Mahone Bay Old School_A Life and Times_Bob Sayer

• She was a pioneer of the movement provincially and locally. It was action, carried
out in the spirit that she had inspired, that led the Mahone Bay Association to drive
for the introduction of Home Economics and Industrial Arts and the completion of the
school field in the mid 1970s.
• She had also been a long-term member of the Mahone Bay Women’s Institute, serving
as president from 1945-48. She had been part of that group that bought the old parade
grounds and donated them, as Jubilee Park, to the Town in 1927.
• She was a woman of strong and respected character. A number of women told this
writer that girls went to her for advice. Betty Walsh, who spent her student and teaching
life at Mahone Bay wrote, ‘The boys and girls remember how she loved to work with
them….encouraged them…was a true friend to them….The book Young Peoples Concerts
by Leonard Bernstein….will be placed in the school library…inscribed in her memory.’
Betty Walsh, spoke for many when she wrote to the family… ‘I also feel a deep sense of
gratitude for her guidance when I was growing up..’
Mr. Lloyd Langille’s extraordinary contribution to school sports from 1966-69.
He was the first specialist physical education to stay a while. Mike van der
Toorn had stayed a year before being lured home to Lunenburg. Mike’s successor,
who took on a similar workload, Mike Pelham, also stayed one year, 1964-5 and the
Board was not able to find a replacement until January 1966 [there were only two
School teams that year]. He single-handedly ran the school teams. He coached crosscountry,
boys and girls soccer, gym club, girls and boys volleyball and basketball. He
also coached the first county championship to be won since the opening of the new
school gym: boys volleyball, 1967.
The Mid & Late 1960s
The late 1960s saw:
Mr. Richard Mullins. The 1964 arrival of Mr. Mullins and his wife as principal and
teacher respectively. Mr. Mullins was to stay until 1970 and bring some needed stability
and permanence to the principalship. Mrs Mullins taught English and social studies
and immediately became yearbook advisor.
Noel Dexter and Mike O’ Connor The same year,’ 64, saw the arrival on staff
of two men who were to give long term service to the school. Both would be future
principals at Mahone Bay, Noel Dexter and Mike O’Connor.
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