Mahone Bay Old School_A Life and Times_Bob Sayer

Margaret McLean, Vice-Principal
• Margaret McLean arrived in 1931 and stayed until 1939 when she resigned to teach
in Montreal and, later, get married. Her new husband, Harold B Mackay, who was
also H.V. Corkum’s brother-in-law, had become principal for a year, 1939-40.
• Miss McLean had taught in a prestigious private school in Quebec. She was a real
attribute to her new school. She was from the respected McLean shipbuilding family
in town. Will McLean’s daughter, had gone to the town school, was liked, and had
done well academically, going on to a degree at Dalhousie-majoring in math and
science. The South Shore Record noted on July 13 1933, Miss Margaret McLean, B.A.
is at Wolfville where she is one of the examination markers in Mathematics.
• Debating was a particular interest of hers, and she
was a key organizer at school. She got Board permission
to form a ‘Girls Club’ and became a guide leader.
Elizabeth Ernst remembered guides was such fun
nobody wanted to leave
• A Favourite Teacher for a good number of students,
particularly girls, she was a major contributor to good
exam results.
This photo of Miss McLean in guide uniform at the
1936 George VI Coronation Ceremony at the school and
Jubilee Park.
Photo: Courtesy Margaret McLean-MacKay Collection
Alan Langille was Earle’s younger brother, and was to be Fire Chief for years.
Frances and Roy Knickle were twins.
Five girls are in sailor tops. Seven boys wear a winged emblem on their sweater.
• Elizabeth Ernst and Margaret Hirtle-Mader, both, at the time of writing this
book, residents of Mahonne Manor both declared Margaret to be their favourite
teacher. They described her as “a nice lady…good teacher….fair…interested in her
students.” They both remembered her rosy cheeks. Elizabeth is the daughter of Arthur
Ernst, of the boat building brothers, first mayor and school board chairman. Margaret
was from Oakland [her parents were Sarah Fancy and Clarence Hirtle, fisherman]
and went to the local school ‘til grade 8. She came to town for grades 9-11, was on
the debating team, won a county scholarship and had a teaching career in Lunenburg
County from 1939-50. She and her sister rowed across the bay to school whenever
possible, and came across the ice in winter.
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