Various Businesses

Potter School of Music
822 Second St.

My Aunt Rose Gesell was a Student of these Business's

Mr. Rex R. Potter, played piano at the Orpheum Theatre, and organ at St Giles Anglican Church. Came to Estevan in 1924

Rex R. Potter founder of the school

School was started by Dr. H. F. Potter and his wife in 1925
Dr. H. F. Potter was reputed to be the organist at the Lincoln Cathedral in Britain, but I can not find his name listed in the online database.

March 1st, 1928, Concert Recital, Potter School of Music
Some names listed that performed:
Miss M. Perkins, Miss M. Ellis, Miss M. Glew, Miss L. Waddington, Mr. George Furniss, Miss F. Goodman, Miss E. Hoffer, Miss R. Ellis, Miss E. Adams, Miss Florence Perkins, Mrs. Eleanor Liddell Archer, nee Wallace (see below), John Williamson, Grace Johnson, William Langevin, Alberta Ellis, William Clarke, James Blencowe, Dave Steinberg, Russell Cunningham, Paul Bugg, Morris Berger, Joe McIlvenna, J. Mandel (see below), B. Mitchell, Edward McCormick, Elizabeth Clendenan, Miss E. Jarrett, Miss Ruby Elizabeth Partington (see below), Miss G. Johnson, Miss Ruby Dean (see below), Miss M. Loughlin, Miss B. Cunningham, Miss M. Stuart, Miss R. Dahlstrom,

In 1925 Rex Potter organized the Estevan Concert Orchestra

In the 1940's he was in Trail BC

A Mr. Rex Potter was guest conductor in 1963 in Argenta BC.

In 1927 the Potter School had 5 instructors headed by Dr. Potter
Closed during the depression for lack of attendance.

Students/Teachers

Mrs. Eleanor Liddell Archer, nee Wallace,
b- Apr 28, 1876 , Chester Le Street, Registration dist, at Newcastle Upon Tyne, England,
d- Aug 15, 1964 in Estevan
married Norman Gillies Archer in Brandon MB, Nov 25, 1905
b- June 8, 1880 in Gateshead on tyne, Co Durham, England,
d- Mar 20, 1955 in Winnipeg, MB.
both buried in Souris Valley Memorial Gardens in Estevan
Norman was the son of Thomas and Laura Archer.
Norman enlisted Nov 2, 1915 in Edmonton, in WWI, Reg #155080, Rank SPR
next of kin Eleanor, living at Dunston Apartments, on Stony Plain Rd, in Edmonton
occupation- accountant.
Eleanor was a lifelong member of the Canadian Legion.

They had 2 children:
daughter- Helen Mary Archer
b- Sept 11, 1908,
d- Apr 21, 1965 in Estevan
Souris Valley Memorial Gardens in Estevan
Helen attended ECI
She married Eugene Vernon Evett
b- 1905, d- Oct 30, 1995

son- Henry (Harry) Mark Archer
b- June 25, 1910 in Edmonton AB,
d- Feb 11 (25?), 2008 in Estevan, age 96
he served in WWII, Private, SSR, Svc #L12075

Eleanor immigrated to New York, then came to Canada in 1905.
1918 she came to Estevan.
She became a long time Piano and Violin teacher in Estevan until 1960.
Played the piano at the Delight theatre before the “talkies”

Miss R. Dean
probably Ruth Dean, the youngest daughter of James and Annie Dean
Ruth married Kenneth (Ken) Moore who was at that time was affiliated with McNeil's Funeral Parlour of Estevan.
Her dad sold pianos in a General Store in Allerford ON.

Jacob Barney (Jake) Mandel

(Dr.) Jacob (Jake) Barney Mandel
b- 1915 in Estevan,
d- Aug 14, 1944
Svc # ?
Captain, Army, Royal Canadian Medical Corps, 12th Brigade in Normandy 1944
May 14, 1937, won University of SK Silver medal in medicine.
Jewish ancestry
Famous Estevan born Poet, Elias Wolf (Eli) Mandel was his cousin.
Commemorated on Page 377 of the WWII Book of Remembrance.
Beny-Sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, Calvados, France -Grave Ref: VIII. E. 10.
Geo Memorial- Mandel Island- Lat 55°06' Long 105°01'
Jake attended ECI, Univ. of SK, and Univ. of AB.
Mandel Memorial Award at ECI was given each year in his honour.
nickname William Tell Mandel, because he was a good shot
Father- Max Mandel
Mother- Molly Fishgold
married in 1911
sister Gertie Mandel, married Dr. H. A. Brookler
brother Henry Mandel also served in WWII, RCAF

Ruby Elizabeth Partington
below from my ECI site
PARTINGTON, RUBY ELIZABETH- X-1919-1921
b- July 10, 1905, in Roche Percee,
d- late June, 2008, Bellevue, WA, USA, age 10
Ruby taught at just about every small school in SE Sask.
Ended up teaching for years in Bellevue WA, after she served in WWII.
Too bad we didn't get a hold of this lady for 2000 reunion.
Imagine the stories she would have had.
Her father was a Butcher at the John McLeod's Meat Market, the first in Estevan

Miss Jessie Eleanor Duncan
b- Jan 5, 1898 in ON,
d- May 26, 1945 in Victoria BC?
At School in 1911
Piano Teacher, April 9, 1921

Piano Recital by pupils of Miss Jessie E. Duncan on Saturday, April 9, 1921

She was one of 2 daughters of
Peter Cuthbert Duncan
b- May 8, 1862 in Lot 3, Conc 11, Elma, Perth Co, ON,
d- Feb 19, 1940
Mayor of Estevan 1913-1917

Her and her sister known last living in Victoria, BC

Jessie married Richard Thomas Stanley,
b- Sept 1, 1880 in Belfast Ireland,
d- Sept 30, 1955
named after her mother
Jessie Duncan, nee McNeil
b- June 30, 1864,
d- Mar 10, 1944

Peter C. Duncan married Jessie McNeil, July 28, 1886
Jessie's father- Lachlan McNeil
Jessie's Mother- Sarah Lamont

Sister- Sarah (Joan) MacIver, nee Duncan
b- Sept 18, 1893 in SK,
d- ? in Victoria BC?
Teacher in the Country, in 1911
She married Ken Alexander McIver, Sept 15, 1920
b- Jan 26, 1877 in Isle of Skye, Scotland, d- Sept 13, 1947

Brother Stanley Alvin Duncan,
b- May 20, 1889, in Brandon MB,
d- Bef. 1980, in Edmonton AB
Bookkeeper in 1911
He married Edna Muriel Thompson
b- Jan 27, 1889, d- ?

Oct 30, 2011 received an email from the son of Clive Butterworth who was a teacher at this Music School, at the time of the Estevan/Bienfait Miner's Riot in 1931.
He was actually shot in the thigh during the riot. His son Simon tells me that Clive would tell the story of the riot to his family in England.
He played Piano and taught music. Thanks for the addition Simon.

Clive Butterworth 1946

Success Business College, Estevan Branch

L. P. Neal, Principal Business Success College in Estevan

Lester P. Neal
Principal of the College
b- ?
d- Nov 1974

married Lily “Lillie” Wellock, on Nov 29, 1924,
b- June 1908
daughter of David Wellock and Martha Wellock, nee Wilson
Lester moved to Sudbury ON, worked as Real Estate Agent
had one daughter- Naida Neal

Found a Lester B. Neal, b- Feb 1905, in ON in 1911 census living in Lincoln, Tsp North Grimsby, Lot 6, con 1
if this is Lester above then this is his family:
1911 Canada census says:
father, Osric P. Neal, b- Dec 1859 in ON, Farmer
mother- Marilla Neal, b- Nov 1869

in 1901 Census in Grimsby village
Osric G. W. Neal is the father, b- Dec 7, 1859
Marrilla the mother, b- Nov 4, 1869

1891 in Grimsby as well
Osric George William Neal married Marrilla Alverta Roszel,
married Dec 15, 1886 at Grimsby, Lincoln Co, ON
Osric son of George Neal and Hannah Meretta Hughes
He was 27, factory worker, born in Grimsby
Osric died Apr 9, 1914, in Hamilton, Wentworth, ON, age 55

Members of Success Business College in 1929

1929 newspaper clippings on Rose Gesell entering competion in Regina

May 1st, 1929, letter from L.P. Neal to Rose Gesell on winning in Regina
My Aunt Rose Gesell was quite a typist, and won many awards for her speed and accuracy
Unfortunately she died at a very early age.

Rose Gesells certificate Jan 1929, re honors in spelling.
Rose gesell's shorthand certificate, March 1929
Rose Gesell's certificate for honors in English and Letterwriting, April 1929
Some of the Honour certificates she won at this school.
signed by Frederick George Garbutt
b- Jan 30, 1876 in Weston, Etobicoke Township, York, ON
d- Oct 31, 1947 in Calgary AB
buried in Burnsland Cemetery, Calgary AB
President and owner of a chain of Business Success Schools
He was a School teacher, and he moved to Calgary
In 1907 Frederick G. Garbutt started his Chain of Business Schools in Calgary
Dec 15, 1909 he married Elizabeth Beatrice Kirkpatrick, in Victoria, BC
b- 1879 in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia
d- 1961
buried in Burnsland Cemetery, Calgary AB
daughter of James Kirkpatrick, and Asenath Kirpatrick

Frederick and Elizabeth had 5 children.
Edith Florence Garbutt
b- 1911
d- Feb 23, 2005 in Victoria BC, cremated
Alice Garbutt, married a Mr. Gill (Calgary)
Elizabeth “Betty” Garbutt, married a Mr. Wolfe (Calgary)
b-
d- June 25, 2004 at Rockyview General Hospital, Calgary AB, age 83
Fred Garbutt (Toronto)
George Garbutt (Calgary)

Frederick actually took out a patent 343050, Jan 1934 on an air deflecting addition to a car radiator

Father - George Garbutt
Mother- Hanna Garbutt, nee ?

Buller-Livesley Motors

Buller-Livesley Motors Advertisement sheet, Feb 19, 1930

L. C. (Roy) Livesley was Manager of the Bank of Montreal in Estevan.
Possibly his father owned this business in partnership.
This business later became Trout Chevrolet Oldsmobile Ltd.
NE corner of 5th St and 13th Ave.

©