ROBERT DOUGLAS MACARTHUR

July 11, 1905-August 21, 1965

(By Vilma Ens)

Robert Douglas MacArthur , educator of hundreds of students during  his 41 years as teacher and principal was born just after the turn of the  century in Burk’s  Falls. He received his schooling there and after finishing high school attended Teacher’s College in North Bay.

His first teaching position was in G. Chrilber, where  he taught  from 1923 to 1926. An opening for principal came at  Woodland school in  St Catharines. He applied an d was  accepted.

The agreement signed by the trustees of the school stated that R.D MacArthur would be  paid a  salary of $1200 for the term beginning Sept 1st 1026 to June 30th  1927. Another clause stated that the Board and the teacher may, sat their option  respectively  terminate this engagement by giving notice to the other of them at least one  calendar month previously, and so as  to terminate on the last day of a calendar month. The letter of reference from  George A. Evans, principal at schreiber public school states that  “as a  teacher , Mr. MacArthur is  painstaking, energetic and conscientious firm but kind in discipline and most excemplary in conduct, willing  to assist in all matters that  tended to raise the moral status of the community.It is with  regret that I learn of Mr. MacArthur’s intention  to  sever his connection with  the  staff but nevertheless this testimonial of  his worth is truthfully  and  cheerfully given. I have no hesitency in recommending Mr. MacArthur to and Board of Trustees desiring the  services of a faithful and  efficient teacher.” So MacArthur stayed at Woodland  school for 18 years from 1926-1944. During  this time he married  his  hometown sweetheart, Laura Parsons and two sons were born to them, John and Douglas.

He came to the  police village  of Fenwick in 1944, to head the school as principal. The old  school  on Baxter Avenue right in the  centre  of town must have been quite a challenge. Grade one had a classroom behind the building with the only heat in winter being a wood stove at the back of the room. The main school building was old and the play ground was small. A tremendous amount  of encouragement was given by  Mr. MacArthur to both staff and students to persevere under these trying conditions. Then in 1951, a new school was  opened on  Canboro  Road in the  middle of an  apple orchard and grapery. The grounds around the school were  huge  and gave  Mr. MacArthur an opportunity  to have baseball diamonds, playground equipment  and lots  of room for his  students to run and play. He encouraged baseball games and a game of  scrub was always held at recess and lunch times There was a covered entrance   so the  children could skip and play ball against the wall even in the rain. Marbles were played at the  “boys entrance” and  hop scotch along the  south s would  ide of the school.  Even “hide-go-seek was fun because of the great places to hide in the grapery.

He organized a “field  day” every spring and everyone participated. He encouraged both girls and boys to try their best and an abundance of ribbons and silver cups were  given out. There was also a gymnasium where once a month the whole school would congregate for assembly . A different class  would be responsible  for the entertainment. The  class rooms were  large  and warm and washrooms were clean and functional. Mr. MacArthur was a teaching principal and  sought to pass on his love  of  maths and sciences to everyone of his pupils. He expected excellence .

Mac’s salary  of course did no  increase by very much, as was  the case  in those days Therefore he worked  as a purser and wheelsman for the Hunterville  Lake of Bays and Lake Simcoe Navigation Co. Ltd. During the summer  from 1929 to 1948. His steamers were the  Mohawk Belle and the Algonquin. His usual working dates were from June 29 or 30th to the Labour Day weekend. Sometimes there  would not be even one  day’s rest from work on the boat to the first day of school. The letter from the Vice President  and Secretary states “This is to certify  that we have always found Mr. MacArthur to be of good character strictly temperate and a non-smoker. Honest , capable and  faithful in the  discharge of his duties as purser and wheelsman.

During his twenty two years in Fenwick R.D. MacArthur was a  vital force  in the life of the community. He was an elder in the Fenwick United church and a former member of the stewards’ board. He was a member of the  Odd Fellows for 30 years and a past noble grand of Pelham Lodge 454 IOOF. He also belonged to the Ontario Federation of Teachers.

The write-uo in the newspapers after his passing said that his qualities as a teacher will live on through the lives of his pupils. Not only the qualities as a teacher and principal but as an exceptional human being whose love, fairness, humour and  encouragement  was an inspiration to many.