Historic Sites of Manitoba: Brant Consolidated School No. 1703 (Argyle, RM of Rockwood)

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

When the Canadian Northern Railway built a line through the Interlake region, the village of Argyle was established on 18-14-1E in the Rural Municipality of Rockwood. A school district was established here to replace two smaller one-room schools in the vicinity: Brant School No. 84 and McLeod School No. 239.

A two-storey brick veneer school building was erected in late 1914. Designed by Winnipeg architect Frank R. Evans, and initially comprising two classrooms, increasing student enrollment through the 1920s necessitated the addition of two classrooms in 1929. A gymnasium was added to the rear of the building in the late 1970s. It is a rare surviving example of a consolidated school still in use as a school, and is a provincially designated heritage site.

The school was presented with an MHS Centennial Organization Award in 2015.

Principals

Period	Principal
1914-1916	Frank Samuel Cockbill (c1891-?)
1916-1917	James G. Sampson
1917-1920	William Stanley “Bill” Lockhart (1896-1978)
1920-1923	Isabelle Inkster
1923-1925	Flora Nethelia Sexsmith (1896-1990)
1925-1929	Frederick “Fred” Morgan (1870-1936)
1929-1932	Alexander Maxwell “Max” Segall (1905-1983)
1932-1937	Richard Buck (1907-1994)
1937-1942	William Morrow Ingram (1907-1964)
1942	Kenneth Woodrow James Pomeroy
1943	John Ernest Ingot (?-2001)
1943-1944	George Wesley Bartlett (1876-1950)
1944-1947	Arnold Marshall Leech (1911-1998)
1947-1950	Joseph Albert Mayers (1909-1980)
1950-1955	Walter Yanchyshyn (1922-1997)
1955-1958	Philip (Filko) “Phil” Kozokowsky (1931-2019)
1958-1961	Olafia Jonina Jonsson Melan (1887-1966)
1961-1963	Aneita Gertrude Snyder Fletcher
1963-1965	Bernhard W. “Bernie” Weins
1965-1985	Frederick Archibald “Fred” Post (1942-2011)
1985-1987	Jim Drysdale
1987-1989	Joanne Florence Dowsett
1989-1991	Blair duGray
1991-1994	Gail Peterkin Romanchuk
1994-1998	Greg Ross
1998-1999	Gord Revel
1999-?	John Mak

Teachers

Period	Principal
1914-1915	Frank Samuel Cockbill (senior grades), ? (junior grades)
1915-1916	Frank Samuel Cockbill (senior grades), ? (junior grades)
1916-1917	Catherine M. Madill (grades 1-4), James G. Sampson (grades 5-10)
1917-1918	William Stanley “Bill” Lockhart (grades 5-10), Catherine M. Madill (grades 1-4)
1918-1919	William Stanley “Bill” Lockhart (grades 5-10), Catherine M. Madill (grades 1-4)
1919-1920	William Stanley “Bill” Lockhart (grades 5-10), Catherine M. Madill (grades 1-4)
1920-1921	Isabelle Inkster (grades 5-10), Anne R. “Annie” Osborne (grades 1-4)
1921-1922	Isabelle Inkster (grades 5-10), Anne R. “Annie” Osborne (grades 1-4)
1922-1923	Isabelle Inkster (grades 5-10), L. Inkster (grades 1-4, 1922), Anne R. “Annie” Osborne (grades 1-4, 1923), G. Watson (grades 1-4, 1923)
1923-1924	Florence L. “Halle” Covell (grades 4-6, 1924), E. M. Morrison (grades 4-6, 1923), Miss F. N. Sexsmith (grades 7-10), G. Watson (grades 1-3)
1924-1925	G. Christie (grades 4-5, 1925), Jessie Osborne (grades 1-2, 1925), Miss F. N. Sexsmith (grades 6-10), Grace H. Thompson (grades 4-5, 1924), G. Watson (grades 1-2)
1925-1926	Annie Almeda Kallman (grades 3-5), Frederick Morgan (grades 6-10), Jessie Osborne (grades 1-2)
1926-1927	Annie Almeda Kallman (grades 3-5), Frederick Morgan (grades 6-10), Jessie Osborne (grades 1-2)
1927-1928	Mildred Hopkins (grades 1-3), Annie Almeda Kallman (grades 4-6), Frederick Morgan (grades 7-10)
1928-1929	Annie Almeda Kallman (grades 4-6), Frederick Morgan (grades 7-10), Ollie Hannah West (grades 4-6, 1929), ? (grades 1-3)
1929-1930	Ellie Edgar Stewart (grades 4-6), Alexander Maxwell “Max” Segall (grades 7-10), Alice Victoria Maude Willis (grades 1-3)
1930-1931	Muriel Alice Paynter (grades 3-5), Alexander Maxwell “Max” Segall (grades 9-11), Ellie Edgar Stewart (grades 6-8), Alice Victoria Maude Willis (grades 1-2)
1931-1932	Muriel Alice Paynter (grades 3-5), Alexander Maxwell “Max” Segall (grades 9-11), Ellie Edgar Stewart (grades 6-8), Alice Victoria Maude Willis (grades 1-2)
1932-1933	Richard Buck (grades 9-11), Muriel Alice Paynter (grades 3-5), Ellie Edgar Stewart (grades 6-8), Alice Victoria Maude Willis (grades 1-2)
1933-1934	Richard Buck (grades 9-11), Muriel Alice Paynter (grades 4-5), Florence Isabel Sheldon (grades 1-3), Howard Everett Smith (grades 6-8)
1934-1935	Richard Buck (grades 9-11), Jean Beryl Matheson (grades 4, 6), Florence Isabel Sheldon (grades 1-3), John Gordon Tully (grades 5, 7-8)
1935-1936	Richard Buck (grades 9-11), Jean Beryl Matheson (grades 4-6), Florence Isabel Sheldon (grades 1-3), John Gordon Tully (grades 7-8)
1936-1937	Richard Buck (grades 9-11), Jean Beryl Matheson (grades 4-6), Florence Isabel Sheldon (grades 1-3), John Gordon Tully (grades 7-8)
1937-1938	William Morrow Ingram (grades 9-11), Jean Beryl Matheson (grades 4-6), Florence Isabel Sheldon (grades 1-3), John Gordon Tully (grades 7-8)
1938-1939	William Morrow Ingram (grades 9-11), Jean Beryl Matheson (grades 4-6), Florence Isabel Sheldon (grades 1-3), John Gordon Tully (grades 7-8)
1939-1940	William Morrow Ingram (grades 9-11), Jean Beryl Matheson (grades 4-5), Florence Isabel Sheldon (grades 1-3), John Gordon Tully (grades 6-8)
1940-1941	William Morrow Ingram (grades 9-11), Jean Beryl Matheson (grades 4-5), Anne May Strong (grades 1-3), Thomas Frank Tyler (grades 6-8)
1941-1942	William Morrow Ingram (grades 9-11), Isabel Margaret Jeffery (grades 4-5), Kenneth Woodrow James Pomeroy (grades 6-8), Anne May Strong (grades 1-3)
1942-1943	Miss Handel (grades ?), John Ernest Ingot (grades 9-11, 1943), Isabel Margaret Jeffery (grades 1-4), Kenneth Woodrow James Pomeroy (grades 9-11, 1942), Mary Armande Williams (grades 5-8)
1943-1944	George Wesley Bartlett (grades 9-11), Margaret Jeffery (grades 1-4), Dora E. Olds (grades 5-8)
1944-1945	Ruth Elizabeth Griffin (grades 1-4), Arnold Marshall Leech (grades 9-11), Jessica Elizabeth “Jessie” Parsonage (grades 5-8)
1945-1946	Ruth Elizabeth Griffin (grades 1-4), Arnold Marshall Leech (grades 9-11), Jessica Elizabeth “Jessie” Parsonage (grades 5-8)
1946-1947	Ruth Elizabeth Griffin (grades 1-4), Arnold Marshall Leech (grades 9-11), Jessica Elizabeth “Jessie” Parsonage (grades 5-8)
1947-1948	Joseph Albert Mayers (grades 9-11), John Edgar Guest “Jack” Murrell (grades 5-8), Vivienne Anne Vincent (grades 1-4)
1948-1949	Gervaise Catellier (grades 1-4), Beatrice May Fraser (grades 5-8), Joseph Albert Mayers (grades 9-11)
1949-1950	Betty Ladobruk (grades 1-4), Harry Ladobruk (grades 5-8), Joseph Albert Mayers (grades 9-11)
1950-1951	Betty Ladobruk (grades 1-4), Harry Ladobruk (grades 5-8), Walter Yanchyshyn (grades 9-11)
1951-1952	Donna Louise Gustafson (grades 1-4), Rose Mary Anne Regitaig? (grades 5-8), Walter Yanchyshyn (grades 9-11)
1952-1953	Anne Drozd (grades 4-8), Shirley Mae Mitchell (grades 1-3), Walter Yanchyshyn (grades 9-11)
1953-1954	Hallfridur Thora Oliver (grades 4-8), Elza M. Ryden (grades 1-3), Walter Yanchyshyn (grades 9-11)
1954-1955	Rosa Johnson (grades 6-8), Hallfridur Thora Oliver (grades 3-5), Elza M. Ryden (grades 1-2), Walter Yanchyshyn (grades 9-11)
1955-1956	Sonia Lorraine Demetrioff (grades 6-8), Philip (Filko) “Phil” Kozokowsky (grades 9-11), Hallfridur Thora Oliver (grades 3-5), Elza M. Ryden (grades 1-2)
1956-1957	Steven L. “Steve” Banera (grades 6-8), Mabel Kennedy (grades 1-2, 1957), Philip (Filko) “Phil” Kozokowsky (grades 9-11), Hallfridur Thora Oliver (grades 3-5), Elza M. Ryden Taplin (grades 1-2, 1956)
1957-1958	Steven L. “Steve” Banera (grades 6-8), Mabel Kennedy (grades 1-3), Philip (Filko) “Phil” Kozokowsky (grades 9-11), Hallfridur Thora Oliver (grades 4-5)
1958-1959	Aneita Gertrude Snyder Fletcher (grades 6-8), Olafia Jonina Jonsson Melan (grades 9-11), Hallfridur Thora Oliver (grades 4-5), Mary Eva Vesey (grades 1-3)
1959-1960	Aneita Gertrude Snyder Fletcher (grades 6-8), Olafia Jonina Jonsson Melan (grades 9-10), Hallfridur Thora Oliver (grades 4-5), Mary Eva Vesey (grades 1-3)
1960-1961	Aneita Gertrude Snyder Fletcher (grades 6-8), Olafia Jonina Jonsson Melan (grades 9-10), Hallfridur Thora Oliver (grades 4-6), Mary Eva Vesey (grades 1-3)
1961-1962	Aneita Gertrude Snyder Fletcher (grades 7-8), Hallfridur Thora Oliver (grades 4-6), Mary Eva Vesey (grades 1-3)
1962-1963	Aneita Gertrude Snyder Fletcher (grades 7-8), Hallfridur Thora Oliver (grades 4-6), Mary Eva Vesey (grades 1-3)
1963-1964	Aneita Gertrude Snyder Fletcher (grades 4-5), Mary Eva Vesey (grades 1-3), Bernhard W. “Bernie” Weins (grades 6-8)
1964-1965	Aneita Gertrude Snyder Fletcher (grades 4-5), Mary Eva Vesey (grades 1-3), Bernhard W. “Bernie” Weins (grades 6-8)
1965-1966	Aneita Gertrude Snyder Fletcher (grades 3-5), Frederick Archibald “Fred” Post (grades 6-8), Mary Eva Vesey (grades 1-2)
1966-1967	Aneita Gertrude Snyder Fletcher (grades 3-5), Frederick Archibald “Fred” Post (grades 6-8), Mary Eva Vesey (grades 1-2)
1967-1968	Aneita Gertrude Snyder Fletcher (grades 5-6), Frederick Archibald “Fred” Post (grades 7-8), Audrey Edith Taplin (grades 3-4), Mary Eva Vesey (grades 1-2)
1968-1969	Aneita Gertrude Snyder Fletcher (grades 5-6), Frederick Archibald “Fred” Post (grades 7-8), Audrey Edith Taplin (grades 3-4), Mary Eva Vesey (grades 1-2)
1969-1970	Aneita Gertrude Snyder Fletcher (grades 5-6), Frederick Archibald “Fred” Post (grades 7-8), Audrey Edith Taplin (grades 3-4), Mary Eva Vesey (grades 1-2)
1970-1971	Aneita Gertrude Snyder Fletcher (grades 5-6), Frederick Archibald “Fred” Post (grades 7-8), Audrey Edith Taplin (grades 3-4), Mary Eva Vesey (grades 1-2)
1971-1972	Aneita Gertrude Snyder Fletcher (grades 5-6), Frederick Archibald “Fred” Post (grades 7-8), Audrey Edith Taplin (grades 3-4), Mary Eva Vesey (grades 1-2)
1972-1973	Joanne Florence Dowsett (grades 1-2, 1973), Aneita Gertrude Snyder Fletcher (grades 5-6), Janice Elizabeth Monthey (grades 1-2, 1972), Frederick Archibald “Fred” Post (grades 7-8), Audrey Edith Taplin (grades 3-4)
1973-1974	Joanne Florence Dowsett (grades 1-2), Aneita Gertrude Snyder Fletcher (grades 5-6), Frederick Archibald “Fred” Post (grades 7-8), Audrey Edith Taplin (grades 3-4)
1974-1975	Aneita Gertrude Snyder Fletcher (grades 5-6), Frederick Archibald “Fred” Post (grades 7-8), Audrey Edith Taplin (grades 2-4), ? (grade 1)
1975-1976	Aneita Gertrude Snyder Fletcher (grades 5-6), Frederick Archibald “Fred” Post (grades 7-8), Audrey Edith Taplin (grades 1-4)
1976-1977	Aneita Gertrude Snyder Fletcher (grades 4-6), Frederick Archibald “Fred” Post (grades 7-8), Audrey Edith Taplin (grades 1-2), ? (grade 3)
1977-1978	Aneita Gertrude Snyder Fletcher (grades 4-6), Frederick Archibald “Fred” Post (grades 7-8), Audrey Edith Taplin (grades 1-3)
1978-1979	Aneita Gertrude Snyder Fletcher (grades 3-6), Frederick Archibald “Fred” Post (grades 7-8), Audrey Edith Taplin (grades 1-2)
1979-1980	Aneita Gertrude Snyder Fletcher (grades 3-5), Frederick Archibald “Fred” Post (grades 6-8), Audrey Edith Taplin (grades 1-3)

Photos & Coordinates

Brant School (circa 1920) Source: Shayne Campbell Horse-drawn vans used to transport students to Brant School (1914) Source: Shayne Campbell A classroom in Brant School (circa 1940) Source: Shayne Campbell A view of Argyle showing Brant School on right (1941) Source: Shayne Campbell Brant School (September 2010) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Brant School (May 2019) Source: Rose Kuzina Site Coordinates (lat/long): N50.18236, W97.45274 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Argyle Settlers Monument (RM of Rockwood)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Provincially Designated Historic Sites

Sources:

“Tenders for building school,” Stonewall Argus, 29 April 1914, page 8.

Brant Consolidated School, Manitoba Historic Resources Branch.

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.

Hands Across the Meridian: A History of Brant-Argyle, Manitoba by Argyle History Book Committee, 2000, page 74.

Manitoba School Records Collection, Brant School No. 1703 Daily Registers, GR2088, Archives of Manitoba.

We thank Shayne Campbell and Rose Kuzina for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer and Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 16 May 2023

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