The story of another veteran teacher at Wakefield Public Schools receives our Women’s History Month profile today. This one is particularly dear to our hearts, as you will see in her profile.

The Wakefield Daily Item ran a page one story upon her retirement: “Miss Mabel Adelaide Kernan, of 20 Gould Street, principal of the West Ward School, who is completing 49 years of continuous service to the schools of Wakefield has rendered her resignation, to become effective at the end of the year.”

A graduate of Wakefield High School in 1898, Miss Kernan went on to study at Boston University and in 1899 she was appointed to the H.M. Warren School, under the direction of the late Miss M. Annie Warren, then principal. In 1902, she was transferred to the West Ward School, succeeding Miss Maude Arnold, who was transferred to the Franklin School. Miss Keenan held her position at the West Ward until her retirement in 1948.

During her tenure, she served under six superintendents: Ulysses G. Wheeler, Alfred C. Thompson, Jacob H. Caffrey, Willard H. Atwell, R. Edgar Fisher and Carl M. Bair, Jr. The entire Kernan family seemed to dedicate themselves to public service: she was the sister of the late Miss Alice Jane Kernan, who also taught at Wakefield Public Schools for many, many years, as well as Marion Elaine Kernan, librarian of the Durfee High School in Fall River, and John Woodbury Kernan, retired superintendent of parks in Lowell.

Universally loved by generations of West Side students and their parents, Miss Kernan was a wonderful teacher and principal and is held in high regard. A few years before her retirement, Miss Kernan was honored with a hand-lettered scroll in honor of her service. After her retirement, they dedicated the upstairs classroom in her name and started a scholarship fund through Wakefield Public Schools. Generations of students had fond memories of of her appearing at the upstairs window ringing her handbell to let them know that school was in session.

Miss Kernan’s mother, Annie, was a native of Ireland; her father, Thomas had been born in Rhode Island. She lived in her Gould Street home for over 70 years! She died in 1958, but is still remembered with her photograph at the entrance of the West Ward School.

“Women in Wakefield” is a feature of the Wakefield Historical Society, which offers the profile of a different woman from the town’s history every day during “Women’s History Month” in March. (Only two more after today!). Each story will also be posted on our social media pages and the blog on wakefieldhistory.org. Many of our profiles have been shared through the courtesy of the Wakefield Daily Item.

The Wakefield Historical Society is a nonprofit organization with no paid staff and needs donations to help cover basic utility costs for the Museum. All donations are tax deductible and can be sent to P.O. Box 1902, Wakefield, or visit our website.