Historic Sites of Manitoba: Wellington School No. 59 / Thornhill Consolidated School No. 59 (Thornhill, RM of Stanley)

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

The Wellington School District was established in November 1878 and, as early as 1881, a log schoolhouse operated at the southwest corner of SE17-3-6W in the Rural Municipality of Stanley. This building was destroyed by fire, along with early records held within. By 1886, dissatisfaction with the original school site led local ratepayers to approve moving it to the nearby village of Thornhill, closer to the then-planned new railway line. That summer, a one-classroom, wood frame building was constructed in town, to which a second classroom was added ten years later. Destroyed by fire in 1899, classes were held in a local store and the Orange Hall until a new two-storey stone structure could be built in 1900. A teacherage was added in July 1955.

This school served the community until the district was consolidated with Orangehill School District No. 794 in 1961 to form the Thornhill Consolidated School No. 59. The following year, a two-classroom designed by John Alexander Chivers, single-storey building replaced the earlier stone school, with construction starting on 21 October 1961 and concluding 17 February 1962, with classes commencing here 19 February. The old stone school was subsequently demolished in May 1962 to make way for a playground. The new facility lasted only six years because, in 1968, Thornhill consolidated with Morden to form the Morden Consolidated School No. 2440. The school at Thornhill was closed and students were henceforth bused to Morden. It became part of the Western School Division in 1969.

A monument, dedicated on 7 July 2003, commemorates the school and other notable historic buildings, including the Anglican Church (1895-1948), Methodist/United Church (1892-1978), Presbyterian Church (1891-1918), Memorial Curling Rink (1948-1975), Community Hall (1920-present), Canadian Pacific Railway Station (1888-1961), Lake of the Woods Elevator (1883-1962), Ogilvie / Manitoba Pool Elevator (1900-1978), Weldon-Broadbent / Ogilvie Elevator (1900-1978), Canadian Pacific Railway Stockyards (1888-1960), Reichert Garage (1945-1959), Jordan / Co-op / Martindale Store (1880-1980), Post Office (1879-present), South Warehouse (1920-1951), Campbell Garage (1920-1980), Manitoba Hotel / Campbell Boarding House (1900-1960), and Broadbent Store & Lumberyard (1880-1946).

Principals

Period

Principal

1895

Thomas Glendenning “Glen” Hamilton (1873-1935)

1895-1896

Joseph Little (?-?)

1896-1898

Edward Bailey Fisher (1873-1946)

1898-1901

William A. Clarke (1878-?)

1901

Duncan Crerar (1877-1910)

1902-1904

?

1905

Margaret M. “Maggie” Wilton

1905-1907

William John Bates (1876-1943)

1907

H. Blain

1907-1909

Una Grant

1909-1910

Edwin H. Clark

1910-1911

Perley Livingston

1911

Ruth Owens

1912

Margaret W. Halstead

1913-1914

Annie F. Johnston

1914-1916

George C. Simpson Jr.

1916-1918

Ella G. Martin

1918-1919

Ida L. Atkinson

1919-1920

Olive Johnston

1920

Mabel L. Bradley

1920

Frances “Fannie” South

1921-1922

Hazel Arretta Vandecar Foster (1897-1990)

1922-1923

May Myers

1923-1927

John Bruce Day (1902-1955)

1927

Elva L. Wallace

1928-1929

Barney Thordarson (1904-1974)

1929-1930

William Fogel (1903-1991)

1930-1931

Kaethe M. D. “Kae” Carstens

1931-1933

Phyllis Mary Archibald

1933-1934

Frank Unrau Dyck (1893-1982)

1934-1936

John Melville Brown (1913-1996)

1936-1937

William Morrison Reid

1937-1941

Louise McPhedran

1941-1942

Claire Edmond Dawson (?-1995)

1942-1943

Frances Maud Garton Hanbury (1893-1980)

1943-1945

Annie Belle Fraser

1945-1947

Josie Kathleen Okapiece

1947-1950

Muriel Ramona McVeigh

1950-1952

John S. Schellenberg (?-?)

1952-1953

Kenneth Donald Bruce (1892-1968)

1953-1956

Gerhard N. Janzen

1956-1957

David Langton MacDonald (1911-1957)

1957-1959

Oliver Glen Olmstead (?-1997)

1959-1960

Bernhard A. Klassen

1960-1962

Kaethe M. D. Carstens “Kae” White

1962-1964

Maxwell Ross “Ross” Webber

1964-1965

Phyllis Joyce DeNeve

1965-1967

Garth Spencer Field

1967-1968

Hedy Bridget Bugiera

Teachers

The early teachers of Wellington School were R. R. Mills (1883-1884), Alfred “Alf” Jackson (Spring-Fall 1885), James Winter Cartwell (Spring 1886 - Fall 1887), William T. Hoyes (Spring 1888 - Fall 1889), Jeannie Brown (Spring 1890), school did not operate? (Fall 1890), William Rose (Spring-Fall 1891), Stewart Murray Battram (Spring-Fall 1892, Spring 1894), U. M. Spencer? (Spring-Fall 1893), and Thomas Glendenning “Glen” Hamilton (Fall 1894).

Period

Teachers

1895

Thomas Glendenning “Glen” Hamilton (senior grades, Spring), Joseph Little (senior grades, Fall), U. M. Spencer? (junior grades)

1896

Edward Bailey Fisher (senior grades, Fall), Joseph Little (senior grades, Spring), Marion G. McLeod (junior grades, Spring), Lottie Toumbs? (junior grades, Spring)

1897

Edward Bailey Fisher (senior grades), Maggie Duncan (junior grades)

1898

William A. Clarke (senior grades, Fall), Edward Bailey Fisher (senior grades, Spring), Maggie Duncan (junior grades)

1899

William A. Clarke (senior grades), Maggie Duncan (junior grades)

1900

William A. Clarke (senior grades), Maggie Duncan (junior grades)

1901

William A. Clarke (senior grades, Spring), Duncan Crerar (senior grades, Fall), Maggie Duncan (junior grades, Spring), Margaret M. “Maggie” Wilton (junior grades, Fall)

1902

Margaret M. “Maggie” Wilton (? grades), ?

1903

Margaret M. “Maggie” Wilton (? grades), ?

1904

Margaret M. “Maggie” Wilton (? grades), ?

1905

(Spring only): Margaret M. “Maggie” Wilton (senior grades), Mamie [Marnie?] Brown (junior grades)

1905-1906

William John Bates (grades 5-10), Clara McGirr [McGin?] (grades 1-4)

1906-1907

William John Bates (grades 5-10), Lillie A. Winram (grades 1-4)

1907-1908

H. Blain (grades 5-10, pt Fall), Una Grant (grades 5-10, pt Fall - Spring), Sarah Stevenson (grades 1-4)

1908-1909

Una Grant (grades 5-9), Sarah Stevenson (grades 1-5)

1909-1910

Edwin H. Clark (grades 5-9), Mabel Rowbotham (grades 1-5)

1910-1911

Perley Livingston (grades 5-9, Fall; grades 6-10, Spring), Mabel Rowbotham (grades 1-5)

1911-1912

Margaret W. Halstead (grades 6-10, Spring), May V. Moreau (grades 1-5), Ruth Owens (grades 6-10, Fall)

1912-1913

Miss K. Coppinger (grades 1-5), Annie F. Johnson (grades 6-10, Spring), Margaret W. Halstead (grades 6-11, Fall)

1913-1914

Annie F. Johnson (grades 6-10), Lucy E. Swain (grades 1-5)

1914-1915

G, Lillie M. Kempthorne (grades 1-5), George C. Simpson Jr. (grades 6-11)

1915-1916

Victoria Finkbeiner (grades 1-5), George C. Simpson Jr. (grades 6-11)

1916-1917

Victoria Finkbeiner (grades 1-6), Ella G. Martin (grades 7-11)

1917-1918

Victoria Finkbeiner (grades 1-6), Ella G. Martin (grades 7-11)

1918-1919

Ida L. Atkinson (grades 7-10), Violet G. Earle (grades 1-6)

1919-1920

Olive Johnston (grades 6-10), Mildred H. Welch (grades 1-5)

1920-1921

Mabel L. Bradley (grades 6-10, August-? [pt Fall]), Frances “Fannie” South (grades 6-10, ?-December [pt Fall]), Hazel Arretta Vandecar (grades 6-10, January-June), Mildred H. Welch (grades 1-5)

1921-1922

Florence Hammond (grades 1-5, January-June), Hazel Arretta Vandecar (grades 6-10), Mildred H. Welch (grades 1-5, August-Decmber)

1922-1923

Catherine M. Campbell (grades 1-5, Spring), Mary E. Durnin (grades 1-5, pt Fall), Jean I. Gunn (grades 1-5, pt Fall), May Myers (grades 6-10)

1923-1924

John Bruce Day (grades 6-11, Spring), Greta C. Harvey (grades 1-5, Fall), May Myers (grades 6-11, Fall), Barney Thordarson (grades 1-5, Spring)

1924-1925

John Bruce Day (grades 6-10), Barney Thordarson (grades 1-5)

1925-1926

John Bruce Day (grades 7-11), Barney Thordarson (grades 1-6)

1926-1927

John Bruce Day (grades 7-11), Anne Slusman (grades 1-6)

1927-1928

Edith M. Good (grades 1-6, pt Fall), Vera J. MacNair (grades 1-6), Barney Thordarson (grades 6-10, Spring), Elva L. Wallace (grades 6-10, pt Fall)

1928-1929

Isabel Milne (grades 1-6), Barney Thordarson (grades 7-11)

1929-1930

William Fogel (grades 7-11), Isabel Milne (grades 1-6)

1930-1931

Kaethe M. D. “Kae” Carstens (grades 7-11), Isabel Milne (grades 1-6)

1931-1932

Phyllis Mary Archibald (grades 7-11), Elizabeth Rendall Balfour (grades 1-6)

1932-1933

Phyllis Mary Archibald (grades 6-11), Elizabeth Rendall Balfour (grades 1-6)

1933-1934

Frank Unrau Dyck (grades 7-11), Lavina Mary Milne (grades 1-6)

1934-1935

John Melville Brown (grades 7-11), Lavina Mary Milne (grades 1-6)

1935-1936

John Melville Brown (grades 7-11), Lavina Mary Milne (grades 1-6)

1936-1937

Lavina Mary Milne (grades 1-6), William Morrison Reid (grades 7-11)

1937-1938

Louise McPhedran (grades 7-11), Lavina Mary Milne (grades 1-6)

1938-1939

Louise McPhedran (grades 7-11), Evelyn Spangelo (grades 1-6)

1939-1940

Lillian Mabel Elfreda Ablett (grades 1-5, 1940), Louise McPhedran (grades 7-11), Evelyn Spangelo (grades 1-5, 1939)

1940-1941

Lillian Mabel Elfreda Ablett (grades 1-6, 1941), Louise McPhedran (grades 7-11), Evelyn Spangelo (grades 1-6, 1940)

1941-1942

Lillian Mabel Elfreda Ablett (grades 1-6), Claire Edmond Dawson (grades 7-11)

1942-1943

Frances Maud Garton Hanbury (grades 7-11), Ann Reid "Annie" Harper (grades 1-6)

1943-1944

Marie Margaret Campbell (grades 1-6), Annie Belle Fraser (grades 7-11)

1944-1945

Marie Margaret Campbell (grades 1-6), Annie Belle Fraser (grades 7-11)

1945-1946

Evelyn Dorothy Denhard (grades 1-6), Josie Kathleen Okapiece (grades 7-11)

1946-1947

Evelyn Dorothy Denhard (grades 1-6), Josie Kathleen Okapiece (grades 7-11)

1947-1948

Muriel Ramona McVeigh (grades 7-11), Leona Ruth Neuman (grades 1-6)

1948-1949

Dolores Lorain Henry (grades 1-6), Muriel Ramona McVeigh (grades 7-11)

1949-1950

Jessie Margaret Fast (grades 1-6), Muriel Ramona McVeigh (grades 7-11)

1950-1951

Helen Reimer (grades 1-6), John S. Schellenberg (grades 7-11)

1951-1952

Helen Reimer (grades 1-6), John S. Schellenberg (grades 7-11)

1952-1953

Florence Mildred Lorraine Hamm (grades 1-6), Kenneth Donald Bruce (grades 7-11)

1953-1954

Gerhard N. Janzen (grades 5-11), Marjorie Ruth Laurie (grades 1-4)

1954-1955

Gerhard N. Janzen (grades 7-11), Myrtle Geraldine Rusenel (grades 1-6)

1955-1956

Anne Bugera (grades 1-6), Gerhard N. Janzen (grades 7-11)

1956-1957

Lillian Joyce Gibson (grades 1-6), David Langton MacDonald (grades 7-11)

1957-1958

Lillian Joyce Gibson (grades 1-6), Oliver Glen Olmstead (grades 7-11)

1958-1959

Oliver Glen Olmstead (grades 7-11), Ella Eileen Shiskoski (grades 1-6)

1959-1960

Bernhard A. Klassen (grades 5-9), Ella Eileen Shiskoski Martens (grades 1-4)

1960-1961

Evelyn Josephine Alwin (grades 1-4), Kaethe M. D. Carstens “Kae” White (grades 7-11)

1961-1962

Evelyn Josephine Alwin (grades 1-4), Kaethe M. D. Carstens “Kae” White (grades 7-11)

1962-1963

Beverly Ailsa Webber (grades 1-4), Maxwell Ross “Ross” Webber (grades 5-8)

1963-1964

Beverly Ailsa Webber (grades 1-3), Maxwell Ross “Ross” Webber (grades 4-7)

1964-1965

Phyllis Joyce DeNeve (grades 4-8), Edel Eberhardt (grades 1-3)

1965-1966

Garth Spencer Field (grades 5-8), Janice Shirley Friesen (grades 1-4)

1966-1967

Garth Spencer Field (grades 5-8), Janice Shirley Friesen (grades 1-4)

1967-1968

Hedy Bridget Bugiera (grades 5-7), Ruth Vivian Gooley (grades 1-4)

Photos & Coordinates

Wellington School

Wellington School (no date)
Source: Archives of Manitoba, School Districts - Thornhill.

Wellington School

Wellington School (no date) by G. G. Neufeld
Source: Archives of Manitoba, School Inspectors Photographs,
GR8461, A0233, C131-1, page 21.

Thornhill Consolidated School

Thornhill Consolidated School (1962)
Source: Archives of Manitoba, School Districts - Thornhill.

Thornhill commemorative monument

Thornhill commemorative monument (May 2013)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough

Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.20142, W98.23063
denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Wellington School (Wellington Avenue, Winnipeg)

Sources:

“Thornhill,” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 4 August 1894, page 5.

“Morden,” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 14 August 1894, page 3.

“People we talk about [Mr. Jos. Little, B.A...],” Winnipeg Tribune, 16 July 1896, page 5.

“The Indian famine fund,” Winnipeg Tribune, 4 March 1897, page 4.

“Personal [Mr. W. A. Clarke, principal of Thornhill School...],” Winnipeg Tribune, 3 January 1900, page 4.

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

As Years Go By: 1876-1971 by the Thornhill Book Committee, 1971.

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.

Board of Education registers (A 0050), GR7643, Archives of Manitoba.

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

Manitoba School Records Collection, Wellington School No. 59 / Thornhill School No. 59 - Daily Registers, GR0347, Archives of Manitoba.

Manitoba School Records Collection, Wellington School No. 59 - School History and Teachers Listing, GR0347, Archives of Manitoba.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 6 March 2024

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