Historic Sites of Manitoba: Fairville School No. 1059 (RM of Dauphin)

The Fairville School District was organized formally in March 1900, named for the Fair family in the area, and a building was erected later that year in the southwest quarter of 25-27-19 west of the Principal Meridian, in the Rural Municipality of Dauphin. The school closed in June 1966 and its remaining students went to Dauphin. The former school building was moved to the village of Sifton (N51.35742, W100.14258) where it was used for a time as a pool hall before being removed. A sign commemorates it at the original site.

Among the teachers of Fairville School were Peter Smaluck (1954-1957), Mary Prokopowich (1957-1961, 1965-1966), Mrs. Pearl Genik (1963-1964), and Mrs. Henry Solomon (1964-1965).

Fairville School (no date) by R. M. Stevenson Source: Archives of Manitoba, School Inspectors Photographs, GR8461, A0233, C131-2, page 49. The former Fairville School building at Sifton (circa 1990) Source: Historic Resources Branch, Public School Buildings Inventory, slide 281. Fairville School commemorative sign (May 2012) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Site Coordinates (lat/long): N51.33246, W100.01765 denoted by symbol on the map above

Sources:

“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.

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.

We thank Marty Zuzens for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 29 March 2022

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