PELHAM DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL TWENTY-FIVE YEARS LATER

[Pelham Historical Calendar 1999]

Some personal notes on staff

A quarter-century ago, on June 30, 1974, Pelham District High School closed its doors for the last time, one of the first victims of the consolidation (and impoverishment) of education which continues apace today throughout  the province.

Photo Credits: The Pelham PNYX 1937 and 1941

Just as a family is made up of parents and children, so a  school should engender a special relationship between those who teach and those who learn, at Pelham, there was a  particularly  good rapport between staff and students, and I would like to freshen your memories of a few of the teachers who helped make  Pelham the unique place it was.

Artist Credit: Jacqueline Damato, 1978 Pelham calendar.

I have singled out 62 of the roughly 170 staff members who spanned the school’s 52-year history (1922-1974).This is not as arbitrary a number as it might seem, since I have devised four catagories into one or ore of which these individuals can be placed with some degree of objectivity; “pioneers” (nine who served during the first decade). “Builders” (20 who put in ten or more years at P.D.H.S.) “the last team” ( 23 who “Stayed with the  ship” through its final, trying year) and “ honour roll” (33 who are deceased).

The very first teacher at Pelham (then called Pelham Continuation School) was Margaret Bonis, who ran the school single-handedly from 1922 to 1924. She remained until 1926, after being joined by Mildred Metler (1924-30) who left in 1930 and continued to teach for many years in Welland. She died in 1995, but Margaret Bonis is still living in Lindsay, Ontario. I had the  pleasure of meeting both these ladies at the ‘84 and ‘89 reunions.

Of the original staff, I knew only Bertha Jousse (1930-37), and that was as Mrs. Collver during the second stage of her tenure (1953-63), with a total of 17 years to her credit, she also qualifies as a “builder” of the institution as does Madalene De La Mater (1927-48). a much respected classically trained scholar, who devoted 21 years to the school and continued to live in the community until her death i 1976.
Jessie Bell (1927-36) along with  Miss De La Mater, joined the  staff when the first permanent building was erected and  Viola Culp (Later Mrs Roach) from 1931 to 1934, Mr. Fred Hicks (1926-29) and Mr. William Spencer (1929-30 served as our two principals, and  Mr. Percy Beckett organized and directed Pelham’s first orchestra from 1928 to 1933.

A new era dawned in 1932 with the arrival in  Fenwick of Edward Lewis Crossley, soon afterward known  as E.L. or later as Dr. Crossley. This man took vigorous charge of every aspect of the school’s life, and infused it with a  sense of direction and purpose; even the yearbook, The Pnyx was his idea, a far-sighted move which assured us of  a continuous history. Working with a succession of boards and ministries, he  shaped the philosophy of Pelham, steering it  through the shoals of shifting government policies and curriculum fads. I personally owe him my first  (and only)  teaching appointment,  and was allowed to “find my own style” under his firm but benevolent tutelage, after 31 years at the helm, Dr. Crossley assumed  responsibility in 1963 for all three high schools in the area, one of which bears his name. He died on May 12, 1996, aged 96.

Second only to E;L. In terms of tenure is Edgar “Bud “  Ker, with 22 years at Pelham(1952-74), and that takes no account of his time as  a student there. He taught  chemistry before joining the  administration. As Principal from 1965 on, he showed wise and fearless leadership, especially during those dark days when the school was veritably under siege.

Warren Loan (1049-69) and Rae Ball (1954-74)both logged 20 years, the former as an insightful teacher of English(though) I knew him also as a passionate lover of Beethoven). The latter expounding the arcane mysteries of Mathematics.Rae was  among those who helped man the ramparts in ‘73-74. I count my own 19 years at Pelham (1955-74) as the  central “fact” of my life; everything before and since seems  to  focus on that lengthy episode. I honed my skills there made many lasting friends. One of the people who helped smooth my initiation into the profession by sharing his own classroom experience was Russ Mennie, who also spent 19 years with us (1945-64) as an industrial Arts specialist. Russ who passed away in 1974, feigned a gruff manner with his sometimes obstreperous charges, but was at heart a kindly and caring man.

Doug Wallace (1949-65) and Bob Peart (1953-69) tallied up to 16 years each, the former serving as principal, the latter putting us on the map in football and basketball. Doug died in 1980. Gladys Martin was in charge of the French Department for 15 years (1945-60), and R.V. Howard taught Mathematics and Science for the same length of time (1944-59), “R.V.” had an  almost limitless curiosity about the world, thought deeply about its wonders and was a warm and generous friend. Following his retirement, he moved to the London area where he died in1965.

Cecil Dove held sway in the Biology lab from 1953 to 1966, and passed away in 1970. Two more of the “builders” who were around for the final count are Nancy Knisley (Haaf) and Martha Flagg. Nancy came on staff in 1962 as a member of the English Department, Martha in ‘63 as a Physical Education specialist, having herself been a student at Pelham. George and Caroline Holmes devoted eleven and ten years respectively to the teaching of Mathematics and Chemistry (1957-68); 1955-65); they both adhered to very high standards, and expected their students to do likewise. They were  all so interesting and gracious hosts. George died in 1983, Caroline  in 1997.  Bep Gibbins (Home Economic)  and Jerry Benner (wood shop) each spent eleven years among us (1961-72); 1962-73) and Jack Noble (Latin) an even decade(1948-58)

I feel a special kinship with the group who endured the  traumatizing demise of our academic home, but apart from those already mentioned in another context, space prohibits more than a perfunctory listing of their  names, along with the  year in which they entered our ranks; Joan Epps, Murtio Gorman, Garry Lumley (1965);Leo Cepuch (1966-deceased 1992), Sophia Glinski, Jacqueline Morgan  (1966), Art Moss, Joan Wilson (1968); Walley Farrell, Brian Walker(1969), Brian Baty, Bill McReynolds, Marg Mesaros, Glen Myers (1970); Ron Thompson (1971), Russ Anthony (1972),  Wolfhart Busse and Lloyd  Fox (1973).

I have had occasion to refer to fifteen of our departed colleagues. Of those yet to be mentioned, there are six, of whom I have no personal recollection, Earl Palmer (1934-36), Bill Ellis  (1945-52), Beatrice May (1945-48), Marion Davidson (1951-54) and  Winifred Bacher (1953-55). But there were  others with whom I worked for varying periods of time; Charlotte McDonagh(1949-58), Catharine  Fleming (1951-59), Don Bowman (1954-56), Graham Mathers (1956-63), Cam Miller (1957-63), Bert Branscombe (1958-61), and  Jane Meek-Gibson (1958-61)

Finally there are five whom I regarded as special friends; Bob Peart (1953-69).Joyce Outred-Emerson (1955-63), and Malcolm Dochstader (1962-64), their passing will seem a little more bearable if the ideals they cherished outlive them.

J. S. Curtis