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The Springfield School District was established in May 1911 and a two-storey, four-classroom schoolhouse at this Copeland Street site (NW33-10-4E) in the Transcona area of Winnipeg was built in 1911 upon the architectural designs of Joseph Alphonse Hudon. 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.
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.
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
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, September-December), 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, January-June)
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, September-December), Lilian Scott (grades 3-6, January-June), 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, September-December), Frederick James “Fred” Kennedy (grades 7-9, January-June), 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, January-June), Lawrence Peter Roscoe (grades 5-9, September-December), Beatrice Sveinson (grades 1-4, September-December; grades 5-9, January-June)
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, September-December; grades 4-6, January-June), Donald Murray McLaughlin (grades 5-9, September-December; grades 7-9, January-June), Marjorie Evelyn Smith (grades 1-3, January-June)
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, September-December; grades 1-3, January-June), Simone Davison (grades 3-4, September-December), David William “Dave” Normandale (grades 3-5, January-June), Joseph Myrs Ptashynski (grades 5-6, September-December)
Construction of the original Springfield School building (1911)
Source: Transcona, On the Horizon of a Great Future, Golden Jubilee, 1911-1961 page 40.
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 (November 1967)
Source: Archives of Manitoba, Manitoba Local Government Boundaries Commission, File 98I South Springfield.
The former Springfield School building (June 2014)
Source: Gordon GoldsboroughSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.88364, W96.99703
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Memorable Manitobans: Joseph Alphonse Hudon (1886-1918)
“Transcona, Man,” Contract Record and Engineering Review, 1 November 1911, page 57.
“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.
We thank Jordan Makichuk and Bruce Rand for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 20 April 2025
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