Historic Sites of Manitoba: Whitemouth School No. 139 / Whitemouth Elementary (Whitemouth, RM of Whitemouth)

Link to:
Whitemouth School Principals | Whitemouth School Teachers | Whitemouth Collegiate Principals | Whitemouth Collegiate Teachers | Whitemouth Elementary Principals | Whitemouth Elementary Teachers | Photos & Coordinates | Sources

The Whitemouth School District was established in April 1884 though did not begin classroom operation until the fall of 1889 when it opened a school in Whitemouth, in what would late become the Rural Municipality of Whitemouth. In 1912, it became Whitemouth Consolidated School and, the following year, a new wood frame building was constructed on a design by Winnipeg architect Eldred Dodsworth Tuttle. The building was destroyed by fire in 1947 and was replaced the following year. In 1971, all elementary grades were transferred to the former Whitemouth Collegiate after which the two-storey building was demolished. The district later became part of the Agassiz School Division.

Principals (Whitemouth School)

Period	Principal
1913	Bert Smith
1913	D. McLaughlin
1914	Robert Williamson
1914	V. N. Turner
1915-1916	Edith Ann Fingland (1877-1957)
1916-1917	Evelyn Ross Perkins
1918	Ernest Lott Kerr (1893-?)
1918-1919	Evelyn Rhena Hicks (?-?)
1919-1920	Vernon Wallis Mulvin (1891-1972)
1920-1922	Charles Herbert Egan (1872-1922)
1922	William John Gordon Scott (1885-1953)
1922-1923	Charles Herbert Egan (1872-1922)
1923-1924	Alexander Harkins
1924-1925	James Randolph Hartley Simms (1869-1934)
1925-1928	Charles Foulsham Laine (1888-1945)
1928-1929	E. Myrtle Burt
1929-1930	Mary Ethel Simms (c1895-1947)
1930-1932	James Edwards (1892-1967)
1932-1935	Alfred James Struthers (c1890-?)
1935-1936	Morrison S. Blanchard
1936-1940	Benjamin “Ben” Foreman (c1898-1981)
1940-1943	Peter Anthony “Tony” Stefaniec [Stephens] (1913-2011)
1943	Clive Helmut Cardinal
1943-1945	George Boyer Poole (1880-1958)
1945-1947	John Elwin Laird (1876-1950)
1947	E. E. Gridley
1947	John Elwin Laird (1876-1950)
1948	Harvey Willis Ferrier (1873-1957)
1948-1949	Rudolph Verne Dankesreiter (1900-1952)
1949-1951	Morley Fraser Sparrow (1915-1979)
1951-1952	Harry Herbert Galan (?-2007)
1952-1953	Frank Unrau Dyck (?-1982)
1953-1954	Albert J. Huebner
1954-1955	Gordon Alexander Henderson (1920-1993)
1955-1956	Dr. Frederick K. Schultze
1956-1959	Elta Horn Atkins Borrowman Larson (1901-1993)
1959-1961	Ada Emily Pitt Huett (1910-1980)

Teachers (Whitemouth School)

Among the early teachers of Whitemouth School were Martha Love (Fall 1889 & Spring 1891), Nellie Scarry (Spring-Fall 1890), A. McKillop (Fall 1891), William C. Smith (Spring 1892 - Spring 1893), Ernest Forest Haffner (Fall 1893 - Fall 1894), Ethel Middlemiss? (Spring-Fall 1895), Maggie M. Colter? (Spring 1896 - Fall 1897), Annie R. Lang (Spring-Fall 1898 & Spring-Fall 1900), Susie W? Morrison (Spring-Fall 1899), Jessie W. Ross (Spring-Fall 1901), records not available (Spring 1902 - Fall 1904), Mary Armstrong (Spring-Fall 1905), A. P. Trorosdale? (Spring-Fall 1906), Kate B. Henderson (Spring-Fall 1907), Charles Henry Godfrey (Spring 1908), Dora Faryow? (Fall 1908), Robert Moir (Spring 1909), George Phineas Van Raaite [Raite?] (Fall 1909 & pt Spring 1910), Grant E. Samby (pt Spring 1910, Fall 1910, & pt Spring 1911), Bessie Rumons? (pt Spring 1911), and Thomas Trzer? (Fall 1911).

Period	Teachers
1912	(Spring only): Bert Smith (all grades)
1912-1913	Bert Smith (all grades, Fall; senior grades, Spring), Mary Rogers (junior grades, Spring)
1913-1914	D. McLaughlin (senior grades, Fall), Eva J. M. Reid (junior grades, Spring), Rosetta Rockford (junior grades, Fall), Robert Williamson (senior grades, Spring)
1914-1915	Edith Ann Fingland (grades 3-8, January-June), Gladys Margaret Irving (grades 1-2, January-June), V. N. Turner (August-December, senior grades), Miss H? (pt Fall, junior grades), Miss C? (pt Fall, junior grades)
1915-1916	Edith Ann Fingland (grades 3-8), Brenda MacLean (grades 1-2, January-June), Rosa N. J. Wright (grades 1-2, August-December)
1916-1917	Hannah E. Bragg (grades 1-2, September-March), Evelyn Ross Perkins (grades 3-8), Frances M. Porter (grades 1-2, March-June)
1917-1918	Ernest Lott Kerr (grades 4-8, January-June), Ida Ermyntrude Norman (grades 1-3, January-June), Evelyn Ross Perkins (grades 3-8, August-December), Frances M. Porter (grades 1-2, August-December)
1918-1919	Evelyn Rhena Hicks (grades 3-8), Elaite? Isabel Kellett (grades 1-3)
1919-1920	Bessie M. Harris (grades 1-3, pt September - June), Evelyn Rhena Hicks (grades 4-9, August - pt December), Elaite? [Etoile?] Isabel Kellett (grades 1-3, August - pt September), Vernon Wallis Mulvin (grades 4-9, pt December - June)
1920-1921	Charles Herbert Egan (grades 3-8, August-December; grades 5-9, January-June), Bessie M. Harris (grades 1-3, August-December; grades 2-4, January-June), Hazel A. McDonald (grade 1, January-June)
1921-1922	Charles Herbert Egan (grades 5-8 & night school, August-April), Alma Erickson (grades 2-4), Ellen L. Fraser (grades 1-2), William John Gordon Scott (grades 4-8 & night school, May-June)
1922-1923	David William Dean? (grades 7-8 & 10, January-June), Charles Herbert Egan (grade 9 & night school), Clifford James Garvie (grades 2-4), Gertrude Groening? Irving (grades 4-6), Henry George Mingay (grades 7-8 & 10, August-December), Isabel Smith (grades 1-2)
1923-1924	Clifford James Garvie (grades 3-4), Alexander Harkins (grades 5-8), Gertrude Groening? Irving (grades 3-4), Isabel Smith (grades 1-2)
1924-1925	Mary E. Brennan (grades 1-2), Gertrude Georgina? Irving (grades 3-4), James Randolph Hartley Simms (grades 5-10)
1925-1926	Mary Ellen Bournais (grades 1-2), Mabel Wright Carson (grades 3-4), Charles Foulsham Laine (grades 5-9)
1926-1927	Edith Aylewin? (grades 3-6, September-December), Mary Ellen Brennan (grade 1), Mabel Wright Carson (grades 1-3), Aileen Margaret Donald (grades 4-6, January-June), Charles Foulsham Laine (grades 6-10)
1927-1928	Mary Ellen Brennan (grade 1), Aileen Margaret Donald (grades 4-5), Elsie Helen Handel (grades 2-3), Charles Foulsham Laine (grades 6-8)
1928-1929	E. Myrtle Burt (grades 5-9), Julia I. Garry (grades 3-4), Stella Safaniuk (grades 1-2)
1929-1930	Elvira Collen (grades 1-2, September-December; grades 1-2, January-June), Lena Margaret Copeland (grades 5-7), Stella Safaniuk (grades 3-4, September-December; grades 2-4, January-June), Mary Ethel Simms (grades 8-11)
1930-1931	Elvira Collen (grades 1-2), Nora Louise Corke (grades 5-7), James Edwards (grades 8-11), Ruby May Fennell (grades 3-4)
1931-1932	Elvira Collen (grades 1-3), Nora Louise Corke (grades 6-8), James Edwards (grades 9-11), Ruby May Fennell (grades 3-5)
1932-1933	Elvira Collen (grades 1-2), Rose Phyllis Dauphinais (grades 5-6), Ruby May Fennell (grades 3-4), Alfred James Struthers (grades 7-11)
1933-1934	Elvira Collen (grades 1-2), Annette Louise Daneault (grades 3-4), Mabel Jean Sinclair (grades 5-6), Alfred James Struthers (grades 7-11)
1934-1935	Annette Louise Daneault (grades 1-2), Mabel Jean Sinclair (grades 3-5), Rose Leyn Stillman (grades 6-8), Alfred James Struthers (grades 9-11)
1935-1936	Morrison S. Blanchard (grades 9-11), Annette Louise Daneault (grades 1-2), Mabel Jean Sinclair (grades 3-5), Rose Leyn Stillman (grades 6-8)
1936-1937	Benjamin “Ben” Foreman (senior grades), Annette Louise Daneault, Mabel Jean Sinclair
1937-1938	Benjamin “Ben” Foreman (senior grades), Annette Louise Daneault (August-December), Irene E. McCullough, Mary Mozel (January-June), Mabel Jean Sinclair
1938-1939	Benjamin “Ben” Foreman (senior grades), Irene E. McCullough, Ruth Munro, Jeanine “Jean” Work
1939-1940	Benjamin “Ben” Foreman (senior grades), Irene E. McCullough, Ruth Munro [Monro?], Jeanine “Jean” Work
1940-1941	Isabelle Kippan (grades 1-2, April-June), Ruth Lyons (grades 3-5, September-March), Louise Neilson (grades 3-5, April-June), Peter Anthony “Tony” Stefaniec (grades 9-11), Mabel Taylor (grades 6-8, September-March), Phyllis Irene Wagner (grades 6-8, April-June), Jeanine “Jean” Work (grades 1-2, September-March)
1941-1942	Doreen Drysdale (September-December), Louise Neilson, Mrs. E. Sarapu? (January-June), Peter Anthony “Tony” Stefaniec (grades 9-11), Phyllis Irene Wagner
1942-1943	Clive Helmut Cardinal (grades 9-11, March-June), Louise Neilson (grades 1-3), Peter Anthony “Tony” Stefaniec (grades 9-11, September-February), Phyllis Irene Wagner (grades 3-5), Oscar Andrew Wurster (grades 6-8)
1943-1944	Annie Kachur, Ruth Kenny, George Boyer Poole (senior grades), Oscar Andrew Wurster
1944-1945	Annie Kachur, Ruth Kenny, George Boyer Poole (senior grades), Oscar Andrew Wurster
1945-1946	John Elwin Laird (senior grades), Margaret Price, Jean M. Segall, Oscar Andrew Wurster
1946-1947	Miss E. L. Gardiner, E. E. Gridley (senior grades, April-June), John Elwin Laird (senior grades, September-March), Margaret Price, Jean M. Segall, Oscar Andrew Wurster
1947-1948	Miss M. Dobchuk (January-June), Harvey Willis Ferrier (senior grades, January-June), Miss E. L. Gardiner, (September-December), Mrs. A Godolphin (wife of William Godolphin), John Elwin Laird (senior grades, September-December), Jean M. Segall, Oscar Andrew Wurster
1948-1949	Rudolph Verne Dankesreiter (grades 9-11), Abigail Godolphin (grades 1-2), Miss R. I. Heimann (grade 3-4), Jean Segall (grades 5-6), Oscar Andrew Wurster (grades 7-8)
1949-1950	Abigail Godolphin, Olga Jorgenson, Agathe L. Loeppky, Morley Fraser Sparrow (senior grades), Oscar Andrew Wurster
1950-1951	Abigail Godolphin, Olga Jorgenson, Lilian Olson, William Schultz, Peter Slonowski, Morley Fraser Sparrow (senior grades)
1951-1952	Harry Herbert Galan (senior grades), Abigail Godolphin, Miss A. W. McIntyre, Edward “Ed” Maza, William Schultz, Elizabeth Anne Wyseman
1952-1953	Frank Unrau Dyck (senior grades), Abigail Godolphin, Miss A. W. McIntyre, Edward “Ed” Maza, William Schultz, Elizabeth Anne Wyseman
1953-1954	Patricia Coucill (January-June), Abigail Godolphin, Albert J. Huebner (senior grades), Keith J. Huss (January-June), Raymond Keynes (September-December), Mrs. Raymond Keynes (September-December), Judith Ulman
1954-1955	Abigail Godolphin, Gordon Alexander Henderson, Albert J. Huebner (senior grades), Keith J. Huss, Aileen Huss (January-June), Judith Latta (January-June),
1955-1956	Abigail Godolphin, Keith J. Huss, Aileen Huss, Judith Latta (pt September), Frederick K. Schultze, Joe Segal (pt September-December), Alfred Charles Selver
1956-1957	Ada Emily Huett, Miss E. Huminek, Keith J. Huss, Aileen Huss, Elta Horn Atkins Borrowman Larson, Joyce Sitko
1957-1958	Lois Alpers (January-June), Ada Emily Huett, Miss E. Huminek, Keith J. Huss, Aileen Huss (September-December), Elta Horn Atkins Borrowman Larson, Joyce Sitko
1958-1959	Lois Alpers, Jean Grey, Ada Emily Huett, Keith J. Huss, Elta Horn Atkins Borrowman Larson, William Elgin Moffat
1959-1960	Karen Jean Delbridge (grades 3-4), James Orville Hood (grades 7-8), Ada Emily Huett (grades 1-2), William Elgin Moffat (grades 5-6)
1960-1961	Karen Jean Delbridge (grades 3-4), James Orville Hood (grades 7-8), Ada Emily Huett (grades 1-2), Shelagh Florence Chapman (grades 5-6)

Principals (Whitemouth Collegiate)

Period	Principal
1959-1961	Ernest Lorne Moffat (1899-1982)
1961-1962	see Whitemouth Collegiate

Teachers (Whitemouth Collegiate)

Period	Teachers
1959-1960	Eugene Cripriani Laurent (grade 11), Ernest Lorne Moffat (grade 12), Mary Ellen Molloy (grade 9), George Papastafidas (grade 10), Stanley M. Petrowski (grade 9)
1960-1961	Ernest Lorne Moffat (grade 12), Mary Ellen Molloy (grade 9), Stanley M. Petrowski (grade 11), Paul Bruce Salyn (grade 10), William John Schultz (grade 10)
1961-1962	see Whitemouth Collegiate

Principals (Whitemouth Elementary)

Period	Principal
1961-1967	Ada Emily Pitt Huett (1910-1980)
1967-1971	George Alexander Ferley (1942-2000)

Teachers (Whitemouth Elementary)

Period	Teachers
1961-1962	Gerda Elizabeth Braun (grades 2-3), Shelagh Florence Chapman (grades 5-6), James Orville Hood (grades 7-8, September-April), Ada Emily Huett (grade 1), Elsie Lee Shewchuk (grades 7-8, May-June substitute), Karen Jean Delbridge Steiner (grades 3-4)
1962-1963	Miss M. Jean I. Gunn (grades 7-8), Ada Emily Huett (grade 1), Irwin H. Kryat (grades 5-6), Joanne Honoka Meck (grade 2), Karen Jean Delbridge Steiner (grades 3-4)
1963-1964	Ada Emily Huett (grade 1), Irwin H. Kryat (grades 7-8), Rita Florence Marchuk (grades 3-4), Joanne Honoka Meck (grade 2), Roderick Hugh Richond (grades 5-6)
1964-1965	Mr. G. W. Collier, Ada Emily Huett, Rita Florence Marchuk, Miss G. Reinhardt, Roderick Hugh Richond
1965-1966	Miss A. Dueck (grades 5-6), George Alexander Ferley (grades 7-8), Miss K. Haggerty (grade 3), Ada Emily Huett (grade 1), Miss D. Mannell (grades 3-4), Miss G. Reinhardt (grades 2-3)
1966-1967	George Alexander Ferley (grade 8), Miss K. Haggerty (grade 3), Mr. D. Harntier (grade 7), Ada Emily Huett (grade 1), Miss D. Mannell (grade 4), Miss S. McKellar (grade 5), Miss G. Reinhardt (grade 2), Mr. R. Wychreshchuk (grade 6)
1967-1968	Mr. K. Aitkenhead (grade 5), Miss D. Breton (grade 3), Miss C. Buikoske (grade 1), Mrs. M. Bush (grade 7), George Alexander Ferley (grade 8), Miss T. Gordon (grade 2), Miss G. Lefebre (grade 4), Mr. R. Wychreshchuk (grade 6)
1968-1969	?
1969-1970	?
1970-1971	Mary Lois Alpers (grade 1), Herve Laurent Caron (grade 7), Vivian Jean Friedrick (grade 3), Adele Mary Teresa Globa (grade 4), Derek Allen Graham (grade 3), Marlene Albertine Hutlet (grade 2), Charlotte Ellen Johannson (kindergarten), Edwin Nick Kohut (grade 4), Beverley Anne Lovenuk (grade 1), Michael Paul Lysack (grade 8), Wanda Mickaniec (grade 5), Irene Victoria Plesh (grade 7), Lillian M. Rodgers (grade 6), Donna Mae Shadbolt (grade 6), Heather Melinda Shaw (grade 2), Elsie Lee Shewchuk (resource), Ray A. Steinhoff (grade 8), Joan Gale Storsley (grade 5), Mark John Mark Zebrun (special education; mentally handicapped)
After 1971	see Whitemouth School

Photos & Coordinates

The Whitemouth School building, destroyed by fire in 1947 (1930s) by R. Goulet Source: Archives of Manitoba, School Inspectors Photographs, GR8461, A0233, C131-1, page 47. Whitemouth School teacherage (1930s) by R. Goulet Source: Archives of Manitoba, School Inspectors Photographs, GR8461, A0233, C131-1, page 47. Whitemouth Consolidated School at left (September 1952) Source: Archives of Manitoba, George Harris Fonds, Acc. 1979-141, P7452, Album 18, Page 52. Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.95457, W95.97678 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Whitemouth Collegiate / Whitemouth School (Whitemouth, RM of Whitemouth)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Whitemouth Lake School No. 1672 (RM of Piney)

Sources:

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

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

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

Board of Education meeting minutes and office files (A 0052), GR1622, Archives of Manitoba.

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

Manitoba School Records Collection, Whitemouth School District No. 139 - Cash Books, GR9480, Archives of Manitoba.

“Tenders for building,” Manitoba Free Press, 4 June 1913, page 2.

“Whitemouth,” Springfield Leader, 31 August 1948, page 4.

Obituary [Charles Henry Godfrey], Portage la Prairie Manitoba Leader, 29 April 1954. [Manitoba Legislative Library]

“Whitemouth [The community extends a warm welcome ...],” Springfield Leader, 12 September 1961, page 6.

“Whitemouth [Whitemouth Elementary School ...],” Springfield Leader, 15 September 1964, page 4.

“Whitemouth [The enrollment of the Whitemouth Elementary School ...],” Springfield Leader, 14 September 1965, page 3.

“Whitemouth [Thirty-three beginners have been enrolled ...],” Springfield Leader, 20 September 1966, page 7.

“Whitemouth [Whitemouth Elementary School ...],” Springfield Leader, 18 July 1967, page 9.

“Whitemouth [Whitemouth Elementary School ...],” Springfield Leader, 3 October 1967, page 10.

“Whitemouth,” Springfield Leader, 3 October 1967, page 10.

“Whitemouth,” Springfield Leader, 1 June 1971, page 7.

Schools in Manitoba - Volume 2, Whitemouth Elementary - File 116A, Local Government Boundaries Commission, March 1968, Archives of Manitoba.

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.

Trails to Rails to Highways edited by Bob Porth and Craig MacKenzie, Whitemouth Municipal Museum Society, 1979.

We thank Bob Porth and Randy Rostecki for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer and Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 19 August 2023

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