Macdonald
Consolidated School, Kingston
The sun beamed through the
schoolhouse window as I sat at the little wooden desk waiting for my
turn for the teacher to look at my completed arithmetic questions. It
seemed some of the older students were getting extra help with the new
chapter on measurements.
As I waited, I stared at the wall beside me. Under the layers of
paint, the carved initials “B K” were still faintly
visible.
This sent me off on a trip of wondering about the names of the children
who
had spent their days in years gone by in this very room.
Former students of Macdonald Consolidated School, Kingston, New
Brunswick, have been reviewing microfilm of School Return Sheets at the
Provincial
Archives of New Brunswick to discover who had attended the school since
it opened in August of 1904.
Lists of the classes will be displayed at this summer’s reunion
celebration of “100 Years of Education”. To this date more than
1200 names of individual students have been recorded, and at least 130
class lists prepared.
In the first year of operation, 1904-05, there were 4 teachers and 189
students. Students were conveyed to the school by horse-drawn vans, and
there was a “van shed” where the horses were stabled during the day.
The original school was built by the Macdonald Tobacco Company, one of
several built in eastern Canada. It is the only one still used as a
school.
The original building burned in 1909 and the present structure was
built
in 1910. There have been two major additions, one in the mid-1950s and
a
larger one in 1981 where many classrooms, a library, a music room, and
a
museum were added.
The last graduating class was in 1967 when further consolidation of
schools had Grades 10 - 12 being bussed to Hampton Consolidated for
their high school.
Many of the Kingston Peninsula family names, such Crawford, Flewelling,
Gorham, Holder, Lamb, Northrup, Paddock, Sheldrick, Waddell, and
Wetmore are represented in the list of students. In at least one case,
there is a family of five generations starting with Thurlow Henderson
who attended in 1906 followed by his daughter Charlotte who was a
student there in 1932.
The Reunion weekend begins July 30, 2004. Information can be obtained
by phoning 763-3435 or 1-888-325-7787, and online at www.mcsreunion.com
* *
Query 1172
Edmonds - Seelye: I'm
looking for information about Sarah Emma Evelyn Edmonds, prior to and
after she enlisted in the American Civil War as Franklin Thompson and
her spouse Linus Seelye, before and after her death in 1898.
Connie Faussett Platt
7028 Ardsley Drive
Canton, MI
48187-3032
U.S.A.
cplatt@provide.net
Query 1173
Gartley - McElwain - Prescott:
I am seeking information on David McElwain and his first wife
Margaret who died 04 Nov 1865 and his second wife Emily Gartley. John
McElwain (born 9 Jun 1868) was their son, and my
great-great-grandfather. He married Frances Prescott, daughter of
Thomas and Margaret Prescott. John McElwain and
Fannie moved from York County, New Brunswick to Caribou Maine in about
1903.
Kate Myers
1222 North Hancock
Colorado Springs, CO
80903, USA
E-mail kate.myers@att.net
Query 1174
Allan - Wedderburn: Joseph
Allan married Dorothy Wedderburn in Glasgow in 1845. They had at least
two
children in Scotland, Jane born 1848 and Thomas born 1850 and then
disappear. Joseph turns up in the 1881 census as a widower in Ward No.
3, Portland, Saint John, New Brunswick. He was aged 63 and was a carver
by trade. Children living with him in 1881 were Mitchell aged 20,
Andrew aged 18, Robert aged 14 and Dorothy aged 13 all born in New
Brunswick. I would appreciate any information on this family no matter
how small.
Gayle Wedderburn
PO Box 12301
Penrose
Auckland
New Zealand
E-mail genelady@hotmail.com
Query 1175
Murray - Williams: I
am seeking information on the family of Mary Veronica Murray, who
was born in Dipper Harbour, New Brunswick. She had two brothers, John
and
Louis, who were both in the United States Army, one being wounded at
the
Battle of the Bulge. She married Thomas Arthur Williams of Saint John,
New
Brunswick circa 1926.
Edie Williams
28 Patricia Drive
St. Catharines
Ontario
Canada, L2M 4P4.
E-mail Trixi10565@aol.com
