Florentine School District # 1675

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Teacherage - 1950

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A petition to organize a new school district was signed on October 13, 1920, by C.E. Salisbury, F. Wade, and P.E. Wright. At this time there were 20 children living in the area, between the ages of five and sixteen. The first school meeting was held at the home of W .H. Shatford, to nominate trustees for the new school district and to propose the site and plans for the school on December 22, 1920. Trustees elected were: Ernest Ashdown, W.H. Shatford, and C.E. Salisbury. The Florentine school district was officially established on December 30, 1920. The school was named after Florence Salisbury, the first baby born in the district The school district borrowed $4,000 by way of debentures and a contract to construct the new school was given to Waterman Waterbury Company. The school was built on two acres on the southwest corner of SE 2-46-14-W2.

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Mr. S.H. Coleman, the first teacher, began classes in the fall of 1921 with 15 pupils. Wages were $1,200 per annum. Enrolment continued to increase and in 1927, a 16 by 20 foot addition was built. In the early 1930s as many as 40 pupils attended classes. By this time wages dropped to $500. In the early 1940s the wages increased, but enrolment declined as many people had left the district. In 1950 a new basement was built, as well as a cistern. A telephone was also installed. Although many country schools closed when the larger school unit was created, this school remained open until a fire destroyed it on October 22, 1964. Mrs. Blanche Beaulieu was the last teacher with about 11 students.

The school served the district as a community centre for functions such as regular Sunday School and church services, dances, wedding showers, a funeral, Red Cross, Homemaker’s and school meetings, Christmas concerts, maypole and strawberry picnics.

The Teachers:

Stanley Coleman

1921-22

Hilda Dougherty

1922-23

Elda Moore

1923-24

Lenore Parker

1924-25

Eulalie Head

1924-25

Mary Bryden

1925-26

Jessie Howie

1926-27

Meryl Elliot

1926-29

Dorothy A. Walsh

1929-31

Beulah Robb

1931-34

John R. Denike

1934-41

Walter Addison

1941-46

Esther Minerva Finnie

1946-50

Margaret Valentine

1950-51

Caroline Johnston

1951-52

Anne Smith

1952-53

Doreen Lupien

1953-54

Joan (McLeod) Thomas

1954-55

Mrs. G. Vickberg

1955-57

Gerry Cooke

1957-58

Therese Parmentier

1958-61

Helen Clark

1961-62

Blanche Beaulieu

1962-64















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