Clinton in Huron County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
The Slomans and the CNR School on Wheels
⎯⎯⎯
Les Sloman et le wagon-école du CN
Photographed by Tim Boyd, August 22, 2025
1. The Slomans and the CNR School on Wheels Marker
In 1922 veteran educator J. B. MacDougall urged the provincial government to establish railway car schools to serve residents of Northern Ontario's outlying regions. Four years later two cars, the first of seven, commenced operation. One, the forerunner of this car, was staffed by a Clinton native, Fred Sloman. A dedicated teacher and ardent supporter of the innovative program, Sloman travelled the CNR line from Capreol, near Sudbury, north-west to Foleyet for 39 years. Aided by his wife, Cela, he taught academic subjects and the principles of democracy to children and adults, some with no previous schooling, and offered a variety of social services to those in need. The "Dean of Car School Instructors” Sloman retired in 1964, three years before the program was discontinued.
En 1922, J. B. MacDougall, éducateur chevronné prie le gouvernement provincial de créer des wagons-écoles à l'intention des habitants des régions éloignées du Nord de l'Ontario. Quatre ans plus tard, les deux premiers wagons-écoles d'une série de sept entrent en service. Fred Sloman, originaire de Clinton, est chargé de l'un d'entre eux, précurseur de celui-ci. Enseignant dévoué et fervent partisan de ce programme innovateur, Sloman dessert, grâce à la ligne du CN les localités situées de Capreol, près de Sudbury a Foleyet, au nord-ouest. Epaule par sa conjointe, Cela, il enseigne pendant 39 ans les diverses matières et les principes de démocratie tant aux enfants qu'aux adultes, dont certains n'ont aucune scolarité, en plus d'offrir divers services sociaux aux défavorisés. Le “doyen des enseignants des wagons écoles” prend sa retraite en 1964, trois années avant Tabolition du programme.
Erected by Ontario
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1922.
Location. 43° 36.345′ N, 81° 32.249′ W. Marker is in Clinton, Ontario, in Huron County. It is on Victoria Terrace 0.1 kilometers west of Matilda Street, on the left when traveling west. The marker is at the CNR Schools on Wheels Museum in Clinton. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 75 Victoria Terrace, Clinton ON N0M 1L0, Canada. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Huron-Perth-Waterloo-Wellington Area and in Southwestern Ontario. It is also in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Rupert’s Land.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 13 kilometers of this marker, measured as the
Photographed by Tim Boyd, August 22, 2025
2. The Slomans and the CNR School on Wheels / Les Sloman et le wagon-école du CN Marker
Also see . . . Canada’s School on Wheels: A Teacher’s Daughter Remembers (Life Magazine).
In 1954 LIFE photographer Cornell Capa documented life and learning on one of these trains as it stopped in the remote mining community of Thor Lake. The star of LIFE’s story was Fred Sloman, who taught on his school on wheels for 39 years, and who also lived on the rail car with his wife and five children. The front half of the car was a classroom, and for years the 28-foot-long back section served as living quarters for seven people. The rail car was nine feet wide and had no running water.(Submitted on August 24, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)
1927
3. Frank Sloman and students in front of an early CNR School on Wheels, 1927
Source: University of Toronto (public domain)
Photographed by Tim Boyd, August 22, 2024
4. The Slomans and the CNR School on Wheels / Les Sloman et le wagon-école du CN Marker
Photographed by Tim Boyd, August 22, 2025
5. One of the Schools on Wheels cars, at the museum in Clinton
Credits. This page was last revised on August 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 24, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 116 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 24, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
