Historic Sites of Manitoba: Bay Centre School No. 738 (RM of Lakeshore)

The Bay Centre School District was organized formally in February 1893 and a one-room school building was erected on the southwest quarter of 31-24-17 west of the Principal Meridian, in what is now the Rural Municipality of Lakeshore. A new building was constructed around 1947. It closed in 1967 and was moved to N51.14019, W100.00327 where it was renovated into a private residence. A commemorative monument, topped with a metal model of the school, was erected in July 1987. The original building still stands about a mile from the monument, at N51.11044, W99.82858.

Among the teachers of Bay Centre School were Mr. O. R. Hill (1893), Mrs. Edwin Hardman, Margaret Marrs, Mrs. Tessie Found, Sybil Cleave (1938), M. Chernowsky (1954-1955), Michael H. Dudar (1955-1956), Eva Chmelowski (1956-1958), Mrs. Caroline Leschasin (1958-1965), and Mrs. Theresa Found (1965-1966).

The first Bay Centre School building (no date) by R. M. Stevenson Source: Archives of Manitoba, School Inspectors Photographs, GR8461, A0233, C131-1, page 117. The first Bay Centre School building located at N51.11044, W99.82858 (July 2013) Source: Alan Mason Interior of the first Bay Centre School building (July 2013) Source: Alan Mason Bay Centre School commemorative monument (May 2012) Source: Gordon Goldsborough The second Bay Centre School, now a private residence located at N51.14019, W100.00327 (May 2012) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Site Coordinates (lat/long): N51.11815, W99.85218 denoted by symbol on the map above

Sources:

“The local round,” Dauphin Herald, 20 October 1938, page 9.

“Teaching staffs named for “A” and “B” groups,” Dauphin Herald and Press, 9 September 1954, page 1.

“Record-breaking enrollments expected here in collegiate, elementary schools,” Dauphin Herald and Press, 1 September 1955, page 1.

“All-time high enrollments expected for town schools,” Dauphin Herald and Press, 30 August 1956, page 1.

“Town schools open today, high enrollments expected,” Dauphin Herald and Press, 29 August 1957, page 1.

“Total of 110 teachers assigned to schools in Dauphin-Ochre area,” Dauphin Herald and Press, 4 September 1958, page 1.

“Teaching staffs assigned to rural, village schools,” Dauphin Herald and Press, 3 September 1959, page 1.

“26 rural schools start fall term classes Tuesday,” Dauphin Herald and Press, 31 August 1960, page 4.

“Teaching staff for area schools increases to 132 for opening 1963-64 term,” Dauphin Herald and Press, 21 August 1963, page 1.

“All area schools open classes next Tuesday, 131 on teaching staffs,” Dauphin Herald and Press, 26 August 1964, page 1.

“All schools in area open classes Sept. 1 – 133 on teaching staffs,” Dauphin Herald and Press, 25 August 1965, page 1, 8.

Between Mountain and Lake: A History of Ochre River Rural Municipality, 1885-1970 by Ochre River Women’s Institute History Committee, Neepawa: The Neepawa Press, 1970, pages 32-34.

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.

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

This page was prepared by Alan Mason and Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 24 January 2021

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