Historic Sites of Manitoba: Central Normal School (442 William Avenue, Winnipeg)

The former Central Normal School at 442 William Avenue in Winnipeg was one of six Normal Schools in Manitoba, along with Brandon, Dauphin, Manitou, Portage la Prairie, and St. Boniface. It served as the headquarters for teacher training for more than forty years. Before its construction, classes were held on the second floor of the vacant Stobart Block on Portage Avenue near Main Street.

Constructed in 1905-06 from plans by provincial architect Samuel Hooper, the Neo-Classical structure was built of Tyndall limestone. In 1947, the Normal School moved to a facility in southwest Winnipeg then, in the autumn of 1958, was renamed the Manitoba Teachers’ College. It was moved to the University of Manitoba in 1965, becoming its Faculty of Education.

The building was renovated for residential use in 1992, for which it received a Heritage Winnipeg Conservation Award. Two years later, a plaque was placed in front of it by the Manitoba Heritage Council.

Principals of the Central Normal School

Period	Principal
1882-1884	E. L. Byington (?-?)
1884-1893	David James Goggin (1848-1935)
1893-1933	William Albert McIntyre (1859-1937)
1933-1935	Herbert McIntosh (1888-1953)
1935-1939	William Arthur Cowperthwaite (1874-1949)
1939-1942	Robert McKay Stevenson (1882-1970)
1942-1951	Duncan Bruce Moorhead (1889-1951)
1951-1957	Robert William Lightly (1909-1985)
1957-?	George Walton F. Brisbin (1906-1990)

Postcard of Central Normal School (no date) Source: Gordon Goldsborough, 2012-0060 Central Normal School (June 2011) Source: Gordon Goldsborough View Larger Map Central Normal School Source: Google Site Location (lat/long): N49.90142, W97.14758 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Brandon Normal School

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Dauphin Normal School

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Manitou Normal School

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Portage la Prairie Normal School

Historic Sites of Manitoba: St. Boniface Normal School

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Manitoba School for the Deaf (500 Shaftesbury, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Mulvey School (750 Wolseley Avenue, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Central School No. 944 (1899-1954)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Old Central School (Tenth Street, Brandon)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Victoria School (32 Fifth Street SE, Portage la Prairie)

Central Normal School, Manitoba Heritage Council Commemorative Plaques

Central Normal School, Manitoba Historic Resources Branch

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Provincially Designated Historic Sites

Sources:

Information for this page was provided by The City of Winnipeg’s Planning, Property and Development Department, which acknowledges the contribution of the Government of Manitoba through its Heritage Grants Program.

With the West in Her Eyes: Nellie Hislop’s Story by E. W. Nuffield, Winnipeg: Hyperion Press Limited, 1987, page 102.

Manitoba Normal School Principals, 1939-1965, Manitoba Education Library Archives.

Information for this page was collected and prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 12 May 2013

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