Historic Sites of Manitoba: Fort Rouge School (River Avenue, Winnipeg)

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Principals | Vice-Principals | Teachers | Photos & Coordinates | Sources

In the late 1880s, as Winnipeg’s population spilled across the Assiniboine River into the neighourhood of Fort Rouge, the need for a school became dire. In 1890, the Winnipeg School Board purchased land on River Avenue, bounded between Mayfair and Main streets, for a new school building. Designed by architect Walter Chesterton and constructed by contractor John A. Gervin between 1890 and 1891, the two-storey, four-classroom brick structure that became Fort Rouge School was situated intentionally at one side of the property to allow space for expansion as the need arose. This expansion was never needed. The school first opened to students on 5 October 1891, with three of four classrooms immediately filled to capacity. A fourth classroom was opened soon after. Completed at a cost of $10,800, the structure was heated by wood-fueled furnaces until its eventual demolition.

The original school served the community until November 1953, when a new building was erected nearby, and the old structure was demolished in August 1954. An air-tight lead container found in its cornerstone contained coins, newspapers, and other materials from 1891. Built by the L. J. Gardiner Construction Company Limited at a cost of around $43,000, the new four-classroom school was constructed over some 60 days during the summer and fall of 1953. A cornerstone laying ceremony was held on 15 September 1953, with Ward 1 Trustee Peter D. Curry conducting the honours, in the presence of Mrs. Curry, Trustee C. H. Malcolm, Commissioner of Works and Buildings W. A. Martin, Winnipeg School Board Chairman A. N. Robertson, and contractor L. J. Gardiner. The new school was opened officially on 12 March 1954.

Among its noteworthy alumni were Stuart Garson and Ewart H. Morgan.

Principals

Period	Principal
1891-1900	Mary Blossom Harris Smith (1868-1950)
1900-1901	Clara G. Walsh (1872-?)
1901-1902	Jessie McEwan (1868-?)
1902-1910	Mary Christie (c1850-1922)
1911-1930	Carrie Maud Yuill (1877-1938)
1930-1931	Elizabeth “Bessie” Lawrie (1889-1966)
1931-1935	Annie Cheyne Dickie (1887-1940)
1935-1940	Annie R. Gall (1892-1957)
1940-1946	Elizabeth Hick (1886-1959)
1946-1949	Jennie Johnson (1889-1980)
1949-1953	Jean Margaret Cameron (1905-1984)
1953-1954	Herbert Milton Bell (1903-1977)
1954-1958	Rachel Margaret “Rae” Scott (1906-2000)
1958-1961	Grace Elizabeth Menzies (1907-2003)
1961-1971	Jean Margaret Cameron (1905-1984)
1971-1980	Dorothy Marie Slaughter (1920-2004)
1980-1984	Keith Beard (c1927-2009)
1984-1990	W. Gary Lally
1990-1995	Barbara Alice “Barb” Sarson (1931-2020)
1995-1998	Robert Stefaniuk
1998-2002	Robert Llewellyn “Bob” Davies (1947-2023)
2002-2013	Leslie Maxwell-Joseph
2013-2018	Terri Rodrigues-Warner
2018-?	Stacie Edgar

Teachers

School Year	Teachers
1891-1892	Miss Halliday, Miss M. B. Harris, Miss Somerset
1892-1893	Miss Dingle (grade 3 & 4), Miss M. B. Harris (grade 1 & 2), M. F. McDonald (grade 5 & 6), Miss Talbot (grade 6 & 7)
1893-1894	Miss Dingle, Miss M. B. Harris, Miss M. McDonald, Miss Talbot
1894-1895	?
1895-1896	Miss M. B. Harris, Miss E. Holiday, Miss McVicar, Miss Sutherland
1896-1897	?
1897-1898	Miss M. B. Harris, Miss Holiday, Miss Sutherland, Alice Elvira Talbot
1898-1899	Miss M. B. Harris, Miss E. Holiday, Miss E. A. Sutherland, Alice Elvira Talbot
1899-1900	Miss E. A. Holiday, Miss Sutherland, Miss Walsh
1900-1901	Miss E. Holiday, Miss B. Mabee, Miss E. A. Sutherland
1901-1902	Miss B. Mabee, Jessie McEwan, Miss E. A. Sutherland
1902-1903	Miss B. Mabee, Jessie McEwan, Miss E. A. Sutherland
1903-1904	Miss Mabee, Mabel Lugo Newton, Miss Shore
1904-1905	Miss M. Dulmadge, Miss M. Mitchell, Miss Yuill
1905-1906	Miss M. Z. Dulmadge, Miss M. Mitchell, Miss C. Yuill
1906-1907	?
1907-1908	Miss N. Bell, Miss L. McKnight, Miss C. Yuill
1908-1909	Miss L. H. McKnight, Miss E. Bell, Miss C. Yuill
1909-1910	?
1910-1911	Miss E. Bell, Miss Isabel McArthur, Miss L. H. McKnight, Miss C. M. Yuill
1911-1912	Miss E. Bell, Miss I. McArthur, Miss H. Nicholson
1912-1913	Miss E. Bell, Miss E. McPherson, Miss H. Nicholson
1913-1914	Miss E. Bell, Miss E. Felloon, Miss E. McPherson
1914-1915	Miss E. Bell, Miss E. Falloon, Miss E. MacPherson
1915-1916	M. Crease, E. Falloon, E. McPherson
1916-1917	M. Crease, E. Falloon, E. McPherson
1917-1918	M. Crease, D. Dafoe, E. Falloon
1918-1919	E. Peckham, B. Perkins, C. K. Smith
1919-1920	E. Peckham, B. Perkins, C. K. Smith
1920-1921	?
1921-1922	Elizabeth Hick, M. M. Stewart, A. M. Wilson
1922-1923	J. Cameron, V. G. Cramm, Elizabeth Hick
1923-1924	J. Cameron, V. G. Cramm, Elizabeth Hick
1924-1925	V. G. Cramm, Elizabeth Hick, Jean Turnbull
1925-1926	V. G. Cramm, Elizabeth Hick, Jean Turnbull
1926-1927	Elizabeth Hick, Jean Turnbull, Verna Vaux
1927-1928	Elizabeth Hick, Dorothy E. Lane, Jean Turnbull
1928-1929	Elizabeth Hick, Dorothy E. Lane
1929-1930	Elizabeth Hick, Dorothy E. Lane, E. Miller
1930-1931	Elizabeth Hick, Dorothy E. Lane, E. Miller
1931-1932	Elizabeth Hick, Dorothy E. Lane, E. Miller
1932-1933	Elizabeth Hick, Dorothy E. Lane, E. Miller
1933-1934	Elizabeth Hick, Dorothy E. Lane, E. Miller
1934-1935	Elizabeth Hick, Dorothy E. Lane, E. Miller
1935-1936	Elizabeth Hick, Dorothy E. Lane, E. Miller
1936-1937	Elizabeth Hick, Dorothy E. Lane, E. Miller
1937-1938	M. Crawford, Elizabeth Hick, Dorothy E. Lane
1938-1939	Elizabeth Hick, Dorothy E. Lane, E. Miller
1939-1940	Elizabeth Hick, Dorothy E. Lane, E. Miller
1940-1941	Dorothy E. Lane, M. E. McIntyre
1941-1942	Dorothy E. Lane, M. E. McIntyre, L. R. Worthington
1942-1943	B. Hendrickson, M. McIntyre, L. Worthington
1943-1944	B. Henrickson, L. Worthington
1944-1945	A. Graham, B. Henrickson, L. Worthington
1945-1946	M. Corbett, M. Graham, L. Worthington
1946-1947	I. Dawson, M. Graham, M. E McLeod
1947-1948	H. M. Cook, I. Dawson, M. E. McLeod
1948-1949	Miss H. M. Cook, Mrs. I. Horn, Miss M. E. McLeod
1949-1950	Mrs. E. P. Fillingham, Miss M. E. McLeod, Miss G. Zrudlo
1950-1951	Miss E. M. Arnott, Mrs. W. F?hrs, Miss M. E. McLeod
1951-1952	Mrs. H. Bowman, Miss D. L. Henry, Miss M. E. McLeod
1952-1953	Mrs. H. Bowman, Mrs. D. Roffey, J. D. Smith
1953-1954	Mrs. H. Bowman, H. C. Harper, Mrs. E. Wilson
1954-1955	Mrs. H. Bowman, Miss B. M. Wiggins, Mrs. E. Wilson
1955-1956	Mrs. H. Bowman, Miss B. Wiggins, Mrs. E. Wilson
1956-1957	Mrs. I. Bowman, Miss B. Wiggins, Mrs. E. Wilson
1957-1958	Mrs. H. Bowman, Mrs. E. Keith, Mrs. F. Rowland, Miss B. Wiggins, Miss H. Wilkes, Mrs. E. Wilson
1958-1959	Mrs. H. Bowman, I. Hamilton, Mrs. E. Keith, Mrs. N. McMay, Mrs. F. Rowland, Miss B. Wiggins, Miss H. Wilkes, Mrs. E. Wilson
1959-1960	Mrs. H. Bowman, I. Hamilton, Miss D. Hughes, Miss A. Laurin, Mrs. N. McKay, Mrs. F. Rowland, Mrs. G. Smith, Miss H. Wilkes
1960-1961	Mrs. H. Bowman, I. Hamilton, Mrs. N. McKay, Miss R. Reid, Mrs F. Rowland, Miss H. Wilkes
1961-1962	I. Hamilton, Miss K. Kopetsky, Mrs. N. McKay, Mrs. M. Hardin, Mrs. A. Seraphin, Miss H. Wilkes
1962-1963	?
1963-1964	Mrs. S Bloomquist, I. Hamilton, Miss R. McMillan, Mrs. D. Matheson, Mrs. G. Matiation, Mrs. I. Peters, Mrs. A. Seraphin, Miss H. Wilkes
1964-1965	Mrs. S Bloomquist, I. Hamilton, Mrs. N. Costin, Mrs. P. Howden, Mrs. D. Matheson, Mrs. A. Seraphin, Miss H. Wilkes
1965-1966	Mrs. S Bloomquist, I. Hamilton, Miss A. Picard, Mrs. A. Seraphin, Mrs. A. Sucharov, Miss H. Wilkes
1966-1967	Mrs. S Bloomquist, I. Hamilton, Mrs. M. Kendall, Mrs. S. Letandre, Miss A. Picard, Mrs. A. Seraphin, Miss H. Wilkes
1967-1968	W. Appleyard, Mrs. J. Huston, Miss B. McLeod, Mrs. L. Mireau, Miss A. Picard, Mrs. W. Varga
1968-1969	R. Baker, Miss C. Hoffman, Mrs. N. McKay, Miss A. Picard, Miss M. Smith, Mrs. W. Varga, Miss J. Walkinshaw
1969-1970	?
1970-1971	?
1971-1972	?
1972-1973	?
1973-1974	?
1974-1975	?
1975-1976	?
1976-1977	?
1977-1978	Mrs. Ardythe McMaster (music), ?

Photos & Coordinates

Fort Rouge School No. 1 (1900) Source: Archives of Manitoba, Winnipeg - Schools - Fort Rouge #1, N13125. Fort Rouge School (no date) Source: Winnipeg School Division Fort Rouge School (no date) Source: Winnipeg School Division Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.88392, W97.13373 denoted by symbol on the map above

Sources:

“Fort Rouge School,” Manitoba Morning Free Press, 6 October 1891, page 6.

“A new school,” Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 1 September 1898, page 5.

“Opening of city schools,” Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 2 September 1899, page 4.

“Assignment of teachers,” Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 1 September 1900, page 1.

“Holidays end Tuesday next,” Manitoba Morning Free Press, 31 August 1901, page 10.

“The staff of city teachers,” Manitoba Morning Free Press, 1 September 1902, page 3.

“City schools re-open Monday,” Manitoba Free Press, 29 August 1903.

“City schools open to-morrow,” Manitoba Morning Free Press, 31 August 1904, page 3.

“Assignment of Winnipeg teachers,” Manitoba Free Press, 2 September 1905.

“Changes in city schools,” Manitoba Free Press, 31 August 1907.

“Re-opening of schools,” Winnipeg Tribune, 29 August 1908, page 1.

“Teachers named for all schools,” Winnipeg Tribune, 3 September 1910, page 3.

“Assignment of teachers for Winnipeg Schools which open on Sept. 15,” Winnipeg Tribune, 1 September 1911, page 9.

“City schools staff assembling in Sept.,” Winnipeg Tribune, 29 August 1912, page 8.

“Opening of the Winnipeg public schools has been set for Monday next,” Winnipeg Tribune, 14 August 1913, pages 1 and 2.

“Here’s your teacher!” Winnipeg Tribune, 21 August 1914, page 6.

“School Board assigns teachers,” Winnipeg Tribune, 20 August 1915, page 9.

“Reduce staff of teachers at high schools Monday,” Winnipeg Tribune, 18 August 1916, pages 1 & 12.

“Boundaries of schools are named,” Winnipeg Evening Tribune, 24 August 1917, page 9.

“Complete plans to open schools Tuesday for 30,000 children,” Winnipeg Evening Tribune, 30 August 1918, page 14.

“Teachers are selected for various grades,” Winnipeg Tribune, 29 August 1919, page 3.

Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.

“Winnipeg schools, No. 9—Fort Rouge,” Manitoba Free Press, 25 October 1922, page 7.

“Oil lamps, water pails only a memory at Fort Rouge” by Claire Tisdale, Winnipeg Free Press, 25 January 1949.

Winnipeg School Days, 1871-1950 by W. G. Pearce, Winnipeg School Division, Education Resource Centre.

“4-room school in Fort Rouge cost $43,000,” Winnipeg Free Press, 17 August 1953, page 3.

“He may be last of the sod-busters,” Winnipeg Free Press, 3 September 1953, page 9.

“[Photo caption],” Winnipeg Free Press, 19 September 1953, page 3.

“Trustees to ponder probe of efficiency,” Winnipeg Free Press, 4 March 1953, page 3.

“Fort Rouge reunion,” Winnipeg Free Press, 4 March 1954, page 8.

“The old and the new,” Winnipeg Free Press, 9 March 1954, page 3.

“Tender for demolition of a school building,” Winnipeg Free Press, 19 March 1954, page 37.

“News from the past,” Winnipeg Free Press, 10 September 1954, page 32.

“20 school board appointments made,” Winnipeg Free Press, 20 May 1971, page 3.

“All present,” Winnipeg Free Press, 29 June 1989, page 4.

Winnipeg School Division: Celebrating One Hundred Fifty Years, 1871-2021 by Winnipeg School Division, 2021.

We thank the Winnipeg School Division and Ardythe McMaster for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 11 December 2022

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