manitoba Historical Society War Memorial. If you know of a name that is omitted from this list, please contact the MHS War Memorial Researcher Darryl Toews (darryl@mhs.mb.ca).

Soldiers of the First World War - Canadian Expeditionary Force, Library and Archives Canada.

Canadian Virtual War Memorial, Veterans Affairs Canada.

Financial support for research reported on this page was provided by the Manitoba Heritage Grants Program (2015-2016).

Antler River Historical Society Museum, Town of Melita.

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

Summative half-yearly returns for school districts (A 0051), GR0571, Archives of Manitoba.

School division half-yearly attendance reports (E 0757), Archives of Manitoba.

Our First Century, Town of Melita and Municipality of Arthur: 1884-1984 by Melita-Arthur History Committee, 1983, pages 244-247.

We thank James Kostuchuk, Tighe McManus, Rob McInnes, Nathan Kramer, Darryl Toews, and George Penner for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 21 December 2024

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