Wellesley Township Heritage & Historical Society
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Union School Section #2 & 13 - Wellesley and Peel

The first school in this area was built of logs in the 1840s on lot 12 concession 14, Western Section, Wellesley Township. This became known as Union School #2 and 13 Wellesley and Peel Township. Each family provided logs and rafters;  flooring, shingles and windows were purchased.

The school opened on New Year's Day – the year is unknown – with 40 students taught by Mr. William Douglas, a ministerial student.

In 1873, the log school was replaced by a frame school on a stone foundation on an acre of land on lot 13, concession 1, Peel Township.  It had one door and 3 windows on each side. This school was used for 11 years.

In 1884 a white brick school house was built on a one-acre lot on the northwest corner of the MacPherson farm, lot 13, concession 14, Wellesley. The school faced north and had four windows on each side and doors at the front and back. In 1934 an additional 1/8 acre was added for students’ gardens. In 1954 a second classroom was added.

When the Linwood school reached capacity in 1964, students in grades 7 and 8 were bused to S. S. #2 and 13. In 1966 the school was closed and students were bused to the new school in Linwood starting in January 1967.

In June 1968 the school building was auctioned and sold to a group of Mennonites who wished to send their children to a private school. After some repairs, the old school re-opened as the Macton Parochial School. The old building has been demolished and a new parochial school has been built.
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U. S. S. # 2 and 13 - Wellesley and Peel, 1906 (Accession #2011-15-008)
First row: Maggie Gooding, Lovina Bowman, Mamie Gooding,  Edna ____, Matilda Ernst, Lydia Bowman, Bertha Tabbert, Vera Mewhinney, Verna Tabbert, Evelyn Mewhinney
Second row: Lawrence Ernst, Eli Frey, David Heintz, Herb Ernst, Norman Heintz
Third row: Freddie Jones (?), Leslie Beggs, Melvin Nurse, Ezra Frey, Alonzo Gooding, Magdalena Frey, Barbara Ernst, Flo Stewart, Minnie Nurse, Annie MacPherson, Ella Eckert

Fourth row: David Ernst, Joe Eckert, Jack McKay
​Back row: Andrew Wilson (trustee), Jack Stewart (teacher)

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U. S. S. #2 and 13 - Wellesley and Peel, 1914
Teacher: Agnes Jackson
First row: Eli Heintz, Carl Mewhinney, Othmar Nurse, William Newton, Clarence Lindsey
Second row: Irene Martin, Lovina Heintz, Viola Martin, Isaac Frey
Third row: Edwin Bowman, Simeon Heintz, Lydian Heintz, Florence McKay, Edna Newton, Calvin Voll
Fourth row: Earl Tabbert, Vera Mewhinney, Verna Tabbert, Iona Nurse, Emerson Nurse

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U. S. S. #2 and 13 - Wellesley and Peel, 1920
First row: Ralph Hahn, Thelma Adam, Muriel Adam, Cornelia Mewhinney, Evaleen Beatty Martin, Harvey MacPherson, Wilbert Gies, Addison Bowman, Luella Martin, Ruby Hahn, Mary Ann Frey, Angeline Bowman, Lydian Bowman, Marjorie Cooper, Irene Martin
Second row: Miss Edna Pickering, Lovina Bowman, Rachel Bowman, Viola Martin, Kathleen Richardson, Helen Adam, Reginald Adam, Arthur Voll, Percy Adam, Agnus Voll, Carson Mewhinney, Harold Gies, Elmer Brubacher, Ralph Adam

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U. S. S. #2 and 13 - Wellesley and Peel, 1930
First row: Edna Gingrich, Marion Cooper, Rebecca Bowman, Selina Bowman, Barbara Frey, Lucinda Bowman, Adeline Brubacher, Noah Bearinger, Clare Cooper, Amsey Bearinger, Abraham Frey, Emmanuel Heintz, Enos Gingrich
Second row: Hannah Frey, Winnie Marks, Art Cooper, David Bowman, Lucinda Brubacher, Nancy Frey, Alvin Gingrich, Elam Bowman, Cleason Gingrich, Cleason Gingrich (Joe’s) Clarence Heintz
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Third Row:  Grant MacPherson, Manasseh Frey, Sidney Bearinger, Willie MacPherson, Noah Bowman, Laverne Beggs, Gordon Cooper, Leander Bowman, Sidney Bowman, Amsey Brubacher, Aden Gingerich

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U. S. S. #2 and 13 - Wellesley and Peel, 1938 (Accession #2011-15-010)
First row: David Heintz, Abner Weber, Lanson Martin, Jack Mewhinney, Graham Lavery, Sidney Heintz, Russel McTavish
Second row: Martha Heintz, Minerva Bearinger, Annie Bowman, Joyce Beggs, Mary Heintz, Selina Weber, Mary Martin, Melvina Bowman, Magdelina Frey
Third row: Ernie Dennis, Elias Shantz, Melinda Bowman, Isabel Cooper, Sarah Heintz, Leah Frey, Teacher: Alma Voll (Eydt), Minerva Bowman, Verdun Lavery, Katie Bowman​

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U. S. S. #2 and 13 - Wellesley and Peel, 1947 Teacher: Mr. Frank Kleinknecht
First row: Josiah Bowman, Bruce Mewhinny, Jack Tabbert, Joseph Martin, Samuel Bowman, Leonard Heintz, Isaac Metzger.
Second row: Lorraine Beggs, Charlotte Tabbert, Ada Bowman, Lovina Frey, Erma Weber, Joyce Martin, Alice Frey, Alice Heintz, Salome Heintz, Martha Weber
Third row: Edward Metzger, George Beggs, Lawrence Martin, Henry Frey, Glen McTavish, Noah Frey, Clare Martin


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U. S. S. #2 and 13 - Wellesley and Peel, 1946; Teacher Mr. Kleinknecht
First row: Noah Frey, Bruce Mewhinney, Joseph Martin, Samuel Bowman, Abner Frey, Leonard Hintz, George Beggs
Second row:  Lawrence Martin, Clare Martin, Erma Weber, Alice Frey, Lovina Frey, Salome Hintz, Charlotte Tabbert, Ada Bowman
Third row: Clayton Bowman, Mary Martin, Lorraine Beggs, Sarah Weber, Martha Weber, Alice Hintz
Fourth row: Frank Kleinknecht, Abner Metzger (hidden) Aden Frey, Henry Frey, George Bowman

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U. S. S. #2 and 13 - Wellesley and Peel, 1948 (Accession #2011-15-011)
Teacher: Mr. Reiber
Back row: Jack Tabbert, Sam Bowman, George Beggs, Glen McTavish, Clare Martin, Bruce Mehwinney, Salome Heintz, Erma Weber, Alice Frey
Middle row: Leonard Heintz, Salina Bowman, Yvonne Holzschuh, Joyce Martin, Nancy Bearinger, Edna Frey, Annie Weber, Edward Metzger, Ervin Martin
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Front row: Roland Martin, David Metzger, Ron McTavish, Joe Martin, Abner Frey, Isaac Metzger, Josiah Bowman, Ronald Horst
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U.S. S. #2 and 13 - Wellesley and Peel, 1960 (Accession #2015-11-012)

Front row: Clayton Bearinger, Elmer Martin, Harvey Bauman, Danny Horst, Cleason Frey, Onias Frey, Bill MacPherson, Clarence Bowman, Menno Brubacher, Elam Frey, Urias Bender, Amos Martin, Nelson Bauman
Second Row: Howard Horst, Mary-ann Bowman, Almeda Metzger, Marion MacPherson, Elmer Martin, Melinda Brubacher, Delton Bearinger, Henry Frey, Anna Bearinger, Amsy Metzger, Aden Bowman, Cleon Bearinger, Melvin Bearinger, Elmeda Bowman
Third Row: Elvina Bearinger, Perseda Brubacher, Mary Martin, Minerva Bearinger, Brenda Mewhinney, Malinda Frey, Mary Horst, Ellen Metzger, Elaine Martin, Martha Martin, Eileen Bearinger, Alice Horst, Sarah Bauman, Lena Frey, Erla Bowman
Back Row: Mrs. Lavery, Ada Martin, Elsie Martin, Betsy Frey, Janet Martin, Lydia Bauman, Lean Bearinger, Malhon Frey, Carolyn Mewhinney, Wesley Bowman, Paul Horst, Mrs. Tabbert​
Absent: Edward Bearinger, Martin Frey, Amsey Bowman​

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U. S. S. #2 and 13 - Wellesley and Peel, ca 1955 (Accession #2011-15-013)
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U. S. S. #2 and 13 - Wellesley and Peel, ca 1955 (Accession #2011-15-014)
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U. S. S. #2 and 13 - Wellesley and Peel, ca 1955 (Accession #2011-15-015)