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

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Principals | Vice-Principals | Teachers | Photos & Coordinates | Sources

Built in 1904 by the Brandon Construction Company, under supervision of Thomas M. Harrington, on the south side of Lorne Avenue between 14th and 15th streets in Brandon, Park School was opened to the public at a ceremony on Arbor Day, 4 May 1905. It replaced the former West Ward School at this site. Designed by Brandon architect W. A. Elliott, the school’s interior was decorated with walls of mahogany and western pine with floors of British Columbia fir. The two-storey brick and stone building had ten classrooms, principal’s office, reception room, a teachers’ room, and an assembly hall on the second floor. The cost was around $38,000.

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

Period	Principal
1905-1906	Laura Marie Antoinette Mott (1868-1949)
1907-1909	Lee John Cranston (1880-1924)
1909-1922	Shirley Annie Redmond (1876-?)
1922-1923	Donald Shippey Lent (1895-?)
1923-1925	Hugh S. Brown (?-?)
1925-1926	Arthur Victor Pigott (1900-1987)
1926-1927	Albert Wallace Craigie (1891-1964)
1927-1929	John Hammond Irwin (1886-1952)
1929-1931	Perry Bell (1897-1956)
1931-1941	Vernon Albert Shewfelt (1903-1982)
1941-1942	Henry Frederick Hyson (1904-1979)
1942-1944	Roy Bernard Lobb (1903-1981)
1944-1946	William John Peden (1903-1991)
1946-1954	James Irving Bateman (1911-2000)
1954-1964	Donald Sutherland Sumner (1928-2014)
1964-1965	Edward Tierney Cantwell (1917-1985)
1965-1968	Robert T. Blair
1968-1974	?
1974-1975	Mr. Hamburg

Vice-Principals

Period	Principal
1922-1923	Lois M. Smith
1923-1961	?
1961-1964	Edward Tierney “Ted” Cantwell (1916-1985)
1964-1965	J. D. SImpson
1965-1966	?
1966-1967	G. T. Gibbons

Teachers

School Year	Teachers
1901-1902	Miss McLeod (grade 1), Miss Maud Pilling (grade 2), ?
1902-1903	Miss Hilton (grade 2), Miss McLeod (grade 1), ?
1903-1904	?
1904-1905	?
1905-1906	Miss Ferguson (grade 2), Miss Grant (grade 1), Miss McGee (grade 6), Mr. McLaren (grade 4), Miss McLeod (grade 1), Miss McMillan (grade 4), Laura Marie Antoinette Mott (grade 8), Miss M. Mott (grade 5), Miss Percival (grade 3), Miss Maud Pilling (grade 2), Shirley Annie Redmond (grade 7), Miss Sing (grade 3)
1906-1907	?
1907-1908	Miss C. Alexander (grade 3 Sr), L. J. Cranton (grade 8), Miss M. Grant (grade 2 Sr), Miss Mary E. Magee (grade 6), Miss K. McMillan (grade 4), Laura Marie Antoinette Mott (grade 5), Ethel Alida Paisley (grade 3 Jr), Miss Cecie Pelton (grade 1 Jr), Miss Maud Pilling (grade 2), Shirley Annie Redmond (grade 7), Miss Grace Todd (grade 3 Sr)
1908-1909	Miss A. M. Courtney (grade 5), L. J. Cranton (grade 8), Miss Mary E. Magee (grade 6), Miss McMillan (grade 4), Laura Marie Antoinette Mott (grade 7), Ethel Alida Paisley (grade 3), Miss Cecie Pelton (grade 1), Miss Maud Pilling (grade 2), Miss Annie Ramshaw (grade 1), Shirley Annie Redmond (grade 7), Miss Todd (grade 2)
1909-1910	Miss A. M. Courtney (grade 5), Miss Jennie Fawcett (grade 4), Miss Mary E. Magee (grade 6), Ethel Alida Paisley (grade 3), Miss Cecie Pelton (grade 1), Miss Maud Pilling (grade 2), Miss Annie Ramshaw (grade 1), Shirley Annie Redmond (grade 8), Miss O. L. A. Wright (grade 7)
1910-1911	Miss Jennie Fawcett, Miss Mary E. Magee, Miss T. Kyle, Caroline Parkinson, Ethel Alida Paisley, Miss Maud Pilling, Miss Bertha M. Strome
1911-1912	Miss Jennie Fawcett, Miss E. J. Kelso, Miss I. Kyle, Miss Mary E. Magee, Ethel Alida Paisley, Miss R. Parker, Miss Maud Pilling, Miss R. Rogers, Miss Bertha M. Strome
1912-1913	Miss Cuthbertson (grade 5), Ethel Alida Paisley, Miss Parker (grade 7), ?
1913-1914	?
1914-1915	?
1915-1916	?
1916-1917	Miss Knowlton, Helen Sarah Leitch, ?
1917-1918	Miss A. E. Clarke, Helen Sarah Leitch, ?
1918-1919	Miss Clark, Miss Cuthbertson, Miss J. Fawcett, Miss Ferrier, Miss Flemming, Miss Kyle, Helen Sarah Leitch, Miss Magee, Miss M. Pilling, Shirley Annie Redmond, Miss Stocker
1919-1920	Miss A. Clark (grade 1), Miss Cuthbertson (grade ?), Miss Stocker (grade 5), ?
1920-1921	Miss Clendenning (grade 5), Miss A. Galbraith (grade 1), Miss Tena Ross (grade ?, 1920), Miss Cuthbertson (grade ?, 1921), ?
1921-1922	Miss E. Caffrey (grades 3-4), Miss V. G. Cramm (grades 1-2)
1922-1923	Mary Louise Clark, Miss H. Critchley, Mrs. A. V. Hunter, Donald S. Lent, Jean McCaw, Arthur Pachal, Margaret E. Pierce, Hilda Pottinger, Lois M. Smith, Ethel E. Williams
1923-1924	?
1924-1925	?
1925-1926	Clarence Brunton, Evelyn Dorrett, Ethel Gardiner, Phyllis A. Gervin, Mrs. Levins, Jean McCaw, Ooney Olive MacDonald, Arthur Victor Pigott, Hilda Pottinger, Laura Powers, Teena Ross, Gertrude Whitney, Anna E. Wood
1926-1927	A. W. Craigie, E. M. Dorrett, P. A. Gervin, F. M. Levins, F. Nicholson, Ooney Olive MacDonald, Hilda Pottinger, Laura Power, Tena Ross, Norma Wemyss, E. A. Wood
1927-1928	Mrs. Cannon, Miss S. E. Cook, Miss E. M. Dorrett, Miss Beatrice Hall, John Hammond Irwin, Miss B. McLean, Neil Alexander McLennan, Miss Lizzie Nicol, Miss Laura A. Power, Miss Tena M. Ross, Miss E. Anna Wood
1928-1929	Miss Edna Bowman, Miss Annie Cullen, Miss Evelyn Dorrett, Miss H. Ferguson, Miss Beth Nichol, Miss Tena M. Ross, Miss E. Anna Wood
1929-1930	?
1930-1931	Edna Bowman, Annie Cullen, Helen Ferguson, Anne Harrison, Beth Nicol, Tena M. Ross, E. Anna Wood
1931-1932	Edna E. Bowman, Annie E. Cullen, Helen M. Ferguson, Annie Harrison, Elizabeth L. Nicol, Tena M. Ross, E. Anna Wood
1932-1933	Edna E. Bowman, Annie E. Cullen, Helen Ferguson, Laura M. Fisher, Beth Nicol, Tena M. Ross, E. Anna Wood
1933-1934	?
1934-1935	Emerson Christilaw, Miss Anne Cullen, Miss Evelyn M. Dorrett, Miss Helen Ferguson, Miss Dorothy E. Horton, Miss M. F. Keay (exchange teacher), Miss Tena M. Ross
1935-1936	Emerson Christilaw, Miss Evelyn Dorrett, Miss Helen Ferguson, Miss Hazel Fraser, Miss Doris Margeson (exchange teacher), Miss Tena M. Ross, Miss E. Anna Wood
1936-1937	Frances Cater, Evelyn M. Dorrett, Helen Ferguson, Hazel J. Fraser, Tena M. Ross, Alma M. Skeoch
1937-1938	Miss Ella Burkholder, Miss Evelyn Dorrett, Miss Helen Ferguson, Miss Hazel Fraser, Miss Tena M. Ross, Miss Alma Skeoch
1938-1939	Miss Ella Burkholder, Miss Evelyn Dorrett, Miss Helen Ferguson, Miss Hazel Fraser, Miss Tena Ross, Miss Alma Skeoch
1939-1940	Miss Helen Bjarnason, Miss Evelyn Dorrett, Miss Helen Ferguson, Miss Hazel Fraser, Miss Tena Ross, Miss Alma Skeoch
1940-1941	Miss Helen Bjarnason, Miss Bernice Dawson, Miss Evelyn Dorrett, Miss Helen Ferguson, Miss Hazel Fraser, Miss Tena Ross
1941-1942	Bernice Dawson, Evelyn Dorrett, Helen Ferguson, Hazel Fraser, Rena Ross
1942-1943	Miss Evelyn Dorrett, Mrs. A. M. Eley, Miss Helen Ferguson, Miss Hazel Fraser, Miss Tena M. Ross, Miss Janet O. Wilson
1943-1944	Evelyn Dorrett, A. M. Eley, Helen Ferguson, Hazel J. Fraser, Tena Ross, Janet O. Wilson
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	Mrs. G. Taylor (grade 1), ?
1957-1958	Mrs. G. Taylor (grade 1), ?
1958-1959	Miss P. Allen (grade 2), Mrs. M. Anderson (grade 3), Miss H. Bjarnason (grade 5), Mrs. S. Burns (grade 2), Mrs. J. Cooper (grade 1), Miss H. Fraser (grade 4), G. Gibbons (grade 6), Miss I. Johnston (grade 4), Miss V. Lundy (grade 6), Miss L. Popkin (grade 3), Donald Sutherland Sumner (grade 6), Mrs. G. Taylor (grade 1), Miss A. Walker (grade 5)
1959-1960	Miss G. Arbuthnott, Mrs. P. Bass, Mrs. J. Cooper, Miss C. Eaton, Miss I. Johnston, N. Kalinski, Miss V. Lundy, Mrs. M. Nielson, Miss D. Pearce, Miss L. Popkin, Donald Sutherland Sumner, Miss A. Walker, Mrs. J. Wyton
1960-1961	Miss G. Arbuthnott (grade 3), Mrs. P. Cairns (grade 5), Mrs. R. Chambers (grade 2), Miss I. Johnston (grade 4), N. Kalinski (grade 7), Miss V. Lundy (grade 6), Miss C. McRoberts (grade 2), Miss L. Moore (grade 5), Mrs. M. Nielson (grade 1), Mrs. Ernest E. Page (page 1), Miss L. Popkin (grade 3), Donald Sutherland Sumner (grade 7), Mrs. J. Wyton (grade 4)
1961-1962	Mrs. D. Bateman (grade 4), Mrs. P. Cairns (grade 5), Mrs. R. Carduner (special class), Mrs. M. Elvers (grade 1), Mrs. G. Hulme (grade 3), Miss I. Johnston (grade 4), Miss E. Kempthorne (grade 2), Miss V. Lundy (grade 6), David John McDowell (grade 5), Miss C. McRoberts (grade 2), Miss L. Popkin (grade 3), Donald Sutherland Sumner (grade 6), Mrs. G. Taylor (grade 1)
1962-1963	Mrs. D. Bateman (grade 4), Mrs. W. Curtis (special classes), Mrs. M. Elvers (grade 1), Mrs. E. Hobson (grade 2), Miss I. Johnstone (grade 4), Miss V. Lundy (grade 6), David John McDowell (grade 5), Miss C. McRoberts (grade 2), Miss L. Popkin (grade 3), Donald Sutherland Sumner (grade 6), Miss E. Walker (grade 5)
1963-1964	Mrs. W. Curtis, Miss J. M. Dietrich, Mrs. M. Elvers, Miss L. M. Foster, Mrs. E. M. Hobson, Miss V. Lundy, Mrs. A. E. Muller, A. F. Oscar, Miss L. Popkin, Mrs. E. M. Robinson, Mrs. P. R. Stone
1964-1965	Miss J. R. Ames, Mrs. W. M. Curtis, Miss L. J. Donald, Miss S. L. Hatch (kindergarten), Miss V. Lundy, Mrs. E. M. Mitchell, Miss L. Popkin, Mrs. P. J. Putnam, Mrs. E. M. Robinson
1965-1966	Miss J. R. Ames, Miss E. G. Blain, Miss M. D. Bonner, Mrs. W. M. Curtiss, G. T. Gibbons, Miss V. Lundy, Miss L. Popkin, Mrs. M. I. Parkhurst (kindergarten), W. G. Smallwood
1966-1967	Miss E. G. Blain (grade 1), Robert T. Blair (grade 6), Mrs. M. D. Bonnor (grade 2), Ronald J. Dietrich (grade 6), Miss M. D. Frazer (grade 3), Mrs. M. I. Kennedy (special classes), Mrs. L. J. Keown (grade 5), Mrs. A. J. McKinney (special classes), Miss L. Popkin (grade 4), Mrs. F. B. Snider (kindergarten)
1967-1968	Miss E. G. Blain (grade 1), Robert T. Blair (grade 6), Ronald J. Deitrich (grade 6), G. Gibbons, Mrs. M. I. Kennedy (special), Mrs. L. J. Keown (grade 5), Mrs. A. J. McKinney (special), Mrs. D. Old (grade 3), Miss L. Popkin (grade 4), Miss E. Riddle (grade 2), Mrs. F. B. Snider (kindergarten)
1968-1969	?
1969-1970	?
1970-1971	Mrs. Lane (grade 1), ?
1971-1972	Mrs. Wosney (grade 2), ?
1972-1973	Mrs. Thornton (grade 3), ?
1973-1974	?
1974-1975	Mr. Hamburg (grade 5), ?
1975-1976	Mr. Thompson (grade 6), ?

Photos & Coordinates

Postcard view of Park School, seen from a public park north of it (no date) Source: Gordon Goldsborough, 2011-0054. Postcard view of Park School (no date) Source: Gordon Goldsborough, 2011-0056. Park School (no date) Source: Archives of Manitoba, School Inspectors Photographs, GR8461, A0233, C131-3, page 135. Park School (1967) Source: Archives of Manitoba, Architectural Survey - Brandon - Park 3. Park School (1967) Source: Archives of Manitoba, Architectural Survey - Brandon - Park 4. Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.84500, W99.95736 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: East Ward School (200 Fourth Street, Brandon)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Park School No. 1491 (RM of Armstrong)

Sources:

“1,000 children now on the rolls,” Brandon Daily Sun, 6 September 1901, page 1.

“School notes,” Brandon Daily Sun, 30 August 1902, page 1.

“New school to be built,” Brandon Daily Sun, 14 October 1903, page 1.

“West Ward School contract is let,” Brandon Daily Sun, 27 April 1904, page 1.

“West Ward School,” Brandon Daily Sun, 29 April 1904, page 1.

“School Board,” Brandon Daily Sun, 9 November 1904, page 2.

“Tenders [West Ward School assembly hall],” Brandon Daily Sun, 4 February 1905, page 4.

“School Board,” Brandon Daily Sun, 8 February 1905, page 8.

“West Ward School,” Brandon Daily Sun, 10 February 1905, page 1.

“West Ward School,” Brandon Daily Sun, 21 February 1905, page 4.

“Opening of the Park School,” Brandon Daily Sun, 2 May 1905, page 1.

“The Park School opened Friday,” Brandon Daily Sun, 6 May 1905, page 1.

“Teaching staff of schools,” Brandon Daily Sun, 7 September 1905, page 6.

“New teachers appointed,” Brandon Daily Sun, 6 September 1906, page 1.

“Schools will open Tuesday,” Brandon Daily Sun, 31 August 1907, page 1.

“Teachers for city schools,” Brandon Daily Sun, 31 August 1908, page 1.

“Public schools were re-opened this morning,” Brandon Daily Sun, 1 September 1909, page 1.

“Many changes on the teaching staff,” Brandon Daily Sun, 11 August 1910, page 1.

“The city schools will re-open Friday,” Brandon Daily Sun, 31 August 1911, page 1.

“Public schools opened today,” Brandon Daily Sun, 3 September 1912, page 1.

“Public schools,” Brandon Daily Sun, 30 August 1918, page 6.

“Have full staff of teachers for public schools,” Brandon Daily Sun, 1 September 1923, page 1.

“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.

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

“Around town,” Brandon Sun, 1 September 1927, page 9.

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

“List of teachers public school,” Brandon Daily Sun, 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.

“School population explosion kept early school board busy,” Brandon Daily Sun, 28 August 1970, page 8.

“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.

Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.

We thank Tom Mitchell, Greg Sigurdson, Catherine Harley, Geraldine Sookorukoff, James Rodgers, and Ann Morag Haysom for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 11 November 2021

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