Margaret “Maggie” UNDERHILL (1898-1986)

Margaret “Maggie” UNDERHILL (1898-1986)

Maggie was born 28 June 1898 in the RM of Strathclair. She was the daughter of John Underhill (1854-1921) and Margaret McGregor (1863-1944).

Maggie was educated at the Central School in Transcona and started teaching in many rural Manitoba schools, such as Swan River and Starbuck, before returning to Transcona in 1927 to teach for 36 years. In 1956, she was appointed teaching Principal of Westview School. In 1957, she was transferred to the new Radisson Elementary school as the first female principal. She retired in 1964.

 Educator

In 1965, Maggie was honoured as the namesake of the newly built Margaret Underhill Elementary School in Transcona (now known as École Margaret Underhill). It was officially opened and dedicated 19 November 1965. A bronze plaque in the school reads:

“Named in honour of the first lady principal to

Be appointed in Transcona School District No. 39

And dedicated to her and other long service lady

teachers who gave a total of 741 years guiding

And teaching the children of Transcona.”

She died at Strathclair on 23 September 1986 and was buried in the Strathclair Cemetery.

Sources:

• Birth and Death Registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.
• Centennial History Committee. (1970). Our Story to 1970. The Rural Municipality of Strathclair. Pages 461-462.
• Centennial History Committee. (1984), Our Story to 1984. The Rural Municipality of Strathclair. Pages 547-548.
• “Strathclair District”, The Shoal Lake Star, 01 October 1986, page 9.
• Obituary [Mrs M. Underhill Buried Thursday], The Shoal Lake Star, 23 March 1944, page 1.
• “School dedication”, The Winnipeg Tribune, 23 November 1965, page 29.
• “Margaret Underhill – Inducted in 2013”, ca, published March 2022.