Biscuit box school mystery solved

Local historian and genealogist Theresa Prince shares her research with readers of The Current following publication of Bob Corrigan’s most recent Heritage Photo.

The “Biscuit Box” School remained in operation from 1924-1928 to accommodate the increase in student enrolment at S.S. # 6 Separate School located on the Beer Store site.

It was a two-storey building resembling the shape of a soda-cracker box, the reason it soon became known as the “Biscuit Box” School. The “Biscuit Box” School still exists as a private residence along the south side of Opeongo Road west of Valu-mart in Barry’s Bay.

Shortly after the students vacated the schoolhouse, the building became the residence of Michael and Tessie Luckasavitch and their two sons. Over time it was in the former “Biscuit Box” School where Mrs. Luckasavitch established a very successful “Wedding Cake Bakery.” It was where she baked her renowned 3-tier wedding cakes which graced the wedding reception table of many a bride and groom in the Barry’s Bay area for many years.

Front row, left to right:

• Tommy Murray (son of Mick Murray & Mary Kiely, married Claire Buckley)
• Bernard Murray (son of Charles Murray & Anna Roche, married Joan Cannon)
• Ambrose Chippior (son of  Antoine Chippior & Louisa Trebinskie, served W.W. II)
• Tom Plebon (son of John Plebon & Mary Foster, married Stella Recoskie)

Middle row, left to right:

• Joe Guinther (son of John Guinther, railroader & scaler & Mathilda Mayhew)
• Peter Maika (son of Anthony Maika & Mary Etmanskie, went missing in action, W.W. II)
• Olive Murray (dau. of Thomas Murray & Johanna Kiely, married Patrick Duffy)
• Eleanor Maika (dau. of Anthony Maika & Mary Etmanskie, married Robert Dotey)
• Genevieve Shalla (dau. of Alec Shalla & Elizabeth Etmanskie, Sister of St. Joseph)
• Rosie Yeretch (dau. of  Ted Yeretch & Catherine Kuiack, stepsister of Annie Mask)
• Gertrude Yakabuski (dau. of Frank Yakabuskie & Julia Chapeskie, married John Kuash)
• Agnes Cybulskie (dau. of Joseph Cybulskie & Mary Pierunek)
• Florence Ritza (dau. of  Anthony Ritza & Martha Chippior, Sister of St. Joseph )
• Lola Sullivan (dau. of Thomas Sullivan & Mary Ann Ryan, married James Kelly)

Back row, left to right:

• Lornie Langavin (son of Philip Langavin & Lila LeClair)
• Joseph Frank Baderskie (son of Joseph Baderskie & Bronislaw Dudzinska)
• Bronis Mask (son of  Michael Mask & Mary Shalla, married Agnes Coulas)
• Sylvester Mask (son of  Peter Mask & Catherine (nee Kuiack) Yeretch, m. Jean Lorbetskie)
• Rita Murray (dau. of Mick Murray & Mary Kiely, married Joseph Stephenson)
• Jean Langevin (dau. of Philip Langevin & Lila LeClair)
• Agnes Burchat (dau. of Thomas Burchat & Julia Shalla, married John Cybulskie)
• Martha Mintha (dau. of John Mintha & Mary Coulas, married Andrew Herron)
• Beatrice Coulas (dau. of Joe Coulas & Mary Shalla, married Ambrose Yantha)
• Annie Mask (dau. of Peter Mask & Catherine (nee Kuiack) Yeretch, married John Gabka)
• Stella Nicholson (dau. of Harold Nicholson & Mary Zilney, married Earl Bennie)

Most names: Mrs. Agnes Gambicourt, daughter of Antoine Ritza & Martha Chippior. Barry’s Bay This Week, August 6, 1991 issue.