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.

In 2003, a commemorative plaque at the site was presented by the Manitoba Heritage Council. 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

Isabel Inkster (1895-1989)

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

Isabel Inkster (grades 5-10), Anne R. “Annie” Osborne (grades 1-4)

1921-1922

Isabel Inkster (grades 5-10), Anne R. “Annie” Osborne (grades 1-4)

1922-1923

Isabel 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

Brant School (circa 1920)
Source: Shayne Campbell

Horse-drawn vans used to transport students to Brant School

Horse-drawn vans used to transport students to Brant School (1914)
Source: Shayne Campbell

A classroom in Brant School

A classroom in Brant School (circa 1940)
Source: Shayne Campbell

A view of Argyle showing Brant School on right

A view of Argyle showing Brant School on right (1941)
Source: Shayne Campbell

Brant School

Brant School (September 2010)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough

Brant School

Brant School (May 2019)
Source: Rose Kuzina

Brant School

Brant School (May 2023)
Source: Rose Kuzina

View inside the entrance of Brant School

View inside the entrance of Brant School (May 2023)
Source: Rose Kuzina

Brant School commemorative plaque

Brant School commemorative plaque (May 2023)
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 (Argyle, RM of Rockwood)

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, Rose Kuzina, and Linda Dietrick for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer and Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 12 November 2023

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