Historic Sites of Manitoba: Park School / West Ward School (Lorne Avenue, Brandon)

Built in 1904 by the Brandon Construction Company, under supervisor T. M. Harrington, on the south side of Lorne Avenue between 14th and 15th streets in Brandon, Park School opened in 1905.

In the early 1970s, the Brandon School Division declared the building redundant and, in November 1975, its remaining students transferred to the newly constructed Betty Gibson School, built on the site of the demolished Alexandra School. The Park School building was sold to Brandon University for $1, for use as office space and a day-care centre. However, in late 1977, when costs of renovations were found to be excessive, the university returned ownership to the division. No other offers to purchase the old school building were received and it was demolished in September 1978.

Principals of Park School

Period	Principal
1904-1907	?
1907-c1910	Lee J. Cranston
c1910-c1922	S. Annie Redmond
c1922-c1924	Donald S. Lent
c1924-c1926	Hugh S. Brown
c1926-c1928	Albert W. Craigie
c1928-c1932	Perry Bell
c1932-c1940	Vernon Shewfelt
c1940-c1944	Roy B. Lobb
c1944-c1946	William John Peden (1903-1991)
c1946-1954	James Irving Bateman (1911-2000)
1954-?	Donald S. Sumner

Postcard of Park School, seen from a public park north of it (no date) Source: Gordon Goldsborough, 2011-0054. Postcard of Park School (no date) Source: Gordon Goldsborough, 2011-0056. Site Location (lat/long): N49.84500, W99.95736 denoted by symbol on the map above

Sources:

“Wreckers demolish Park School”, Brandon Sun, 1 September 1978, page 1.

“Thirty years ago”, Brandon Sun, 13 November 2005, page 6.

“Park School”, Item No. 1-2002.3.1DA16(1), Stuckey Collection, S. J. McKee Archives, Brandon University.

We thank Tom Mitchell and Greg Sigurdson for providing additional information used here.

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

Page revised: 11 July 2012

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