Historic Sites of Manitoba: Oakburn School No. 255 (Oakburn, RM of Yellowhead)

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

The Oakburn School District began in February 1882 as the Oak Creek School District but changed its name in 1885. A school building erected one mile south of Oakburn in the Rural Municipality of Shoal Lake (today, the Rural Municipality of Yellowhead). A new schoolhouse was erected in the fall of 1895 and a second classroom was added to it in 1898.

In 1926, with increasing student enrollment, a five-acre parcel of land at this site was chosen by school inspector J. B. Morrison and purchased from merchant Abraham B. Fishman. Construction of a one-storey, four-classroom frame structure, by the Sheppard Construction Company of Hamiota, was completed by the fall of 1928. The school opened under Principal Janet L. More with 68 elementary and 23 high school students in grades 1 to 11. More taught grades 7 to 11 while Stella Laing taught grades 3 to 6 and Zelma Peden taught grades 1 to 3.

In January 1959, the school was consolidated with three schools from the surrounding area (King George School No. 1242, Rogers School No. 1267, Wheatfield School No. 954) to form Oakburn Consolidated School. A six-room elementary school was built by Komhyr Construction of Russburn. Other rural schools joined it as they closed in the 1960s: Braddock School No. 2134, Culross School No. 185, Harrower School No. 1513, Olha School No. 1243, Randale School No. 2148, St. John School No. 2193 and Zaporoza School No. 1468.

A monument at the former school site was dedicated on 23 July 2000 to the pioneers, trustees, teachers and students of Oakburn School.

Principals

Period	Principal
1917-1918	David Iverach (1871-1946)
1918-1919	Jean M. McLaren
1919-1922	?
1922-1924	James Woodside (c1892-?)
1924-1926	Mary B. Yule
1926-1928	Alfred James Struthers (1889-1979)
1928-1935	Janet Louisa May More (1896-1986)
1935-1936	William John Schultz (1899-1988)
1936-1938	Leslie Irving Spear (1906-1973)
1938-1940	M. A. Hawryluk
1940-1941	Wolodimyr B. “Walter” Wachna (1909-1984)
1941-1944	George [Woloshynovski] Woloshynoski (c1909-1963)
1944-1947	Wolodimyr B. “Walter” Wachna (1909-1984)
1947-1948	John Parsons (?-?)
1948-1949	John Osborn Wilson (1900-1972)
1949-1952	Peter Michael Luba (1923-2003)
1952-1954	Nicholas “Nick” Danyluk (1918-2003)
1954-1959	Martin Dmytro Chalaturnyk (1920-2011)
1959-1965	Wesley Henry Sametz (1917-2009)
1965-1967	Sidney Merlin Spidell (1900-1997)
1967-1969	R. Dalby
1969-1970	J. Lucyshen

Teachers

School Year	Teachers
1916-1917	Mary Aitchison (grades 1-5), L. A. Ecluier? (grades 6-10)
1917-1918	David Iverach (grades 1-5), Jean M. McLaren (grades 6-11), Lillian Wherrett (grades 1-7)
1918-1919	? (grades 1-5), Jean M. McLaren (grades 7-11)
1919-1920	Gladys E. Findlay (grades 1-5), Jean M. McLaren (grades 7-11)
1920-1921	Eleanor J. Carson (grades 1-4), Jean M. McLaren (grades 6-11), Lily Kuntz (grades 1-5)
1921-1922	?
1922-1923	M. McKinnon (grades 1-5), Sophie Moffett (grades 1-5), Katherine Bray (grades 1-7), James Woodside (grades 8-11)
1923-1924	Metanis B. Vaux (grades 1-5), Elsie Finnie (grades 1-6), James Woodside (grades 7-11)
1924-1925	Mrs. Bessie M. Harris (grades 1-6), Jennie B. Keith (grades 1-4), Mary Bljule (grades 8-11)
1925-1926	Helen E. Hepworth (grades 1-6), Jennie B. Keith (grades 1-4), Mary Bljule (grades 7-11)
1926-1927	Helen E. Hepworth (grades 3-6), Jennie B. Keith (grades 1-3), Alfred James Struthers (grades 7-11)
1927-1928	John H. Menzies (grades 1-3), Jennie B. Keith (grade 3-6), Alfred James Struthers (grades 7-11)
1928-1929	Zelma W. Peden (grades 1-3), Stella Gertrude Laing (grades 3-6), Janet Louisa May More (grades 7-11)
1929-1930	Zelma W. Peden (grades 1-2), Stella Gertrude Laing (grades 3-4), Michael John Twerden (grades 5-7), Janet Louisa May More (grades 8-11)
1930-1931	Zelma W. Peden (grades 1-3), Beryl Alexandra Young (grades 3-5), Michael John Twerden (grades 6-8), Janet Louisa May More (grades 9-11)
1931-1932	Zelma W. Peden (grade 1-3), ? (grades 4-8), Janet Louisa May More (grades 9-11)
1932-1933	Zelma W. Peden (grade 1-3), Mabel Jean Sinclair (grades 3-5), Michael Alain Hawryluk (grades 6-8), Janet Louisa May More (grades 9-11)
1933-1934	Margaret Meryl Hanlin (grades 1-2), Anne Smigel (grades 4-5), Michael Alain Hawryluk (grades 6-8), Janet Louisa May More (grades 9-11)
1934-1935	Margaret Meryl Hanlin (grades 1-3), Anne Smigel (grades 3-5), Michael Alain Hawryluk (grades 6-8), Janet Louisa May More (grades 9-11)
1935-1936	Margaret Meryl Hanlin (grades 1-3), Anne Smigel (grades 4-5), Michael Alain Hawryluk (grades 6-8), William Schultz (grades 9-11)
1936-1937	Mary Kereluk (grades 1-3), Olga Alice Lestition (grades 4-6), Michael Alain Hawryluk (grades 7-8), Leslie Irving Spear (grades 9-11)
1937-1938	Mary Helen Anderson (grades 1-3), Olga Alice Lestition (grades 4-6), Michael Alain Hawryluk (grades 6-8), Leslie Irving Spear (grades 9-11)
1938-1939	Mary Helen Anderson (grades 1-2), John Parsons (grades 3-5), Frank Halinsky (grades 6-8), Michael Alain Hawryluk (grades 9-11)
1939-1940	Helen Forrest (grades 1-2), Taras Robert Korol (grades 3-5), Fred R. Turman (grades 6-8), Michael Alain Hawryluk (grades 9-11)
1940-1941	Helen Forrest (grades 1-2), Taras Robert Korol (grades 3-5), Margaret Howe (grades 6-8), Walter B. Wachna (grades 9-11)
1941-1942	Hildur Ingrid Josephine Sandhorn (grades 1-2), Mary Isabel Mazier (grades 3-5), John Tutkaluke (grades 6-8), Walter B. Wachna (grades 9-10), George Woloshynoski (grades 11-12)
1942-1943	Mary Ewashko (grades 1-2), Mary Isabel Mazier (grades 3-5), John Tutkaluke (grades 6-8), Walter B. Wachna (grades 9-10), George Woloshynoski (grades 11-12)
1943-1944	Mary Ewashko (grades 1-2), Mary Isabel Mazier (grades 3-5), Luna Nechwediuk (grades 6-8), Walter B. Wachna (grades 9-10), George Woloshynoski (grades 11-12)
1944-1945	Anne Panko (grades 1-2), Mary Isabel Mazier (grades 3-5), Luna Nechwediuk (grades 6-8), Walter B. Wachna (grades 9-11)
1945-1946	Lena Tillie Kuzyk (grades 1-2), Mary Isabel Mazier (grades 3-5), Peter Michael Luba (grades 6-8), Walter B. Wachna (grades 9-11)
1946-1947	Lena Tillie Kuzyk (grades 1-2), Olga Jean Haziuk (grades 3-5), Olga Annie Stechkewich (grades 6-8), John Parsons (grades 9-10), Walter B. Wachna (grades 10-12)
1947-1948	Anne Marjorie Shalay (grades 1-2), Alice Julia Shalay (grades 3-5), Alex Sabeski (grades 6-8), Peter Black (grades 9-10), John Parsons (grades 11-12)
1948-1949	Anne Marjorie Shalay (grades 1-2), Alice Julia Shalay (grades 3-5), Stephen Stanley [Szucki] Susky (grades 6-8), Nicholas “Nick” Danyluk (grades 9-10), John Osborn Wilson (grades 11-12)
1949-1950	Anne Marjorie Shalay (grades 1-2), Alice Julia Shalay (grades 3-5), Stephen Stanley [Szucki] Susky (grades 6-8), Nicholas “Nick” Danyluk (grades 9-10), Peter Michael Luba (grades 11-12)
1950-1951	Nicholas “Nick” Danyluk (grades 9-10), Olive Luba (grades 1-2), Peter Michael Luba (grades 11-12), Elinor Maxiene Natizk (grades 3-5), Stephen Stanley [Szucki] Susky (grades 6-8)
1951-1952	Nicholas “Nick” Danyluk (grades 9-10), Olive Luba (grades 1-2), Peter Michael Luba (grades 11-12), Elinor Maxiene Natizk (grades 3-5), Stephen Stanley [Szucki] Susky (grades 6-8)
1952-1953	Olga Yarish (grades 1-2), Elinor Maxiene Natizk Waddell (grades 3-5), Stanley M. Biluke (grades 6-8), Stephen Stanley [Szucki] Susky (grades 9-10), Nicholas “Nick” Danyluk (grades 11-12)
1953-1954	Olga Yarish (grades 1-2), Mary Matiation (grades 3-5), Stanley M. Biluke (grades 6-8), Stephen Stanley [Szucki] Susky (grades 9-10), Nicholas “Nick” Danyluk (grades 11-12)
1954-1955	Olga Yarish (grades 1-2), Mary Matiation (grades 3-5), Stanley M. Biluke (grades 6-8), Stephen Stanley [Szucki] Susky (grades 9-10), Martin Dmytro Chalaturnyk (grades 11-12)
1955-1956	Olga Yarish (grades 1-3), Mary Matiation (grades 4-6), Stanley M. Biluke (grades 7-9), Stephen Stanley [Szucki] Susky (grade 10), Martin Dmytro Chalaturnyk (grades 11-12)
1956-1957	Olga Yarish (grades 1-3), Mary Matiation (grades 4-6), Stanley M. Biluke (grades 7-9), Victor L. Michaluk (grade 10), Martin Dmytro Chalaturnyk (grades 11-12)
1957-1958	Olga Yarish (grades 1-3), Mary Matiation (grades 4-6), Stanley M. Biluke (grades 7-9), Walter Manulak (grade 10), Victor L. Michaluk (grade 11), Martin Dmytro Chalaturnyk (grade 12)
1958-1959	Olga Yarish (grades 1-2), Mary Matiation (grades 3-5), Jerry Matiation (grades 6-8), Stanley M. Biluke (grade 9), Walter Manulak (grade 10), Victor L. Michaluk (grade 11), Martin Dmytro Chalaturnyk (grade 12)
1959-1960	Olga Yarish (grades 1-2), Anne Matiation (grades 3-4), Jerry Matiation (grades 5-6), Stanley M. Biluke (grade 7-8), Stephen M. Waytowich (grade 9), Sonia Silewich (grade 10), Victor L. Michaluk (grade 11), Wesley Henry Sametz (grade 12)

Among the other teachers of Oakburn School were Clara Letitia Hamilton (1895-1898, 1900-1901), E. Cameron (1899), Mary Cameron (1900, 1905), Angus McGregor (1904-1905), Mary C. Cowan (1905), and Ellen “Nellie” Douglas Jenkins (1909-1910).

Photos & Coordinates

Oakburn School Grounds (circa 1935) Source: Education Department Report, 1935, Manitoba Legislative Library. Oakburn School (no date) by G. W. Bartlett Source: Archives of Manitoba, School Inspectors Photographs, GR8461, A0233, C131-1, page 6. Oakburn School commemorative monument (October 2011) Source: Gordon Goldsborough The present Oakburn School (October 2011) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Site Coordinates (lat/long): N50.56319, W100.57804 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Oak Creek School / Oakburn School No. 255 (RM of Yellowhead)

Sources:

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

Echoes: Oakburn, Manitoba, 1870- 1970 by Oakburn Centennial Committee. Oakburn: The Committee, 1970.

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.

Ripples On The Lake: A History of Shoal Lake Municipality, 1884-1984 by Shoal Lake History Book Committee, 1984.

Shoal Lake Crossroads, 15 July 2000, page 11.

Manitoba School Records Collection (GR2061), Oakburn School District No. 255 Daily Registers, Archives of Manitoba.

We thank Joel Fishman and Malcolm Bell for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 4 September 2021

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