School Days
Flesherton's Schools
Flesherton Public School Details
Built in 1891 for about $1000 on land donated by W.K. Flesher (for whom the town is named) on the west side of Highway #10 just north of South Grey Museum and the Boyne River bridge.
The large, three room yellow brick building served as the community's elementary school until 1968, when students were moved to the new Macphail Memorial School on Campbell Street.
Flesherton Public School Students and Teachers, September 1897 Details
The entire public school (a total of 84 students) with their teachers G. Wellington, Miss I. Irwin, and Miss A. Meredith.
Still standing but privately owned and falling into severe disrepair, the Flesherton Public School burnt down on July 3, 2008.
Artemesia Rural High School Builders Details
In 1910 land was bought from William and John Boyd to build Ontario's first rural high school.
The addition of this high school made continuing school a possibility for many Grey County children. Before this, with the nearest high schools located in Orangeville and Owen Sound, students interested in attending high school had to find somewhere to board during the school week. Even with train connections making it possible to return home for weekends, the cost for tickets kept many students away from home except for special holidays.
Artemesia Rural High School Details
This was true for Agnes Macphail from Ceylon, who had to plead for two years before her parents allowed her to attend high school in Owen Sound. Even with this new school in Flesherton many students boarded in town, especially during the winter. There were no school buses until 1945!
The original building was damaged in a fire during expansion in 1952, so the new addition was used until the building became inadequate in 1968. Students were then moved to a new high school in town (Grey Highlands Secondary) and this school was renamed Macphail Memorial Elementary, replacing the old public school. The building was torn down in 2006 for health and safety reasons and the newly constructed Macphail Elementary school stands in its place at the end of Campbell Street.
