During the 1935-36, school year enrollment at the Rowell School dropped to six pupils and the school was closed at the end of the school year due to the lack of pupils. The children then had the options; either the government school car, or correspondence.
The railway school car had a four community circuit, spending one week in each, then moving on to the next community along the rail line. While it was out of town, under the direction of their parents the students presumably worked diligently on assignments. The teacher, Mr. Henry Antoniak, was the oldest child in a large family, and is described as a man well versed in the art of manipulating the young ones in a sugar-coated way.
Some students were able to make arrangements such that they could attend more continuously. In the 1936-37 school year, Mary Stouffer attended school in both Amesdale and Richan. In 1938-39 school year, Gordon Fradsham went east for one week where attended in Richan while staying with his Aunt Eva, then spent a week at home while attending in Amesdale, then followed the car west to Niddrie where he stayed with his Aunt Kate while the school car was stopped in Niddrie.
In September of 1943 the school car rolled into town with a new teacher. Henry Antoniak who had decided to switch to the south line of the CNR so he could spend more time in his hometown of the Lakehead. The new teacher was a personable, thirty-six year old. A quite, lonely, and still unmarried teacher named Andy Clement. He rolled into Amesdale in mid-September 1943 and earned a place for himself in the hearts of students and residents alike. He was a welcome part of the community for the next four years, developing many lasting friendships with residents like Gordon Ames and others.
In the 1940's attendance began to increase. From an enrollement of eight in September 1942, enrollment rose to sixteen by the spring of 1946. This justified reopening of the Rowell School. Andy Clement had already identified a teacher. Earlier in the year he had met Olive Lynch, the widowed daughter of Sam and Annie Ames. With Andy Clement's recommendation as an excellent and well qualified teacher, she assumed teaching duties in the Rowell School. In the fall of 1946 the Rowell School reopened with twenty-three students enrolled in grades one through ten.
Some students were able to make arrangements such that they could attend more continuously. In the 1936-37 school year, Mary Stouffer attended school in both Amesdale and Richan. In 1938-39 school year, Gordon Fradsham went east for one week where attended in Richan while staying with his Aunt Eva, then spent a week at home while attending in Amesdale, then followed the car west to Niddrie where he stayed with his Aunt Kate while the school car was stopped in Niddrie.
In September of 1943 the school car rolled into town with a new teacher. Henry Antoniak who had decided to switch to the south line of the CNR so he could spend more time in his hometown of the Lakehead. The new teacher was a personable, thirty-six year old. A quite, lonely, and still unmarried teacher named Andy Clement. He rolled into Amesdale in mid-September 1943 and earned a place for himself in the hearts of students and residents alike. He was a welcome part of the community for the next four years, developing many lasting friendships with residents like Gordon Ames and others.
In the 1940's attendance began to increase. From an enrollement of eight in September 1942, enrollment rose to sixteen by the spring of 1946. This justified reopening of the Rowell School. Andy Clement had already identified a teacher. Earlier in the year he had met Olive Lynch, the widowed daughter of Sam and Annie Ames. With Andy Clement's recommendation as an excellent and well qualified teacher, she assumed teaching duties in the Rowell School. In the fall of 1946 the Rowell School reopened with twenty-three students enrolled in grades one through ten.
Photo: Andy Clement
Requests:
1) If you can identify the students in the photo please provide "The Society" with their names.
2) If you have any stories or simple memories of the school car, please email them to "The Society"
When I say "The Society", that is just a fancy way to say email me at: ames.brian@gmail.com
Alternatively, if you have an Gmail address you can add a comment to this Blog.
Thanks,
Brian
Sources:
Clement, Andrew. 1987. The Bell and the Book. Highway Book Shop, Cobalt, Ontario. 204-216
Fradsham, Gordon. personal communications
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