It seemed difficult to find out the first historical facts relating to
education and schools in Little Bay Islands. It is very likely that teachers were
here eighty-five years ago, as brothers and sisters of Mr. Thomas Grimes, who came
here 87 years ago, went to school. One of these brothers, who afterwards became
Sup't of Police, did not go to school after leaving here.

     The first school, like the first church, was situated halfway to Northern
Harbour. It was situated there because there were children at Mursells Cove, Western
Cove and Northern Hr. to attend school. This school did not last long and a second
was also built on the Northern Hr. road, just across from where the old cemetery is
situated now.

     Then about 60 years ago the third one was built, not far from where the Orange
Hall Lodge is situated now. It was sold to the F.P.U. in 1914 for $140.00. It was
afterwards bought by Mr. Stone for a barn. The third was opened in 1913 - the
present one. This is a two storey building, two classrooms on the first floor and a
community hall on the second floor. It cost several thousand dollars and the whole
amount was subscribed by the people of the Community, some persons giving as much as
$150.00

     The school became a Superior in 1919, the last year that Miss Wellon, now Mrs.
Sidney Wiseman, taught here.

     The Salvation Army built a school about 15 years ago on the Sulian's Cove
Road. Sometime before this the United Church had a school at Sulian's Cove, and also
the Salvation Army taught school in the Army citadel at Sulian's Cove, but now there
are no schools except in the main harbour of Little Bay Island.

     The first record of any teacher was that of L. Picott, 1873-75 (68 yrs. ago),
but as aforesaid there were teachers here 85 years ago. So there is a blank in our
records of about 15 years, but since then our records are complete. Here is a list
of teachers from 1873-1942.

L. Picott 1873-76; J.F. Bancroft 1877-78; Mr. Garland 1879-83 - 5 years
A.J. Moores 1884-88; Miss Giles 1888-89; Miss Linfield 1889-90;
Miss Woundy 1891-92; Miss Rumsey 1893; Miss Luck 1894; Miss Broderick 1896-1900;
Miss H.E. Strong 1900, part of year, now Lady Squires; Miss Minnie Strong 1901,
first trained nurse from here, sister of Mr. J.A. Strong; 
Miss Ellsworthy 1902-02 [03?]; Miss Pardy 1904; Miss A. Scott 1905-07, now Mrs. J.A.
Strong, Little Bay Islands; Stephen Butt 1908-09; Mill Hollott 1910;
Dr. Diamond 1911; Mr. Cram 1912; Mr. Hudson 1913 part of year;
Mr. Joliffe 1913-14; Mr. Denney 1914; Miss Annie Jones (assistant) part of year;
Mr. Dawe 1915; Mr. Burry 1916, 4 months; Miss Wellen 1916-19, now Mrs. Sidney
Wiseman; Miss Taylor, Primary Dept. 1919; Miss G. Roberts (Supt.) 1920-22, again
in 1927; Miss Breman (primary) 1920; Miss Howell 1921; Miss Daisy Locke 1922;
Miss Florella Scott (Supt.) 1923; Miss Gertrude Wiseman 1923, 24 & 26;
Elsie Brooks (Supt.) 1924; Ada Jones, L. Curtis 1925 (Superior), Nellie Knight
(Primary) 1925; Miss J. Burry 1927; Miss M. Stevenson 1928 (superior); Miss 
Templeman and Miss K. Small (primary) 1928; Miss Marjorie Jones (Supt.) and Miss 
Avice Anstey (primary) 1929-30; Miss Jeffers (supt.) 1931-32; Miss Dean pr.1931;
Miss Dorothy Strong 1932; Miss Avis Harvey and Iris Jones Sup. 1933; Elsie Locke Pr.
1933; Selby Parsons Bsc. Sup. 1934; Russell Roberts Pr. 1936; Leslie Harris Sup.
1935; Flossie Burton and Roy Taylor Pr. 1935; H.T. Burden Sup. 1935 -- Eric Pardy
Pr. 1935-38, now with the R.C.A.F. in England; Miss King Pr. 1938-41; Miss Small
1942.

     The first recorded board meeting was 1876. The board met at Bott's Cove and
was organized by Dr. Millagan superintendent of Methodist schools, as Notre Dame
North school board. It consisted of the following places: Shoe Cove, Indian Burying
Place, Little Bay Islands, North West Arm, Jacksons Cove, Three Arms, Wards Hr. and
Nippers Hr.

     Rev. George Bond (afterwards Nflds. famous Dr. Bond) was the first chairman,
although he was not a minister here. For many years the chairman was the minister at
some other place, but the board met every year with the except of one at Little Bay
Islands. The board was composed of all the Methodist ministers of Notre Dame Bay
North and one or two laymen. The first local member of the board was William Mursell
and the second Hon. James Strong. These members held office for an unlimited time,
for fifteen years or more.

     This Board lasted from 1876 to 1884 when it split into two Boards. Little Bay
Islands was on the board which covered the territory from North West Arm to Triton.
This lasted until 1912, when the Board was split again, Little Bay Islands looking
after Wild Bight, Southern Arm, Woodfords Cove, Sulians Cove and Little Bay. In 1924
the present board was organized when the other places were placed under other
boards. At present Little Bay Islands is a board of itself.

     Here is a list of schools this board looked after one time during its history:
Little Bay Islands; Lush's Bight, Three Arms, Cutwell Arm, Wards Hr., Fry's Beach,
Dark Tickle, Wolfe Cove, Jacksons Cove, Harrys Hr., Little Bay, Boot Hr., Pilleys
Island, Triton, Roberts Arm, Sulians Cove, Newton-Port Anson, Cards Hr., Wellmans
Bight, Miles Cove, Heads Hr., Southern Arm, Woodfords Cove, Wild Bight.

     Here is a full list of chairmen of Boards:
Rev. G. Bond, 1876-78; Rev. William Jennings 1878; Rev. Charles Myers 1881;
Joseph Luter 1882; James Pincock 1884; Henry Hatcher 1888; W. Rex 1891;
W. Hutchison 1893; C. Flemington 1898; John Wheatly 1895; Henry Scott 1901; 
J. Sidey 1904; R.H. Maddock 1908; H.C. Cappin 1912; T. Pitcher 1914;
E. Davis 1918; C. Curtis 1922; J. Reynolds 1924-28; L. Burry 1929;
S. Spurrel 1931; W. Wood 1933; H.M. Davis 1935; T. Evans 1937;
O.R. Davison 1939; R.N. Rowsell 1940 .

     I may say before finishing on Education the first teachers got $140.00 per
year salary and $180.00 was a standard salary for a number of years.

     In conclusion some of the success and results can best perhaps be shown by the
lives and work of the people who have graduated from time to time from the school.
Besides those who have stayed home and helped make the community a community that we
are all proud of, there are those who have left us. The school has sent out 6
ministers, 20 or more teachers, 1 professor, several trained nurses, besides a
number of others who are taking a prominent part in the business and commercial life
of other countries as well as our own.