Mahone Bay Old School_A Life and Times_Bob Sayer

1979 on, and Bayview, a consolidated elementary and junior high, was built in
town in 2000.
collected May flowers and other materials for making decorations, a crown and a
throne. Standing: Betty Walsh, “H. V.” Ruth Campbell [V.P.], Mr Geoffrey Moore.
Sitting: Gwen Ernst, Violet Nauss, Agnes Croft, Lewis Carter There were celebrations
and a party.
Two Final Flourishes of Administrative Innovation
South Shore Students Society
To encourage student leaders to get together to arrange events of mutual interest,
H.V.Corkum used his influence with other administrators to bring together student council
leaders. An executive was formed and the South Shore Student Society established. The
aim was to coordinate inter school activities like sports, drama, debating and social events.
It was an organization that could only flourish with school administrator encouragement
and interest. No sooner had he founded it, than Mr. Corkum was gone.
Photos:
Courtesy Agnes
Croft-Whynott
• Study of Mahone Bay School by Dalhousie University Education, 1949
This was a typical H.V. Corkum initiative that few principals would bother with
or risk. In November 1948, he arranged for Professor Mowat and twelve students from
the Education Department of Dalhousie University to do an ‘educational survey’ of the
school. The survey was financed by the local Kiwanis Club, of which Mr. Corkum was
President. In January 1949 the School Board was invited to the Kiwanis dinner to hear the
report. Unfortunately, the details are not known and this writer has been unable to find the
report.
Mr. Corkum’s Resignation: Sudden and Shocking
The end of twelve years of distinguished administration came suddenly in April,
1949. Reverend George Arnold appeared before an emergency meeting of the Board
to present a written statement, signed by a student, accusing Mr. Corkum of ‘improper
advances’ during a trip to Bridgewater.
• May Day and May Queen Festival Revived, 1948
“H.V.” instigated major May Day Celebrations. The whole school was involved.
Classes, grades 7-12 elected their princesses: and voted for the Queen, Agnes Croft
There were two May Poles for dancing, The student committee (Centre Left) had
Oswald Mader, the ex-town policeman, was made part of a Board committee to
investigate, meet with Mr. Corkum and Mr. Coughlan, the Town Solicitor. The
outcome was that Mr. Corkum was asked to submit his immediate resignation. And he
did. Mr. Byron F.Willis was appointed principal ‘til June. H.V. Corkum continued his
career elsewhere. It was an unfortunate ending to his service at the school. But not his
leadership in the town. He was elected Town Mayor for seven consecutive two-year
terms, serving from January 1960 to his death in May 1975. He had the distinction of
appearing in a small speaking part in major Hollywood motion picture, Run Stranger
Run, which appeared shortly after his death. John Whynott said “Council continued like
a ship without a rudder.”
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