Historic Sites of Manitoba: Wingham Consolidated School No. 1921 (RM of Grey)

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

The Wingham Consolidated School District in the Rural Municipality of Grey resulted from the amalgamation of Wingham School No. 1061, Sunnydale School No. 1389, and New Sydenham School No. 1380. Construction of a new school building, designed by Winnipeg architect Eldred Dodsworth Tuttle, began in 1920. Built on a 12-acre lot (SE27-9-5W) at a cost of $60,000, the one-storey brick structure measured 63 feet by 64 feet and featured a full-height basement with a gymnasium, manual training room and auditorium; four classrooms on the main floor; and a principal’s office, library, and science laboratory on the second floor. Nearby was a two-storey duplex that contained residential space for the principal and his family, and the school caretaker. A barn contained stalls for 14 horses, two garages, and a shed for storing the vans used to transport students to and from school. The school was unique in being the only large, consolidated district outside a town in rural Manitoba. It was opened at a ceremony on 14 October 1921 attended by provincial Education Minister Robert Stirton Thornton. It was destroyed by fire on 9 January 1929.

During the summer of 1929, the original school building was replaced by the present three-classroom, one-storey structure designed by architect Edgar Prain. Two more classrooms and a laboratory were added to the rear in 1951. It came under jurisdiction of the Midland School Division before closing in 1973, after which the building was sold. For a brief period in 1974-1975, the facility was used as an outdoor retreat by students and staff of the St. James Assiniboia School Division but the program ended when school officials asked for costly renovations so the building would meet modern health and safety regulations.

In 1992, a monument was erected along the road allowance, for the Elm Creek centennial year, and dedicated to the pioneers, teachers, and students of Wingham School. The original duplex teacherage remained in use as a private residence at the time of a 2019 site visit.

Principals

Period	Principal
1921-1922	Wilfred Almon Rideout (1878-1949)
1922-1925	Eleanor Boyce (1898-1997)
1925-1926	George William Leonard (1880-1959)
1926-1929	John Alexander Jewkes (1901-1971)
1929-1931	Vivian Clarkson “Clark” Hardy (1897-1982)
1931-1935	Benjamin “Ben” Foreman (c1898-1981)
1935-1938	Phyllis Mary Ella Archibald Buckler (1911-2002)
1938-1939	Alice Isabel Ewen
1939-1940	Wendell Herbert Arthur Franklin White (1914-2009)
1940-1941	William Malcolm “Bill” McMillan (1914-2004)
1941	Maurice [Karal] Karalnick (c1913-1990)
1942-1944	Mary Ann Watson
1944-1946	Peter Patrick George Calancie (1920-1994)
1946-1947	Minnie Maude Shewfelt Sisson (1912-1991)
1947-1948	Annie Florence “Ann” Fraser
1948-1949	Delorie Wessels “Del” Howell (1925-2008)
1949-1950	Frank Unrau Dyck (?-1982)
1950-1951	Robert Roger Roy (1926-1990)
1951-1953	Teresa Moloney (1899-1983)
1953-1955	David D. Duerksen (1923-2006)
1955-1957	John S. Schellenberg (?-?)
1957-1959	Ernest Pankratz (1928-2015)
1959-1960	Minnie Maude Shewfelt Sisson (1912-1991)
1960-1961	Hidewo Harry Yoshida
1961-1962	Walter Abram Toews (1923-2006)
1962-1963	Minnie Maude Shewfelt Sisson (1912-1991)
1963-1967	Clifford Albert Kutzan
1967-1968	Beryl Iris Copping Gibson (c1932-2010)
1968-1970	Beryl Iris Copping Gibson (c1932-2010) Minnie Maude Shewfelt Sisson (1912-1991)
1970-1973	Beryl Iris Copping Gibson (c1932-2010)

Teachers

School Year	Teachers
1921-1922	Hazel Ferne [Fern] Peacock (grades 1-3), Wilfred Almon Rideout (grades 7-10), Doris B. Saunders (grades 4-6)
1922-1923	Eleanor Boyce (grades 7-11), Esther Emery (grades 4-6), Hazel Fern [Ferne] Peacock (grades 1-3)
1923-1924	Eleanor Boyce (grades 7-11), Laura Chamberlain (grades 1-3), Esther Emery (grades 4-6)
1924-1925	Eleanor Boyce (grades 7-11), Miss Evelyn M. Rogers (grades 1-3), Miss Kate A. Smith (grades 4-6)
1925-1926	George William Leonard (grades 7-11), Miss Evelyn M. Rogers (grades 1-3, 1925, grades 1-4, 1926), Miss Kate A. Smith (grades 4-6)
1926-1927	John Alexander Jewkes (grades 9-11), Jessie Margaret Laing (grades 4-8), Ella Mary Hedden (grades 1-3)
1927-1928	John Alexander Jewkes (grades 9-11), Jessie Margaret Laing (grades 4-8), Ella Mary Hedden (grades 1-3)
1928-1929	Nellie May Fleming (grades 4-8), John Alexander Jewkes (grades 9-11), Mabel Grace McGill (grades 1-3)
1929-1930	Vivian Clarkson “Clark” Hardy (grades 9-11), Charlotta Eunice Troughton (grades 4-8), Kathleen Margaret Turfs (grades 1-3)
1930-1931	Vivian Clarkson “Clark” Hardy (grades 9-11), Charlotta Eunice Troughton (grades 4-8), Kathleen Margaret Tufts (grades 1-3)
1931-1932	Benjamin “Ben” Foreman (grades 9-11), Kathleen “Kay” Goodchild (grades 5-8), Laura Ellen North (grades 1-4)
1932-1933	Benjamin “Ben” Foreman (grades 9-11), Kathleen “Kay” Goodchild (grades 5-8), Laura Ellen North (grades 1-4)
1933-1934	Benjamin “Ben” Foreman (grades 9-11), Kathleen “Kay” Goodchild (grades 5-8), Laura Ellen North (grades 1-4)
1934-1935	Benjamin “Ben” Foreman (grades 9-11), Kathleen “Kay” Goodchild (grades 5-8), Myrtle Geraldine Rusenel (grades 1-4)
1935-1936	Phyllis Mary Archibald (grades 9-11), Kathleen Mabel “Kay” Goodchild (grades 5-8), Myrtle Geraldine Rusenel (grades 1-4)
1936-1937	Phyllis Mary Archibald (grades 9-12), Kathleen Mabel “Kay” Goodchild (grades 5-8), Myrtle Geraldine Rusenel (grades 1-4)
1937-1938	Phyllis Mary Archibald (grades 9-12), Margaret Mabel Denton (grades 5-8), Norma Kathleen Gordon (grades 1-4)
1938-1939	Alice Isabel Ewen (grades 7-12), Margaret Mabel Denton (grades 4-6), Norma Kathleen Gordon (grades 1-3), E. Hopkins (grades 4-6, 1939 substitute)
1939-1940	Jean Helen Caldwell (grades 3-6), June Doraine McKnight (grades 1-2), Wendell Herbert White (grades 7-12)
1940-1941	Agnes Louisa Florence (grades 3-6), June Doraine McKnight (grades 1-2), William Malcolm McMillan (grades 7-11)
1941-1942	Ellen Jeannette Davis (grades 3-6, 1942), Agnes Louisa Florence (grades 3-6, 1941), Evelyn Mae Hopkins (grades 1-2, 1942), Maurice [Karal] Karalnick (grades 7-11, 1941), Gertrude L. Lawrie (grades 5-8), Ellen Mae Lennox (grades 5-8, 1942), Mary Ann Watson (grades 1-2, 1941; grades 9-11, 1942)
1942-1943	Ellen Jeannette Davis (grades 3-4), Evelyn Mae Hopkins (grades 1-2), Olive May Reid (grades 5-8), Mary Ann Watson (grades 9-11)
1943-1944	Ellen Jeannette Davis (grades 3-4), Evelyn Mae Hopkins (grades 1-2), Olive May Reid (grades 5-8), Mary Ann Watson (grades 9-11)
1944-1945	Peter Patrick George Calancie (grades 9-11), Evelyn Mae Hopkins (grades 1-2), Mary Lawrence (grades 3-5), Beth Sisson (grades 3-5, 1945), Edith Bernice Wilkins (grades 5-8)
1945-1946	Peter Patrick George Calancie (grades 9-11), Florette Giasson (grades 4-5), Evelyn Mae Hopkins (grades 1-3), Edith Bernice Wilkins (grades 5-8)
1946-1947	Lorna Colwell Couch (grades 1-2), Minnie Maude Shewfelt (grades 9-11), Marguerite Marie Stocks (grades 3-5), Frederich Wilmot Sutton (grades 6-8)
1947-1948	Lorna Colwell Couch (grades 1-2), Dorothy Myrtle Boyd (grades 6-8), Hazel May Earl (grade 11), Annie Florence “Ann” Fraser (grades 9-10), Margaret Marie Stocks (grades 3-5)
1948-1949	Annie Florence “Ann” Fraser (grades 9-10), Erma Betty Giesbrecht (grades 3-5), Robinson Erle Hamilton (grades 6-8), Delorie Wessels Howell (grade 11)
1949-1950	Frank Unrau Dyck (grades 11-12), Constance Grace Franzmann (grades 3-5, 1950), Annie Florence “Ann” Fraser (grades 9-10), Erma Betty Giesbrecht Howell (grades 3-5), Elsie Mary Paetkau (grades 6-8)
1950-1951	Hazel May Holmes (grades 1-2), Ann “Annie” Janzen (grades 3-5), Elsie Mary Paetkau (grades 6-8), Robert Roger Roy (grade 11), Minnie Maude Shewfelt Sisson (grades 9-10)
1951-1952	David D. Duerksen (grades 9-10), Donalda Marion English (grades 2-3), Grace Eleene Gorrie (grades 1-2), Jake Loewen (grades 6-8), Teresa Moloney (grades 11-12), Margaret Reimer (grades 4-5)
1952-1953	David D. Duerksen (grades 9-10), Donalda Marion English (grades 2-3), Grace Eleene Gorrie (grades 1-2), Jake Loewen (grades 6-8), Teresa Moloney (grades 11-12), Margaret Reimer (grades 4-5)
1953-1954	Beryl Copping (grades 1-2), David D. Duerksen (grades 11-12), Jake Loewen (grades 6-8), Agatha Esther Paetkau (grades 3-4), Henry H. Paetkau (grades 9-10), Anne Skrabek (grades 4-5)
1954-1955	Beryl Copping (grades 1-2), Abram Friesen (grades 7-8), Ilse Susie Funk (grades 3-4), David D. Duerksen (grades 11-12), Henry H. Paetkau (grades 9-10), Anne Skrabek (grades 5-6)
1955-1956	Beryl Copping (grades 1-2), Abram Friesen (grades 7-8), Ilse Susie Funk (grades 3-4), John S. Schellenberg (grades 11-12), Minnie Maude Shewfelt Sisson (grades 9-10), Anne Skrabek (grades 5-6)
1956-1957	Beryl Copping (grades 1-2), Viola Kathleen McDougall (grades 7-8), Marie Peters (grades 5-6), John S. Schellenberg (grades 11-12), Sarah Susan Schroeder (grades 3-4), Minnie Maude Shewfelt Sisson (grades 9-10)
1957-1958	Beryl Gibson (grades 1-2), Viola Kathleeen McDougall (grades 7-8), Ernest Pankratz (grades 11-12), Marie Peters (grades 5-6), Sarah Susan Schroeder (grades 3-4), Minnie Maude Shewfelt Sisson (grades 9-10)
1958-1959	Abe Bestvater (grades 7-8), Katie Helen Enns (grades 3-4), Beryl Gibson (grades 1-2), Ernest Pankratz (grades 11-12), Marie Peters (grades 5-6), Minnie Maude Shewfelt Sisson (grades 9-10)
1959-1960	Mary Jean Bell (grades 7-8), Arthur Froese (grades 9-10), Beryl Gibson (grades 1-2), M. Nikkel (grades 3-4), Marie Peters (grades 5-6), Minnie Maude Shewfelt Sisson (grades 9-10)
1960-1961	David Wayne Basso (grades 7-8), Beryl Gibson (grades 1-2), Gail Elizabeth Rhynard (grades 3-4), Minnie Maude Shewfelt Sisson (grades 9-10), Donalda Marion English Tibbett (grades 5-6), Hidewo Harry Yoshida (grades 11-12)
1961-1962	David Wayne Basso (grades 7-8), Beryl Gibson (grades 1-2), Gail Elizabeth Rhynard (grades 3-4), Minnie Maude Shewfelt Sisson (grades 9-10), Donalda Marion English Tibbett (grades 5-6), Walter Abram Toews (grade 11)
1962-1963	Beryl Gibson (grades 1-2), Gail Elizabeth Rhynard (grades 3-4), Minnie Maude Shewfelt Sisson (grades 9-10), Donalda Marion English Tibbett (grades 5-6), Henry Alan Wiebe (grades 7-8)
1963-1964	Beryl Gibson (grades 1-2), Clifford Albert Kutzan (grades 7-8), Irene Elsie Kutzan (grades 3-4), Donalda Marion English Tibbett (grades 5-6)
1964-1965	Beryl Gibson (grades 1-2), Clifford Albert Kutzan (grades 7-8), Irene Elsie Kutzan (grades 3-4), Donalda Marion English Tibbett (grades 5-6)
1965-1966	Beryl Gibson (grades 1-2), Clifford Albert Kutzan (grades 7-8), Donalda Marion English Tibbett (grades 5-6), Sharon Natalie Watt (grades 3-4)
1966-1967	Sylvia Elsie Desiatnyk (grades 3-4), Beryl Gibson (grades 1-2), Viola May Maloney (grade 7), Helen Rempel (grade 8), Joan Charlotte Sutherland (grades 5-6)
1967-1968	Sylvia Elsie Desiatnyk (grades 3-4), Robert Lucien Devos (grade 7), Beryl Gibson (grades 1-2), Helen Rempel (grade 8), Joan Charlotte Sutherland (grades 5-6)
1968-1969	Beryl Gibson (grades 1-2), Grace Eleene Gorrie Neufeld (grades 3-4), Helen Rempel (grade 8), Minnie Maude Shewfelt Sisson (grade 7), Joan Charlotte Sutherland Wood (grades 5-6)
1969-1970	Nettalie Ruth Dueck (grades 5-6), Beryl Gibson (grades 1-2), Dan J. Giesbrecht (grade 8), Grace Eleene Gorrie Neufeld (grades 3-4), Minnie Maude Shewfelt Sisson (grade 7)
1970-1971	Beryl Gibson (grades 1-2), Grace Eleene Gorrie Neufeld (grades 3-4), Matilda Roth (grades 5-6), William Keith Roth (grades 7-8)
1971-1972	Rita Helen Dick (grades 5-6), Beryl Gibson (grades 1-2), Ian Crawford Kellet (grades 7-8), Grace Eleene Gorrie Neufeld (grades 3-4)
1972-1973	Beryl Gibson (grades 1-3), Grace Eleene Gorrie Neufeld (grades 4-6), Frances William Clinton North (grades 7-8)

Photos & Coordinates

Original Wingham Consolidated School, barn, and duplex teacherage (circa 1921) Source: Education Department Report, 1921, Manitoba Legislative Library. Second Wingham Consolidated School (no date) Source: Archives of Manitoba, School Inspectors Photographs, GR8461, A0233, C131-3, page 60. Former Wingham Consolidated School building (August 2010) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Former Wingham Consolidated School duplex teacherage (April 2019) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Wingham School commemorative monument (August 2010) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.76888, W98.05175 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Memorable Manitobans: Eldred Dodsworth Tuttle (1878-1965)

Memorable Manitobans: Edgar Prain (1881-1958)

Sources:

“Tenders for Wingham Consolidated School,” Manitoba Free Press, 1 March 1920, page 5.

Western Canada Contractor, June 1920, page 36.

“The best rural school,” Manitoba Free Press, 21 October 1921, page 15.

“Tenders for school,” Manitoba Free Press, 15 April 1929, page 20.

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

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.

Tales of a Trustee (Aidan H. Conklin) by Anita E. Schmidt, 1985, Winnipeg: The Christian Press, page 75.

A Century of Memories: Elm Creek Centennial History Book, 1892-1992 edited by Doug and Hazel Frost. [Legislative Library of Manitoba, F5649.E46 Cen]

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

“Celebrating the contributions of rural permit teachers,” The Valley Leader, 3 June 2009.

Obituary [Viola Kathaleene Beach], Winnipeg Free Press, 2 January 2016.

Manitoba School Records Collection, Wingham School District No. 1921 Daily Registers, GR2085, Archives of Manitoba.

Manitoba School Records Collection, Wingham School District No. 1061 Minute & Cash Book, GR6909, Archives of Manitoba.

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

Ripples from the Creek by Edith Anne Baragar, 1969, pages 94-98.

We thank Randy Rostecki, Len Goldsborough, and Jordan Makichuk for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 15 May 2023

Historic Sites of Manitoba This is a collection of historic sites in Manitoba compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. The information is offered for historical interest only. SEARCH the collection Browse lists of: Museums/Archives | Buildings | Monuments | Cemeteries | Locations | Other Inclusion in this collection does not confer special status or protection. Official heritage designation may only come from municipal, provincial, or federal governments. Some sites are on private property and permission to visit must be secured from the owner. Site information is provided by the Manitoba Historical Society as a free public service only for non-commercial purposes. Send corrections and additions to this page to the MHS Webmaster at webmaster@mhs.mb.ca. Search Tips | Suggest an Historic Site | FAQ Help us keep history alive!