Valley heritage: St. Joseph’s Elementary School 1952-53

St. Joseph’s Elementary School was built in 1929 thanks to the interest and drive of Fr. Peter Biernacki.  The building was torn down years ago and its location is now part of a parking lot for St. Hedwig’s Church.  It was very close to the former St. Mary’s Elementary School which has now become one of the buildings of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College.

For the school year of 1952-53, a professional photographer took pictures of all the classes at St. Joseph’s Elementary School in Barry’s Bay.

I have made a stab at the names of the students in the picture but there could be some mistakes. Hopefully, if someone can make a correction, they will do so in the comments below.

FRONT ROW: Dennis Palbiski, Michael Clarke, Orville Kulas, Alan Biernaskie, David Trebinskie, James Chapeskie, Leo Coulas, Raphael Chapeskie, George McArthur, Kenneth Zilney, Sylvester Golka, Kenneth Shushack, Bob Corrigan

SECOND ROW: Jack Matuskeskie, Earl Coulas, Bob Shulist, Joan Palubeskie, Ann Vitkuskie, Rose Stamplecoskie, Frances Coulas, Teresa Prince, Judy Trebinskie, Janet Yantha, Grace Zilney, Jerome Drohan, Philip Kulas, Kenneth Peplinskie

THIRD ROW: Rose Dombroskie, Genevieve Norlock, Myrtle Nicholson, Ethel Christopher, Joyce Kubisheskie, Joanne Plebon, Lorraine Villeneuve, Ann Mackin, Angela Zilney, Catherine Villeneuve, Rita Yantha, Lorraine Recoskie, Marie Etmanskie, Marie Herron

TEACHER: Sr. Raymond

NOTE: If you are interested in having a picture and story featured in The Madawaska Valley Current, please submit the information to Bob Corrigan at madvalleycurrent@gmail.com (marked Heritage Photo)

About the author: Leaving Barry’s Bay to attend the University of Ottawa, Bob Corrigan taught in Whitby and Ottawa before returning home in 1971 with his wife, Cathie, to spend the rest of his teaching career at MVDHS.  Bob’s winter sports are hockey and skiing (he began the annual Renfrew County Teachers Hockey Tournament), his summer cottage activities include canoeing, but year-round he enjoys genealogy. Bob has volunteered for SFMH, the Train Station and Zurakowski Park.

One comment

  1. Mark Woermke

    Sister Raymond had reverted to her birth name, Sister Alice Ryan, and wore a modified habit when she was my Grade 1 teacher in 1970-1971. When she retired to the convent in Barry’s Bay she was interested, supportive and pleased that I had become a teacher.

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