Reunion planned for St. Regis Island School survivors

A committee is organizing a dinner and tribute to the former students of the St. Regis Island School – a turn-of-the-century one-room schoolhouse that closed in the late 1950s or early 1960s.

The school provided an elementary education to Mohawks living on St. Regis Island, and at one time the island was lived on by many families.

The organizing committee has identified a list of former students of the school who are alive. A second list has been comprised of former students who’ve passed away. They will still be honored at the dinner and reception and their loved ones will be invited to attend in their place. (See lists below.)

“These people never had a dinner for anything,” said Alma Ransom, who attended the school in the 1940s and who sits on the organization committee. “It’s an era that’s totally gone.”

When the school was open, the St. Lawrence River was a vital method of transportation. A teacher was brought in by boat from a Cornwall-side dock. Electricity had not come to Akwesasne yet, so people on the mainland weren’t any better off yet than those on the St. Regis Island.

“We never had to close the school because the power was out, because we didn’t have any,” Ransom said. “We never had plumbing problems because we had no plumbing.”

The school eventually closed when more and more families moved to the mainland where electricity had arrived, and the Canadian government revamped the education system.

Ransom said the old school is still standing on St. Regis Island.

The reunion dinner is being planned for June 21st at the St. Regis Recreation. About 200 people are expected to attend, and stories will be told of the old school and photographs will be on display.

The committee is currently accepting bids from community members in the areas of catering, music entertainment and photography.

The committee is also collecting donations from community members and businesses who might want to sponsor portions of the event, possibly by paying for the flowers, the band, or other expenses related to the celebration.

Finally, the committee is asking community members to assist them in finalizing their lists of former students. If anyone knows of additional names, please contact one of the committee members at (613)936-1027, (613)932-3664 or (518)358-4226.

Surviving Students

Annette Jacobs

Mary Arquette Skidders

John David

Ida Day Skidders

Charlotte Jacobs

Julia Beers Mitchell

Helen Francis Cole

Pauline Cook Jacobs

Alma Jacobs Ransom

Benny Jacobs

Grace Mitchell Chubb

Esther David Mitchell

Richard Mitchell

Mike Mitchell

Theresa Mitchell

Annabell Mitchell Oakes

Arlene Roundpoint

Cecilia Sawatis Mitchell Wells

Beatrice Francis Lazore

Margie Francis King

Janet Thompson Herne

Bernice Mitchell Lazore

Rose David Thompson

Christie Mitchell Roundpoint

Christie Thompson

Mary Ella Stehlin Francis

William Francis

Phillip Francis

Agnes Jacobs Bero

Albert Lazore

Andrew Mitchell

Alfred Mitchell

Simon Mitchell

Theodore Mitchell

Mike Thompson

Theodore Thompson

Harvey Thompson

Kenneth Thompson

Madeline Lazore

Cecilia Square

Deceased Former Students

Anthony David

Frances Minnie David Mitchell

Leo David

Louis Francis

Mose Francis

Louise Francis

Jake Francis

Leonard Francis

Francis Jacobs Karoniakta

Christie Jacobs Francis

John Lazore

Aroniotas Mitchell

Jake Mitchell Kahionhate

Aronianiionta Alex Mitchell

Hattie David Chubb

Mary David Francis

Elizabeth David Jacobs

Abe Francis

Charlotte Francis (Oakes)

Joe Francis

Thomas Francis

Eva Francis

Freeman Jacobs

Thomas Lazore

Dan Mitchell Teiokwirate

John Kaiahenra Mitchell

Mary Mitchell LaFrance

William Mitchell

Cecilia Mitchell Lazore

Paul Mitchell Tahakie

John Buck Mitchell

Louis Mitchell Kanentoton

Mose Mitchell

Tom Bola Mitchell

Joseph Mitchell

Thomas Roundpoint Kahratoton

Louise Sawatis

Andrew Sawatis

Alex Sawatis

Frank Sawatis

Minnie Skidders Francis

Sosekowa Joe Thompson

George Thompson

Toby Thompson

Mose Thompson Tekariwaken

Mitchell Thompson Sahkowennenhawe

Christie Thompson White

Phillip Thompson

Louis Thompson

Julia Thompson

Richard Thompson

Agnes Mitchell Lazore

Nora Mitchell Jacobs

Harriet Mitchell Lazore

Roman Mitchell Tsienhaienton

Joe Mitchell Tehatsitsakwa

Margaret Mitchell

Frank Mitchell Awonnenhawi

Kanekenhawe Mitchell Garrow

Margare Sawatis

Joe Sawatis

Paul Sawatis

Alex Skidders

Susan Thompson

John Kioherote Thompson

Bazil Thompson

Francis Aneratinetha Thompson

Mose Jr. Thompson

Harriet Thompson

David Thompson

Harriet Thompson

Noah Thompson

Peter Thompson

Beatrice Thompson Arquette

Margaret Thompson Arquette

Annie Thompson Lazore

Joe Thompson

Jane Thompson Tarbell

Julia Thompson Back Tekonwakennion

Sarah Thompson Mitchell Tsiakohawi

Francis Thompson

Frank Leaf

Annie Thompson