Historic Sites of Manitoba: South Ward School / McLaren School (1031 Sixth Street, Brandon)

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

In 1916, a three-classroom, wood frame school building was constructed between Second and Third streets and Brandon Avenue in Brandon, the present location of George Fitton School. It was known as South Ward School until being named for former teacher and First World War veteran Joseph McLaren on 9 July 1917. The school operated until 1926 when the present two-storey brick structure was built on Sixth Street. The wood frame building was moved to the Brandon Exhibition Grounds where it stood for some years with only a few structural changes.

McLaren School was used for elementary classes until 1954, when it was became a Junior High School due to the construction of George Fitton School. In 1974, it reverted temporarily to an elementary school when Park School and Alexandra School were being replaced by Betty Gibson School. The school closed permanently in 1976 and the building was renovated for use as offices of the Brandon School Division.

Principals

Period	Principal
1916-1917	?
1917-1918	Miss Nicholas
1918-1919	?
1919-1922	Jean Isabel Wellwood McIntosh (1899-1980)
1922-1923	William N. Stewart
1923-1924	Mrs. Gillesby
1924-1926	Emma Edith Lewis (1869-1927)
1926-1929	Perry Bell (1897-1956)
1929-1931	Vernon Albert Shewfelt (1903-1982)
1931-1935	William John Peden (1903-1991)
1935-1942	Henry Theodore Nordin (1905-1983)
1942-1946	James Irving Bateman (1911-2000)
1946-1947	John James “Jack” Hill (1916-1977)
1947-1954	Joseph “Joe” Federick (1910-1979)
1954-1956	Carl Bjarnason (1915-2014)
1956-1959	Morley Fraser Sparrow (1915-1979)
1959-1964	George Montgomery “Monty” Dunbar (c1928-2001)
1964-1966	William Beddome “Bill” Bridgett (1928-1999)
1966-1968	Mr. E. Nolan
1968-1976	?

Vice-Principals

Period	Vice-Principal
1961-1962	R. E. Roney
1962-1965	Mrs. K. I. Shoemaker
1965-1966	?
1966-1967	Mrs. M. Taylor

Teachers

School Year	Teachers
1916-1917	?
1917-1918	Miss Nicholas, (3 classrooms total)
1918-1919	Miss Bolton, Miss Medd
1919-1920	Jean Isabel Wellwood (grade 3), ?
1920-1921	?
1921-1922	Miss Norma Chisholm (grades 3-4), Miss Mona Morris (grade 1), Miss Victoria Speers (grades 2-3) See also: Brandon Ultimatum (1 May 1922)
1922-1923	Lucy M. Brown, William N. Stewart
1923-1924	Mrs. Gillesby (grades 4-5, wife of J. B. Gillesby), Mrs. Howick (grade 1), Miss E. Insley (grades 2-3)
1924-1925	?
1925-1926	Margaret Thompson, Annie E. Wood
1926-1927	Miss Agatha Alexander, Perry Bell, Miss Jessie E. Dayton, Miss Dorothy Horton, Miss Margaret Thompson, Miss Annie E. Wood
1927-1928	Miss Agatha Alexander, Perry Bell, Miss Jessie E. Dayton, Miss Dorothy Horton, Miss Emma Milburn, Miss Margaret E. Thompson
1928-1929	Miss Agatha Alexander, Miss Jessie E. Dayton, Miss Dorothy Horton, Miss Emma Milburn, Vernon Albert Shewfelt, Miss Margaret E. Thompson
1929-1930	?
1930-1931	Miss Ella M. Burkholder, Margaret Creighton, Dorothy Horton, Isabella Semple, Miss Margaret E. Thompson
1931-1932	Miss Ella M. Burkholder, Margaret Creighton, Dorothy Horton, Lilian E. Popkin, Miss Margaret E. Thompson
1932-1933	Miss Ella M. Burkholder, Dorothy Horton, Lilian Popkin, Miss Margaret E. Thompson
1933-1934	?
1934-1935	Miss Ella M. Burkholder, Miss Kathleen McKenzie, Miss Ethel P. Miller, Miss Margaret E. Thompson
1935-1936	Miss Ella M. Burkholder, Miss Dorothy E. Horton, Miss Alma Skeoch, Miss Margaret E. Thompson
1936-1937	Miss Ella M. Burkholder, Dorothy E. Horton, Miss Margaret E. Thompson, Miss Grace Webb
1937-1938	Miss Dorothy Horton, Miss Elizabeth M. Patmore, Miss Margaret E. Thompson, Miss Grace Webb
1938-1939	Miss Dorothy Horton, Miss Elizabeth M. Patmore, Miss Grace Webb
1939-1940	Miss Gwen Boyes, Miss Elizabeth M. Patmore, Miss Grace Webb
1940-1941	Miss Elizabeth M. Patmore, Miss Lilian Popkin, Mrs. Thelma Rice
1941-1942	Helen Bjarnason, Lilian Popkin, Thelma Rice
1942-1943	Miss Helen Bjarnason, Miss Clementine Fraser, Miss Lillian Popkin, Mrs. Thelma Rice
1943-1944	Miss Helen Bjarnason, Miss Lillian Popkin, Thelma Rice, Gladys L. Thompson
1944-1945	?
1945-1946	?
1946-1947	?
1947-1948	?
1948-1949	?
1949-1950	?
1950-1951	?
1951-1952	?
1952-1953	?
1953-1954	?
1954-1955	?
1955-1956	?
1956-1957	?
1957-1958	?
1958-1959	R. Blair (grade 7), Mrs. I. George (grade 8), D. McLennan (grade 9), Miss L. Mummery (grade 9), J. Oliver (grade 8), Morley Fraser Sparrow (grade 9), Miss H. Sokolsky (grade 7), Mrs. N. Wiebe (grade 8)
1959-1960	Miss C. Davidson, George Montgomery Dunbar, Miss J. Firby, Mrs. R. Jessiman, J. Mayhew, D. McLennan, Miss R. Rogers, Mrs. I. Shobrooke
1960-1961	George Montgomery Dunbar (grade 8), Miss J. Firby (grade 7), Miss L. Mummery (grade 8), M. Patterson (grade 6), Miss D. Pearce (grade 4), Miss Robinson (grade 2), Mrs. I. Shobrooke (grade 1), D. Simpson (grade 7)
1961-1962	George Montgomery Dunbar (grade 8), Miss J. Firby (grade 8), Walter Thorvaldur Fredrickson (grade 6), Mrs. M. Harper (grade 8), Mrs. E. Hatch (grade 5), Mrs. E. Hyde (grade 7), Mrs. E. McKenzie (grade 7), Mrs. B. Milligan (grade 6), Mrs. S. Reekie (grade 5), Miss M. Robinson (grade 2), Mrs. I. Shobrooke (grade 1), D. Simpson (grade7)
1962-1963	George Montgomery Dunbar (grade 8), Mrs. M. Harper (grade 8), Mrs. S. Hume (grade 2), Mrs. M. Kotyk (grade 7), C. Mailer (grade 7), Mrs. E. McKenzie (grade 7), E. Nolan (grade 8), Mrs. I. Shobrooke (grade 1)
1963-1964	Miss C. M. Cumming, C. L. Glenn, Mrs. M. I. Harper, R. M. Josephson, Mrs. M. Kotyk, Mrs. E. M. McKenzie, Mrs. I. Shobrooke
1964-1965	Miss J. E. Dyer, Mrs. A. E. Haggerty, Mrs. M. Kotyk, W. P. Metelski, Mrs. M. Taylor
1965-1966	Mrs. D. Coburn, Miss J. E. Dyer, Mrs. M. Kotyk, W. P. Metelski, Mrs. T. Roth, Mrs. M. Taylor, Mrs. R. R. Wilken
1966-1967	Mrs. P. A. Elvers (grade 3), Mrs. E. A. Gouldie (special classes), Mrs. M. Kotyk (special classes), D. A. Kusela (grade 7), Mrs. C. M. Larson (grade 4), Mrs. L. M. Leskiw (grade 2), W. P. Metelski (special classes), E. Nolan (grade 8), Mrs. E. H. Orr (grade 8), Mrs. Susan M. Pickering (grade 1), Miss D. F. Russell (grade 7), Mrs. F. B. Snider (kindergarten)
1967-1968	Miss J. Dyer (grade 7), Mrs. P. A. Elvers (grade 3), Mrs. E. A. Gouldie (grade 7), Mrs. M. Kotyk (grade 8), D. A. Kusela (grade 7), Mrs. L. M. Leskiw (grade 2), W. P. Metelski (special), E. Nolan (grade 8), Miss B. Nordin, Mrs. E. H. Orr (grade 8), Mrs. S. Palidwar (grade 1), Miss D. F. Russell (grade 7), Mrs. F. B. Snider (kindergarten)

Photos & Coordinates

McLaren School (no date) Source: Archives of Manitoba, School Inspectors Photographs, GR8461, A0233, C131-3, page 134. The former McLaren School building (May 2013) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.83401, W99.94573 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Memorable Manitobans: Joseph McLaren (1882-1915)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: George Fitton School (1129 Third Street, Brandon)

Sources:

“M’Laren School named after heroic soldier,” Brandon Daily Sun, 10 July 1917, page 1.

“School Board will demand whole levy,” Brandon Daily Sun, 14 August 1917, page 2.

“Public schools,” Brandon Daily Sun, 30 August 1918, page 5.

“Changes in the teaching staff public schools,” Brandon Daily Sun, 2 September 1919, page 1.

“Schools open this morning for fall term,” Brandon Daily Sun, 1 September 1920, page 1.

“Many changes in teaching staff public schools,” Brandon Daily Sun, 31 August 1921, page 7.

“Teaching staff Brandon schools,” Brandon Daily Sun, 5 September 1922, page 10.

“Promotions list [McLaren School],” Brandon Daily Sun, 7 July 1924, page 3.

“Schools open in Brandon, attendance high,” Winnipeg Evening Tribune, 2 September 1925, page 11.

“Beginners will be taken into public schools,” Brandon Daily Sun, 28 August 1925, page 1.

“Teaching staff complete for school opening,” Brandon Daily Sun, 30 August 1926, page 6.

“New school is not yet ready,” Brandon Daily Sun, 30 August 1926, page 6.

“Public schools and collegiate open tomorrow,” Brandon Daily Sun, 31 August 1927, page 1.

“Temporary accommodation for higher grades,” Brandon Daily Sun, 1 September 1928, page 6.

“List of teachers public school,” Brandon Daily un, 1 September 1930.

“All schools to open Monday for fall term here,” Brandon Daily Sun, 27 August 1931.

“One addition only to city schools staff,” Brandon Daily Sun, 30 August 1932.

“Some changes on teaching staff of public schools,” Brandon Daily Sun, 31 August 1934.

“Schools to open Tuesday for fall term in city,” Brandon Daily Sun, 31 August 1935.

“Few changes in teaching staff as all schools in city open Monday morning,” Brandon Daily Sun, 29 August 1936.

“Five new teachers on staff of Brandon schools for fall term commencing next week,” Brandon Daily Sun, 27 August 1937.

“Teaching staff public school,” Brandon Daily Sun, 30 August 1938.

“Schools staff public schools,” Brandon Daily Sun, 2 September 1939.

“Seven changes on teaching staff of the public schools,” Brandon Daily Sun, 28 September 1940.

“Important changes made in teaching staff for opening schools here Tuesday,” Brandon Daily Sun, 27 August 1941.

“Elementary and junior high schools open tomorrow for fall term after long holidays,” Brandon Daily Sun, 26 August 1942.

“Eleven new teachers on staff as schools prepare to open for fall term commencing Monday,” Brandon Daily Sun, 28 August 1943.

“Back to school Tuesday,” Brandon Sun, 29 August 1958, page 3.

“Brandon school teachers for 1959-60,” Brandon Sun, 29 August 1959, page 2.

“6,000 Brandon students go back to work on Tuesday,” Brandon Sun, 3 September 1960, page 12.

“Teachers listed for opening of schools on Tuesday,” Brandon Sun, 2 September 1961, page 12.

“Teachers are assigned to schools,” Brandon Daily Sun, 28 August 1962, page 10.

“33 newcomers on elementary schools staff,” Brandon Sun, 21 August 1963, page 15.

“39 newcomers on elementary staff,” Brandon Sun, 19 August 1964, page 13.

“191 teachers placed here,” Brandon Sun, 20 August 1965, page 8.

“Over 200 elementary teachers,”Brandon Sun, 23 August 1966, page 16.

Brandon Elementary Schools, 1867-1979, Canada-Confederation, Brandon School Division, 1967.

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

We thank Nathan Kramer and Sheri Bailey (Brandon Teachers' Association) for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 2 May 2022

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