Miss Elsie Thornton

Elsie Thornton was a fictional character in the novel and movie, Peyton Place. In the movie, she was played by Mildred Dunnock.

Elsie was the Principal teacher of the children of the small New Hampshire town of Peyton Place. She taught Eighth Grade and in the movie, she was a high school teacher. She graduated from Smith College, and had been a teacher in Peyton Place for almost seven years. She was a native New Englander. Most of the townspeople thought that she should have gotten the job of headmaster of the schools, but the head of the school board, Leslie Harrington, thought that it was no job for a woman and she was near retiring age. Hence, he hired Michael Rossi, whom Miss Thornton was quite friendly with. In the novel, she also had an ally in Dr. Matthew Swain.

In her mind, she had her favorites over the years, believing that if she can get through to one child, she would be fulfilled; first her favorite was Allison MacKenzie and then four years later, her favorite was Joey Cross, the younger brother of Selena Cross. In fact, she was quite protective of him, especially when two gentlemen from the Navy Department questioned him in the school office; and again when his sister went on trial for his father's murder. To Joey, who had lost both his parents, Miss Thornton was one who cared a great deal about him, besides his sister.

Thornton, Elsie

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