TRANSCRIPT

Donna: When was Sunshine School built?

Mabel: Nineteen five.

Donna: Where did you go to school from 19[0]3 til 19[0]5?

Mabel: I didn't go anyplace.

Donna: So, there was no school for anybody to go to?

Mabel: No, I read the reader at home.

Donna: Had you gone to school in Ontario before you came here?

Mabel: Oh, yes, ‘til I was nine.

Donna: How many years would you have gone to school?

Mabel: Well, I quit school in [190]8. The fall of [190]8 when Gerty was married, and never went back again.

Donna: Why were you not able to go back to school?

Mabel: Because my mother wanted me home.

Donna: She needed some help.

Mabel: Yes.

Ron: How far was the school away from your home?

Mabel: Oh, a quarter of a mile. It was on the east side of the road here as you go to Stan's. About a quarter of a mile from Dad's house down there.

Ron: How many students would have been in school when you went to school?

Mabel: Oh, I don't know, quite a few. I could show you a picture. There's a picture in the history book there of the Sunshine School. There were quite a few Armstrongs and Reids...

Ron: You mention the words New Warren School. This wasn't called Avonlea then?

Mabel: No, Avonlea wasn't here then.

Ron: There was New Warren District?

Mabel: Yes.

Ron: So, from Rouleau to Sunshine School, there was no town or anything?

Mabel: No. I got five cents a morning for putting on fires at Sunshine School.

Donna: Grandma, you don't remember the name of your teacher, do you?

Mabel: Oh, yes I would. There was a Miss Williams, was the first teacher we had. Miss McLaren, Mrs Van Dine. And this one was teaching when Violet was married in 19[0]6. I think Mrs. Van Dine maybe taught there twice, because I'm pretty sure she was with me when Mother and Dad went east in 1912, because I think we had Grandpa Harris at that time.

Donna: Did the teachers board at your house?

Mabel: Yes. Whether you had room or not. Like George Young boarded a teacher for years up there.

Ron: At Richburg District.

Mabel: Yes.