Alma School 1954

This was posted today on David Barbour's Facebook page. Thanks!

Alma students graduate from Alberton High School 1960

     Two Alma students were amoung the 1960 graduates of Alberton High School - Jean Barbour (front left) and Arlene Rennie (front right).  
     Thanks Donna (Barbour) MacPhee for this photo.

Alma Children at Alma School - Summer 1965

     Here's a few great photos taken by Donna (Barbour) MacPhee on the Alma School grounds in the summer of 1965 - they're amazing!!  We're fortunate she had the foresight to document everyday goings-on in our little community!

Above: Alma Children

Back: Judy & Verna Smallman, Mary McNeill, Debbie Bowness and Gwenda Barbour.

Front: Kevin Kelly, ? McAssey, Carter Jeffery, Gordon & Margaret McAssey, ? Shields.

In the background you can see Alvie Mountain's Homestead at Alma Corner.

Above:  ? Girl with Ralphie Clark peaking around from behind.

Note the buildings in the background -

Will & Sadie Mountains house on the far left; and rear view of Rennie's Store & sheds.

Above: Anne Marie Murphy, daughter of Wilbert & Geraldine (Gavin) Murphy.
Behind Anne the boys are playing with Blanche Crocket's dog, Laddie (far left).
In the background on the left is 'Con' Cornelius & Jennie O'Brien Homestead
at the corner of the Western and Centerline Roads.  On the right is Art Rennie's house.

Alma School Teacher George Hardy resigns in 1899

The Guardian, Charlottetown, July 5, 1899  page 7

The mid-summer examination of Alma School, Lot 3, took place on Tuesday 27^th inst.  The attendance of parents and visitors was quite large.  The examination which was conducted by Chas A. Hardy, Esq. And Rev. A.D. McDonald was most satisfactory throughout, proving conclusively that good and faithful work had been done both by pupils and teacher.  The whole tone of the school, intellectual and moral is healthy and hopeful indicating on the art of the teacher not only a deep knowledge of child nature, but also the possession of those rare gifts and instincts which continue to make the successful teacher.  At the close of the examination short addresses were given by Messrs. John Riley, Thos. O’Brien. Jas. B. Mountain and by the examiner, all of whom expressed themselves as being well pleased with the progress made by the children and the general condition of the school. Mr. George Hardy has been in charge of the Alma School for the last three years and now resigns his position to enter upon the study of medicine.  It is needless to say that his resignation is accepted with deep regret that he carries with him the very best wishes of the whole community upon which his noble Christian life has left a powerful impress for good.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Below is an 1897 Photo of Alma School Students

Teacher George Hardy standing on left with his bicycle.

See previous post -

http://almalauretta.blogspot.ca/2012/06/alma-school-1897.html

Alma School - Winter 1972

     This photo was given to my brother Kerras the other day by Norma Barbour - she was a Substitute Teacher and taught at Alma School on two occasions that winter, January 4th and February 7th, 1972 - the following photos were taken on either of those days.

 Above: Norma (Locke) Barbour at the head of the class.

     Above: Wayne McNeill in front left.  I think that's me, Carter Jeffery, by the window, 2nd back in blue sweater - I was in Grade 4 with Kevin Kelly and Jean Murphy.  I can't identify the rest of the students.  This is the east side of the school, facing the Western Road and schoolyard.

Alma School 1911

     This photo was sent to the Barbour family in Montrose in 1990 from Mary Howell of New York.

This photo is also in the Donna (Barbour) MacPhee Photo Collection.

Alma School 1897

Here's a photo of Alma School teacher and students taken in 1897. 

cf.  Donna (Barbour) MacPhee Collection

     Below is a list of the people in the photo, transcribed from what was written on the back of the above photo.

1897 Alma School – Addie

George Hardy Teacher with bicycle (taught 1896-98 at Alma)

Back Row:

Peter Yeo, Joe Dunbar, Mrs. Leander Donalds (Wallace mother), Mattie Clark, Annie O’Brien, Newman Clark, Mary Eliza O’Brien, Gertie Burke, Janie Weeks, Hattie Mountain, Cecil Barbour, Hazel Weeks, Alice O’Connor, Frank Barbour, Beckie Burke,Rose Burke, Alice Dunbar, James Dunbar, Fred Kinch, Isiah Clark.

2^nd Row:
Con O’Brien, Joe Sullivan, Presley Barbour, Harry Barbour, John Wallace, Johny McIntyre, Essie Barbour, Pearl Jeffery, Wilfred O’Brien, George Mountain, Clara Wallace, Maud Yeo, Peter O’Brien, Joe Sullivan, Nan O’Connor, Johnny Weeks, Athol Barbour, Emma Dunbar, Preseley Barbour, Wallace Donalds, Charlie Mountain, Fred Donalds, Lloyd Dunbar, Frank Kinch, Sophie Barbour, Maggie O’Brien, Lottie Kinch, Mary Kinch.

Alma School - No. 43

     It's been said that Prince Edward Island had a schoolhouse every 3 miles so that students didn't have to walk any further than 1-1/2 miles to attend school.  Below is one of those schools, Alma School, No. 43.

    

Above: Alma School c.1950's cf. Donna Barbour MacPhee Collection

     The following information comes from the Prince Edward Island Public Archive's school records:

     Alma school opened in September 1869.  Henry Graves was the carpenter.  The first school teacher was John Foley of Charlottetown, then came John Beaton also of Charlottetown, then a Miss Weeks of Albend.  The first trustees were: Morris O'Connor, Henry Graves, James Mountain (secretary), George Mountain, and John Currie Jr.

Alma School District No. 43 (1869‑1971)

     Year(s)   /  Teacher  /     No. of Pupils

      1869          John Foley        ?
      1874          Alice Weeks, 1st Class
Superintendent note:  School has long been Vacant.  No map of PEI. Prospects encouraging.
      1875          Vacant teacher expected in a few days.
                         ? John Beaton       ?
                         ? Miss Weeks        ?
      1878          M.E.Gordon       51
      1879          Maggie E. Gordon 42
      1880          John Beaton      40
      1881          John Beaton      60
      1882          Maggie E. Gordon 48
      1883          No Teacher       44
      1884          Mary E. Gordon   52
      1885          Mary E. Gordon   48
      1886          Carrie W. Darley 40
      1887          John B. Champion 53
      1888          John B. Champion 60
      1889          Peter Cunningham 54
      1890          Christine Miller 74
      1891           Christine Miller 52
      1892           Albert J. Barry  57
      1893           Frank McCarvill  59
      1894          J. McElmeel      68
      1895           Mary Dunbar       ?
      1896           George A. Hardy   ?
      1897           George Hardy      ?
      1898           George Hardy     58
      1899           Franklin Mellish 44
 1901‑1902     EddieChristopher 42
 1903‑1904    Mary A. Dunbar   40
      1905           Mary E. O'Brien  30
      1906           James Sinclair   38
      1907           J.B. MacDonald   40
 1908‑1909    Annie L. McGrath 41
      1910            no teacher        0
1911-1912         Estelle Bowness 20?
Dec.1, 1922‑
June 30,1923    Minnie Wackey?  ?
Aug‑Dec1923 Wm B. Wallace   ?
     1939?           Mildred Barbour   ?
                            ? Blanche Rennie    ?
   1967‑68        Barbara Rayner    ?
   1968‑69        Willie Handrahan  ?
   1969‑70        Sonia Hardy       ?
   1970‑71         Mildred Barbour   ?
   1971‑72         Mildred Barbour  23

     When Lauretta School closed in the 1950's students from Lauretta came to Alma.

     Alma's one‑room schoolhouse closed in the spring of 1972 as a result of provincial school consolidation - students from here went onto Elmsdale Elementary, Alberton Elementary and Alberton High Schools.

     Below is the last class to attend Alma School, 1971-72, 23 students in total in Grades 1-7. 

The students in the above photo above are as follows:

Back row:  Robert Jeffery, Carter Jeffery, Gordon MacAssey, Kevin Gordon, Blair Duggan, Wayne McNeill, Kevin Kelly, Kent Smallman, and teacher Mildred (Dunbar) Barbour.

Middle Row: Marlene Rayner, Patsy Murphy, Shiela Rennie, ? Blanchard, Jean Murphy, Laura Blanchard.

Front Row: Ivan Dunbar, Randy Jeffery, Douglas Dunbar, John MacAssey, Scott Clark, Kendell Bowness, Kenny Gordon, Glen Barbour, Gary MacAssey. 

     Following it's closure, Alma School was sold by the Provincial Government to the Alma Women's Institute for $1.  W.I. used it as a community center fixing it up with Government Summer Student projects.  In the 1990's the Institute sold the property to Kevin Gordon who used it for storage, etc.  When the Western Road and Centerline Road intersection was reconstructed in 2007 the school was demolished.

     Stay tuned to this blog for further information and photos of Alma School, etc.