LIBAU S.D. NO. 1237.
On May 22, 1903, approval was made to erect a school on the SE l/4 of Section 15-15-6E. Today the Polish National Cemetery marks the spot. The land was purchased from J. Peterson, for the sum of $12.50. The very first trustees were Leopold J. Schalme, Julius K. Kreiger, T. Hoffman and the auditor was Lurdwig Wueff.
The meeting was held at the home of Mr. J. Schoenhoffer. The first teacher was Herman Strassburger. He taught in German and English for a salary of $40.00, a month. School hours were from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm.
Daniel Kuss was hired as a contractor to build a school, 36×20 ll2 x 12 ft. and also a shed 13 x 9 l/2 ft. The school was to be three boards thick, have a good foundation, four strong Tamarac sills and sleepers, two doors, seven windows, lour lights and cedar shingles all for $700.00.
A team of horses was paid $4.00 a day, to draw the school furniture and the needed building materials. Some of the furniture costs were, double seat school desks at $5.25 each, the teacher’s rabble and chair cost $6.50. the blackboard which has 4 ft by 12 ft cost $6.00, the school bell .75c, and a bookcase to hold text books $8.00.
The school was to be heated with a Black Grant Box Stove, complete, it cost $18.50. Ten cords of wood was needed and it was purchased at .400 a cord.
Mr. J. Peterson completed the work on the schoolhouse for $0.l5 an hour.
The second teacher stayed only a few days. He was allowed to sleep and live in the schoolhouse in exchange for keeping it clean and a fire in the box stove.
On March 24, 1906, the school house and contacts burned down. The cause was unknown. Now plans had to be made to build a new schoolhouse. This school was
built by Jacob Landenberg, a larger log building. Its is include a wardrobe and a teacher’s closet.
By 1911, there were fifty-six students. Teachers came and went, often only staying a few days or weeks. Times were hard, it was a lonesome place and most of them just
couldn’t take the isolation.
By 1918, approval was made to build a second school. Land was purchased from Emil Greening, three across, for $90.00. This school was situated on l7-15-6E, just east of
the existing Libau Community Club. It was to be called West School, or the New School.
lt had to be built as the East School or the Old School was badly over crowded.
There were 70 students and 8 grades all in one room.
There was still quite a turnover of teacher’s with these conditions. Their duties were to heat and ventilate the school rooms, hoist the flag during school hours, make sure there was a fresh pail of water every day and be responsible for any damages to school property, and keep the room clean and tidy. Many teachers came from the city, the-v weren’t used to outside conveniences and very little privacy. Most often they resided in one of their students homes and after a long day would still not be free of children and their questions.
By 1922, caretakers had to be hired. They received $4.00 a month. This certainly relieved the teachers. First caretakers were Metro Kosack, for the new school, and George Fisher for the old school.
By June 1924, notices were posted advising that all students would be responsible for any, and all damages to school property. Desks and closet doors were being damaged, not to mention the flagpoles were having to be replaced or repaired all the time.
The schoolroom was crowded and the teachers were ordered to quit teaching any grade 9 students and devote their time to the lower grades.
In 1925, a teacher at the new school refused to obey the regulations regarding the noon hour break. As he lived some way from the school, it was impossible for him to
get there and back in one hour, so he extended the noon East Libau School
Teacher Jean Lyzun, break to 1 1/2 hours. The board deducted six hours from
his wages. The teacher appeared at the next board meeting with his resignation and demanded his pay. He got his pay and the board agreed to a longer recess break,
providing he work past 4:00 p.m. if his work was not completed. His resignation was withdrawn.
The board members now were; John Drawson, Wasyl Kosack, Emil Hoffman, and L.J. Schalme was Sec.- Treas.
In Nov. 1927, Daniel Pet nick became the new secretary-treasurer. He kept perfect records until the year 1965, a period of thirty-eight years. One could not
Surpass his Orion and dedicate ion.
In Aug. of 1928, the board passed unanimously to secure teachers of Christian Nationality and to provide one text Bible for each school and instructed the teachers to read a chapter or so each morning before commencing schoolwork.
Teachers capable of conducting good, strict, discipline were advertised for in 1929, preferably male. By 1930, all students which were not yet seven and those that were under the full age of fourteen were expelled due to the lack of sitting room accommodations.
Board members in 1934. were Stanley Spook, Rudolph Rotch, W. Kosack, and Sec.-Treas. was Dan Petznick. The two schools were overcrowded, very little could be done to improve this situation. These were the depression and war years, and maintenance was badly neglected. ln 1937, shelter belts were planted at both schools. Ln 1946, the Libau School District appointed Stanley Sopko as its first delegate to attend the Manitoba School trustees Convention in Wpg
The East School was destroyed by lire on July 24, 1949. The district had to provide accommodation in a hurry for the new term in Sept. A large frame building
was purchased which was located at Libau and moved east to the NE l/4 – 11-15 6E, and remodeled for a classroom. The son of a local family taught in this classroom for one school term. His name was Mike Kozyniak. This classroom was used for a period of three years until the new schools were built in 1952. A two room school was officially opened in the Libau Village on Oct.22, 1952 and a one-room school at the NW 1/4 I ll5-
6E. This building is still on the same site and is occupied today.
Daisy Wakshinsky was the first lady trustee elected tothe Libau School Board in 1954.
Special meetings were held with all teaching staff in 1962, with regard to emergency measures to be taken, should an emergency arise. The installation of a telephone was a must, at West School,2 battery radios were purchased. Teachers were asked to conduct evacuation drills, coal oil and coil-oil lamps and a supply of bandage and first aid supplies were placed at each school.
Bags of candy were passed out at the annual Christmas concert usually held at West School.
In 1963, the Libau School Board agreed to enroll pupils from the Brookside School District, and as many Grades I to 7 Boys, 1945/46. Winter’s Supply of Wood, 1915/16.
Libau East Temporary School used for 3 lean, felt old building bum down Just 24, 1949. as they could adequately instruct from the Brokenhead lndian Reserve.
In April of 1965, a meeting was held re: the consolidation of Arnold, Poplar Park, Sheffield, and Brookside schools.
Board members now were A.L. Tone, Mrs. Wanang, Bernard Kamke, and Pat Helwer was Sec.-Treas. A General School Meeting was held on Jan. 12, 1961, and a letter from the Minister of Education pertaining to the forming of a new school division was read and discussed.
Teachers came and left, each one leaving his or her mark and everyone became a better person for all the experience earned and learned. Good, and not so good,
memories still linger in the minds and hearts of many Libau residents today. lt seems they had a good social existence and always form ways of getting together despite the distances.
In 1967, the Libau School No. l23l became a part of the Lord Selkirk School Division.
Class of Libau East School.
LIBAU SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1237
BOUNDARIES AND TEACHERS
submitted by slh
The Libau S.D. No. l23l was formed on March 28, 1903 by a by-law of the Munc. of St. Clements. The boundaries were readjusted from time to time, the district consisting of the following lands as of July 25, 1936: Sec. 1,2,3, 4,5, E 1/2 of and NW I /4 of 6, Sec. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, S I /2 of 18, S I /2 of 22, Sec. 23 and 2,1in 15-6E.
The boundary was adjusted by an award of Arbitrators on March 10, 1944, adding Sec. 6, 7, 18, 19, and 30 in tp. 15-7E. These lands had been detached from Mars S.D. No. 1774 and effective Jan. l. 1945 were transferred to Libau No. 1231.
By an award of Arbitrators upon petition of Jacob L. Wanag, on June 29, 1949, the prayer of the petitioners to form two separate districts was denied. This went to
Appeal and was dismissed by Judge J.A. Bernier, Sept. 22, 1949.
The St. Clements Munc. confirmed their portion of the Libau S.D. No. l23l on Nov. 14, 1950 (bylaw No. 1207) as being: Sec. l, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 (except for SW 1i 4 of 7), 8, 9, 10, ll, t2, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, S 1/2 0f 18, S 1/2 0f 22,23,24 in l5-6E,andSec. 19 and 30 in tp. 15-7E.
The boundary within the Brokenhead Munc. (bylaw No. 1226) as of March 13, 1951 was: Sec. 6, 7, and l8 in l5-7E.
An Award, dated March 22, l95l was denied when petitioners wanted to divide the school into three separate school districts.
The school district was dissolved on April 1, 1967, when the Lord Selkirk School division was declared a division within the meaning of Sec. 443 of the PSA (order-in-council No .2241 6’7).
For your information and interest we list here most all of the teachers who taught at Libau from the early 1900’s to 1966.
Ceo. F. Schmidt 1905
Albert Moormans 1905-1906
Frederic Busch 1908
Fritz Brauer 1909
Jaroslaw Neywara l9l0-1912
Kurt E. Mendeborn l9l2-1915
Stanley E. Gunn 1916
Charles D. Smith l916
Miss E. Gillies 1916
Mrs. M. Brown 1916-1921
Ida Schmok 1918-1919
Martha Winger l9l9-1920
Mollie D. Rosenstock 1920-1921
Bessie Knelman l92l
Rebecca Knelman 1921
Annie Drawson 1922-1923
Mrs. F.L. Storde 1922
Mrs. A. Wright 1922
Rebecca Knelman 1923
Sarah Goodman 1923-1924
Gladys S. Matheson 1924
E.J, Neufeld 1924
Mary McKee 1925
Felix Sauer 1925
Edith Wasserman 1925 -1926
Dorothy Rounstock 1925
Bernardina Abraham 1926- I 921
Bertha lsenberg 1926-1927
Hermine L. Drawson 1927-1928
Marie Prygrocki 1927 -1928
Hermine L. Hinds 1928
Clara L. Cohen 1928-1929
Mary Buzdygan 1929
Stanley Corb€t Henderson 1929-1930
Margaret Agnes Gorowski 1929-1930
Julia Garry 1930
Elinor Adelaide Kronberg 193 l-1933
Abiah Davies Morgan l93l – 1935
Mr. Arelius Isfeld 1933- 1934
Mary Helen Rutherford 1934- 1935
Peter Jacob Willms 1935-1938
Erna Emilie Ozol 1935-1940
James Henry Dann 1938-1939
Teenie Evelyn Kozyra 1940
Bernard Schellenberg 1941
William J. Smoler 1941-1942
Jean Lyzun 1942-1943
Rosalie Cecelia Holub 1944
Erna Emilie Ozol 1944-1945
Anne Machewski 1945-1946
Erna Emilie Ozol 1947
Erna Emilie Oczkus 1948-1949
Jacob Hiebert 1949-1950
Johnny Hykawy 1950-1951
Jack Mike Kozniak 1951- 1952
Vera Ada Katazinski 1952-1953
Polly Cherniak 1953- 1960
Diane E. Kerney 1954
Irwin Krijat 1960-1962
Meroslawa Horbas 1962-1963
Patrick cole 1963-1964
Meroslawa Horbas 1964-1966
Allan Charles Spence 1965-1966
Mrs. Ruth Hastman 1966
Here is a separate list ol the teachers you might
remember, who taught at the Libau West School:
Harvey Disrael Ginsberg 1939-1940
l
III
Grcdes
5 and 6,
1945/46.
Libau West School,
Miss Vera Kalazinski
and her Arades I to 6
class, 1955.
Rudy Mahmel 1940-1941
Catherine MacLaren l94l
Patricia Wallace 1942-1943
Joseph Yatchew 1944
Rosalie Cecelia Holub 1944-1946
Joe W. Tysarski 1947
Fred Klym 194’7-1951-
Metro Lysiaichuk l95l -1952
Balaran Frederic John Siew 1952
Olga Jean Nakoneshny 1952- 1953
Anna Mae Kotello 1953
Mary Anne Nowolski 1953-1954
Vera Ada Katazinski 1954-1956
Wolfgang Alfred Paul Garten 1954-1955
Thoddeus C. Brune 1955-1957
Vera C. Helwer 1956- 1958
Benjamin Koshel 1957
Michael L. Balitsky 1958
Lenora Labun 1958- 1959
John Oberton 1958-1960
Donna P. Bell 1959-1960
Florence Morris 1960-1962
Bonnie J. McTaggart 1960-1961
Mrs. Artha M. Anderson 1961-1963
Mrs. Florence Jablonski 1962-1964
Henry Taylor 1963-1965
Artha M. Anderson 1964-1966
Mrs. Pea Ma in inside
the Libau school
THE LIGHTER SIDE OF SERVING
AS A SCHOOLTRUSTEE
submitted by Stanley Sopko
Early school days were horse and buggy days. The mode of travel was walking. The children walked to school and so did the trustees (in order to get to the Slan Sopko meetings). At the same time, the schools were heated with wood burning stoves.
Recalling the day I went to the bush to cut cordwood, that was three miles from home, I quit early and walked home so that I would be in time for the school board meeting. I walked four miles from home to attend this meeting but lo and behold for reasons unknown, the other two trustees did not show up for the meeting, so I walked back home, no meeting.
Most of the cordwood was traded for groceries at the local general store. A lot of it was cut by the Brokenhead Indian Reserve residents. Each resident of the reserve had a quota that he would cut and trade for groceries, The aged or disabled could arrange to have their quota cut by white men. The storekeeper arranged for several young white men to do wood cutting on this basis at S1.00 per cord. He also assigned a teamster for each woodcutter to haul the wood out to the railroad for $1.00 per cord, as well.
After a few days, the teamsters began to complain that when they drove out to the bush there was not enough wood for a load to haul out. After a week the cutters brought in their tools and told the storekeeper that they quit. The storekeeper said “how come Stanley cuts a cord a day and his teamster always brings in a load?” They told him they did not know how he did it. “He must have the devil helping him”. The next day Stanley’s teamster came to the bush to pick up a load of wood, loaded the wood, and was short a few pieces to make a cord. I then cut down an ash tree which would be enough to make the load. This ash tree had a “shake” (that is a crack in the tree). When I sawed off the first four foot length the two halves fell apart. The teamster grabbed his cap by the peak, threw it against his knee, and said “I’ll be damned, I’ve seen everything, now l” He cuts wood and the devil is splitting it.” (Ash wood had to be split to be used as firewood).
Submitted by Stanley Sopko and Joan Kozyniak