Mahone Bay Old School_A Life and Times_Bob Sayer

to know part of the problem, he needed only to look in the mirror.” After Industrial
Shipping, George went to install engines, fit pipes, and weld at McLeans’s Shipping,
and finished his career with 20 years as a mechanic at Michelin. He attributes his
success to, “A lively and inquiring mind.” Bobby Mader, Lawrence Holman and
Ronnie Crossland all did well.
The Springhill Mining Disasters and “Miracle”
The two disasters, November 1956 and October 1958 were the talk of the school,
the town, the province and the world. Both received modern media coverage of film,
radio and the new media of the masses-TV. In 1956 the town of Springhill was rocked
by a terrible explosion in No.4 colliery. Thirtynine miners were killed and seventy
four were brought out alive in the days of anxious waiting at the pithead.
Cecilia Hatcher’s poem was in that year’s yearbook.
Then came the even worse explosion of 1958 and the “miracle” of the miners saved
after days underground. There was no yearbook in ’59 so no reaction is recorded.
The staff in Mr. Mason’s second year, 1957-58
Mrs. Millett, just 20 years old, had joined the staff. She had graduated in Mahone
Bay, 1955, as Marilyn Ann Whynot [“Shorty” in the ‘54 yearbook]. She taught a
grade 5-6 class of 47 students and then other elementary levels before leaving for
a short stay at Centre and then to raise a family. In the 1960s she was persuaded to
return. For many years she was a highly respected primary teacher.
She described Mr. Mason as, “wonderful, good to everybody…he also had great parties
Images of the two disasters
for teachers.” Another outstanding teacher left that year. Mrs. Connie Olsen had also been
on staff for two years. Students described her as very intelligent, professional, very smart
in appearance, and an excellent teacher.
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