Historic Sites of Manitoba: Springfield School No. 1569 / South Springfield School (1110 Copeland Street, Winnipeg)

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

The Springfield School District was established in May 1911 and a two-storey, four-classroom schoolhouse was built at this site on Copeland Street (NW33-10-4E) in the Transcona area of Winnipeg in 1920. Initially, classes were held in grades 1 to 5. In later years, grades 9 to 11 were discontinued. By 1950s, the building integrity had deteriorated such that it was condemned and demolished.

In 1955, the present one-storey, four-classroom structure was built at the cost of around $35,000 and located just a few feet north of the original building. By this time the school had adopted the South Springfield School name, after the original South Springfield School had closed. The district was dissolved in 1967 and its area became part of the Transcona-Springfield School Division. The school closed in June 1970 and the building was used for a time as a facility for special-needs students, and later as storage by the School Division. As of 2014, the former school building still stands at the site, being used as a private residence.

Principals

Period

Principal

1912-1914

E. Lewilda Smith

1915

Lillian E. Roberts

1915

Peter Robert Loutit (1878-1961)

1915-1916

Edna Huntley

1917-1918

James Thomas Cressey (1859-1950)

1918-1919

M. E. Bretts

1919-1922

Walter Ellard McCann (1887-1945)

1922-1927

Thomas “Tom” Petty (1890-1968)

1927-1929

John Cooke “Jack” Le Neveu (1902-1988)

1929-1930

Thomas Henry “Tom” Shakespeare (1883-1965)

1930

John Ensworth Morison (1896-1983)

1930-1931

Victor Snelgrove Dotten (1908-1977)

1932-1933

Frederick James “Fred” Kennedy (1913-1942)

1934-1939

Emily Sumi “Emilie” Denney (1907-1997)

1939-1942

Laurie Elizabeth Bush Tegelberg (1914-1999)

1942

Margaret Ellen Crawford Snell (1918-2007)

1943

Alice E. Copeland

1943-1945

Enid Thomson

1945-1948

Lawrence Peter Roscoe (1896-1988)

1949

Beatrice Sveinson

1949-1954

Donald Murray McLaughlin (1905-2003)

1954-1958

Lawrence Peter Roscoe (1896-1988)

1958-1961

Wilmer John Shynkaruk (c1933-1984)

1961-1966

Lawrence Peter Suchar (1933-2015)

1966-1969

Joseph Myrs Ptashynski (1943-2024)

1970

see Dugald School

Teachers

School Year

Teachers

1911-1912

E. Lewilda Smith (grades 1-5)

1912-1913

Frances Buckley (grades 1-2), E. Lewilda Smith (grades 3-6)

1913-1914

Frances Buckley (grades 1-3), Melinda Ellis (grade 1), Edith Leckie (grade 1, 1914), E. Lewilda Smith (grades 4-7)

1914-1915

Vida G. Craven (grade 1, 1915), Melinda Ellis (grades 2-4), Edith Leckie (grade 1, 1914), Lillian E. Roberts (grades 5-7, 1915), E. Lewilda Smith (grades 5-7, 1914)

1915-1916

Vida G. Craven (grade 1, 1915), Melinda Ellis (grades 2-4, 1915), Edna Huntley (grades 5-8), Peter Robert Loutit (grades 5-8, 1915), Edna Power (grades 1-3, 1916)

1916-1917

James Thomas Cressey (grades 4-8), P. K. Graham (grades 1-3)

1917-1918

James Thomas Cressey (grades 4-9), P. K. Graham (grades 1-3)

1918-1919

M. T. Armstrong (grades 3-5, 1918), M. E. Bretts (grades 6-10), James Thomas Cressey (grades 6-10, 1918), Eleanor J. C. Popham (grades 1-2), Bertha A. Street (grades 3-5, 1919)

1919-1920

Walter Ellard McCann (grades 7-9), Florence M. Pounds (grades 3-6), Beatrice Carol Whitcomb (grades 1-2)

1920-1921

Walter Ellard McCann (grades 7-11), Jean M. Machan (grades 3-6), Beatrice Carol Whitcomb (grades 1-2)

1921-1922

Walter Ellard McCann (grades 7-10), Jean M. Machan (grades 3-6, 1921), Lilian Scott (grades 3-6, 1922), Beatrice Carol Whitcomb (grades 1-2)

1922-1923

Mary McL. Cooke (grades 2-3), Evelyn Freedy (grade 1), Hazel Grant (grades 3-6), Pearle More? (grades 3-6, 1923), Thomas Petty (grades 7-10)

1923-1924

Mary McL. Cooke (grades 1-3), M. R. Fox (grades 4-6, 1924), Evelyn Freedy (grade 1), Thomas Petty (grades 7-10), M. L. G. Whitelaw (grades 4-6)

1924-1925

Mary McL. Cooke (grades 2-3), Evelyn Freedy (grade 1), Linda M. Merrill (grades 4-6), Thomas Petty (grades 7-10)

1925-1926

Mary McL. Cooke (grades 2-3), Evelyn Freedy (grade 1), Linda M. Merrill (grades 4-6), Thomas Petty (grades 7-10)

1926-1927

Mary McL. Cooke (grades 4-6), Linda M. Merrill (grades 1-3), Thomas Petty (grades 7-10)

1927-1928

Mary McL. Cooke (grades 4-6), Linda M. Merrill (grades 1-3), John Cooke Le Neveu (grades 7-9)

1928-1929

Mary McL. Cooke (grades 4-6), Linda M. Merrill (grades 1-3), John Cooke Le Neveu (grades 7-9)

1929-1930

Mary McL. Cooke (grades 4-6), Linda M. Merrill (grades 1-3), Thomas Henry Shakespeare (grades 7-9), John Ensworth Morison (grades 7-9, 1930)

1930-1931

Mary McL. Cooke (grades 4-6), Victor Snelgrove Dotten (grades 7-9), Linda M. Merrill (grades 1-3)

1931-1932

Mary McL. Cooke (grades 4-6), Victor Snelgrove Dotten (grades 7-9, 1931), Frederick James “Fred” Kennedy (grades 7-9, 1932), Linda M. Merrill (grades 1-3)

1932-1933

Mary McL. Cooke (grades 4-6), Frederick James “Fred” Kennedy (grades 7-9), Linda M. Merrill (grades 1-3)

1933-1934

Mary McL. Cooke (grades 4-6), Linda M. Merrill (grades 1-3), Emily “Emilie” Sumi (grades 7-9)

1934-1935

Mary McL. Cooke (grades 4-6), Linda M. Merrill (grades 1-3), Emily “Emilie” Sumi (grades 7-10)

1935-1936

Mary McL. Cooke (grades 3-5), Linda M. Merrill (grades 1-2), Emily “Emilie” Sumi (grades 6-9)

1936-1937

Mary McL. Cooke (grades 4-6), Linda M. Merrill (grades 1-3), Emily “Emilie” Sumi (grades 7-9)

1937-1938

Mary McL. Cooke (grades 4-6), Linda M. Merrill (grades 1-3), Emily “Emilie” Sumi (grades 7-9)

1938-1939

Mary McL. Cooke (grades 4-6), Linda M. Merrill (grades 1-3), Emily “Emilie” Sumi (grades 7-9)

1939-1940

Laurie Elizabeth Bush (grades 7-9), Mary McL. Cooke (grades 4-6), Linda M. Merrill (grades 1-3)

1940-1941

Laurie Elizabeth Bush (grades 7-9), Mary McL. Cooke (grades 4-6), Linda M. Merrill (grades 1-3)

1941-1942

Laurie Elizabeth Bush (grades 7-9), Mary McL. Cooke (grades 4-6), Linda M. Merrill (grades 1-3)

1942-1943

Alice E. Copeland (grades 6-9, 1943), Margaret Ellen Crawford (grades 6-9, 1942), Emily Lenora Gardiner (grades 4-6), Mary Eugenia Neufeld (grades 1-5), Enid Thomson (grades 6-9, 1943)

1943-1944

Lucille Marie Alice Bourgouin (grades 1-5), Enid Thomson (grades 6-9)

1944-1945

Lucille Marie Alice Bourgouin (grades 1-5), Enid Thomson (grades 6-9)

1945-1946

Lawrence Peter Roscoe (grades 5-9), Adeline Valois (grades 1-4)

1946-1947

Lawrence Peter Roscoe (grades 5-9), Christine Sveinson (grades 1-4)

1947-1948

Lawrence Peter Roscoe (grades 5-9), Christine Sveinson (grades 1-4)

1948-1949

Frances Helen Beckthold (grades 1-4, 1949), Lawrence Peter Roscoe (grades 5-9, 1948), Beatrice Sveinson (grades 1-4, 1948; grades 5-9, 1949)

1949-1950

Muriel E. Bruce (grades 1-4), Donald Murray McLaughlin (grades 5-9)

1950-1951

Muriel E. Bruce (grades 1-4), Donald Murray McLaughlin (grades 5-9)

1951-1952

Stella Poberzny [Pobern] (grades 1-4), Donald Murray McLaughlin (grades 5-9)

1952-1953

Stella Poberzny [Pobern] (grades 1-4), Donald Murray McLaughlin (grades 5-9)

1953-1954

Stella Poberzny [Pobern] Kashty (grades 1-3, 1953; grades 4-6, 1954), Donald Murray McLaughlin (grades 5-9, 1953; grades 7-9, 1954), Marjorie Evelyn Smith (grades 1-3, 1954)

1954-1955

Simone Davidson (grades 4-6), Lawrence Peter Roscoe (grades 7-9), Marjorie Evelyn Smith (grades 1-3)

1955-1956

Simone Davidson (grades 3-5), Thelma E. Doan (grades 6-8), Lawrence Peter Roscoe (grades 9-10), Marjorie Evelyn Smith (grades 1-2)

1956-1957

Simone Davidson (grades 3-5), Thelma E. Doan (grades 6-8), Lawrence Peter Roscoe (grades 9-10), Marjorie Evelyn Smith (grades 1-2)

1957-1958

Simone Davidson (grades 3-4), Thelma E. Doan (grades 5-7), Lawrence Peter Roscoe (grades 8-10), Mrs. D. Irene Zerbin (grades 1-2)

1958-1959

Simone Davidson (grades 3-5), Charlotte Jane Ross (grades 5-7), Wilmer John Shynkaruk (grades 8-10), Mrs. D. Irene Zerbin (grades 1-2)

1959-1960

Simone Davidson (grades 3-4), Charlotte Jane Ross (grades 5-6), Wilmer John Shynkaruk (grades 7-8), Mrs. D. Irene Zerbin (grades 1-2)

1960-1961

Simone Davidson (grades 3-4), Charlotte Jane Ross (grades 4-6), Wilmer John Shynkaruk (grades 7-8), Mrs. D. Irene Zerbin (grades 1-2)

1961-1962

Simone Davidson (grades 3-4), Charlotte Jane Ross (grades 4-6), Lawrence Peter Suchar (grades 7-8), Mrs. D. Irene Zerbin (grades 1-2)

1962-1963

Simone Davidson (grades 3-4), Charlotte Jane Ross (grades 5-6), Lawrence Peter Suchar (grades 7-8), Mrs. D. Irene Zerbin (grades 1-2)

1963-1964

Simone Davidson (grades 3-4), Charlotte Jane Ross (grades 5-6), Lawrence Peter Suchar (grades 7-8), ? (grades 1-2)

1964-1965

Simone Davidson (grades 3-4), Geraldine J. Earl (grades 1-2), Charlotte Jane Ross (grades 5-6), Lawrence Peter Suchar (grades 7-8)

1965-1966

Simone Davidson (grades 3-4), Geraldine J. Earl (grades 1-2), Charlotte Jane Ross (grades 5-6), Lawrence Peter Suchar (grades 7-8)

1966-1967

Simone Davidson (grades 3-4), Mary Klassen (grades 1-2), Joseph Myrs Ptashynski (grades 7-8), Charlotte Jane Ross (grades 5-6)

1967-1968

Simone Davidson (grades 3-4), Mary Madeline Wyllie (grades 1-2), Joseph Myrs Ptashynski (grades 7-8), Charlotte Jane Ross (grades 5-6)

1968-1969

Simone Davidson (grades 3-4), Mary Madeline Wyllie (grades 1-2), Joseph Myrs Ptashynski (grades 5-6)

1969-1970

Mary Madeline Wyllie (grades 1-2, 1969; grades 1-3, 1970), Simone Davison (grades 3-4, 1969), David William “Dave” Normandale (grades 3-5, 1970), Joseph Myrs Ptashynski (grades 5-6, 1969)

Photos & Coordinates

The original Springfield School building

The original Springfield School building (no date) by R. Goulet
Source: Archives of Manitoba, School Inspectors Photographs,
GR8461, A0233, C131-2, page 141.

The second South Springfield School building

The second South Springfield School building (November 1967)
Source: Archives of Manitoba, Manitoba Local Government Boundaries Commission, File 98I South Springfield.

The former Springfield School building

The former Springfield School building (June 2014)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough

Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.88364, W96.99703
denoted by symbol on the map above

Sources:

“Transcona notes,” Winnipeg Tribune, 27 August 1949, page 8.

“Transcona notes,” Winnipeg Free Press, 28 August 1950, page 36.

“Transcona notes,” Winnipeg Free Press, 1 September 1951 page 30.

“Transcona notes,” Winnipeg Free Press, 23 August 1952, page 10.

Dugald West topographic map, 62H/15, Edition 2, Series A743 [Archives of Manitoba].

Annual Reports of the Manitoba Department of Education, Manitoba Legislative Library.

Transcona, On the Horizon of a Great Future, Golden Jubilee, 1911-1961. Manitoba Legislative Library, F5649.T73 Tra.

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.

“Transcona Council receives notice of school defect,” Winnipeg Free Press, 22 August 1939, page 21.

“Transcona notes,” Winnipeg Free Press, 5 February 1955, page 6.

“Parents oppose school closing,” Winnipeg Free Press, 14 March 1969, page 18.

Manitoba School Records Collection, Springfield School District No. 1569 Daily Registers, GR9480, Archives of Manitoba.

School division half-yearly attendance reports (E 0757), Archives of Manitoba.

Manitoba Local Government Boundaries Commission, Schools in Manitoba - Volume 2, South Springfield School - File 98I, March 1968, Archives of Manitoba.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 4 May 2024

Historic Sites of Manitoba

This is a collection of historic sites in Manitoba compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. The information is offered for historical interest only.

Browse lists of:
Museums/Archives | Buildings | Monuments | Cemeteries | Locations | Other

Inclusion in this collection does not confer special status or protection. Official heritage designation may only come from municipal, provincial, or federal governments. Some sites are on private property and permission to visit must be secured from the owner.

Site information is provided by the Manitoba Historical Society as a free public service only for non-commercial purposes.


Send corrections and additions to this page
to the MHS Webmaster at webmaster@mhs.mb.ca.

Search Tips | Suggest an Historic Site | FAQ

Help us keep history alive!