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Te TH NI i HI I a I I ON II I lI RN I TEI RS be Sop us i of 8 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, April 28, 1987 Recalling the fateful evening of April 15, 1926 'Port Perry schools a total loss' bh} A i) Cl "It was teacher Paul Arculus' s idea to dig up the old founda- tion in the first place, so it seems only fair that he help with the digging. Above, he gets a hand from student Bob Tytler. & Leisure Sales (416) 986-4275 7A Highway to Nestleton Log home across from Rec Centre PATIO FURNITURE -- SPA & WHIRL BATHS WICKER FURNITURE -- POOL & SPA CHEMICALS Open Evenings and Weekends Durham DODD DDD DODD DDLDLDLLDAD. TOGO VITIVIITOIrIeveoOeeeeee. ORT AUTO GLASS ERRY & TRIM HB Windshields B Complete Upholstery BOAT TOPS -- BOAT SEATS ~ B Sunroofs HB Body Moulding & Pinstripes 139 WATER STREET -- PORT PERRY ~ CALL FOR YOUR APPT. ... 985-8507 WITH THIS COUPON! LIAMANCE 595.00 Off Port Perry Star, dateline Thurs- day April 15, 1926: "PORT PERRY SCHOOLS A TOTAL LOSS.' ' "Here many eminent men and women received their early education." "It was a wonderful spectacle. That roaring furnace of flame, situated as it was at almost the highest point in town, lit up the whole countryside. The walls had been splendidly built, and retained fire like the sides of a huge furnace. The flames would leap high above the walls, where the wind would at times catch them, and whirl them forward in quest of new fuel." "How Mr. Albert Orchard's house escaped 1s a mystery, but it did escape, even to the windows, which were saved by hanging wet blankets over them." "It is a blessing that nobody was hurt although some of the firemen did have a narrow escape when the tower fell. Even in the wrecking of the walls subsequent to the fire there have been no accidents. This is very remarkable when one con- siders . the recklessness of both children and grown folk. Curiosity killed a cat, and the same thing is liable to kill more than a cat if peo- ple will go near swaying walls and dangerous scaffoldings. Parents should warn their children not to go near these dangerous places, and grown folk should set a "good example." Such is the way a front page story in the Port Perry Star describes the disastrous fire which engulfed Port Perry Grammar School on Wednes- day, April 7, 1926. More than $65,000 in property damage was caused by the three hour blaze, which was discovered by the caretaker of the time, Mr. A.W. Allin. According to the story, Mr. Allin put a fire in one of the furnaces to heat up a room for a Board of Education meeting. When he return- ed a while later, at 7:30 p.m, the building was already ablaze, "and was even then doomed to destruc- tion." Firemen were called, but even they were unable to save the building. The school had been built in 1873, a magnificent 'modern' structure, complete with a statuesque tower. The pride of the community, it con- tinued the tradition of high school in Port Perry, which was established in 1868. Classes then were held upstairs in a log cabin, until the new building was constructed. One hundred and fourteen years after the school officially opened its doors, present day students of Port Perry High School are uncovering its charred remains. + The foundation wall of the 1873 building lies beneath the south lawn of the present school site, and despite the ravages of time, these remains are clearly defined in the grass during the summer months. To celebrate the upcoming Port Perry High School reunion, and to commemorate the school's history, the foundation is being dug up by | students of Paul Arculus's Grade 11 English class. Once dug up, Mr. Arculus hopes to create a memorial garden around the foundation, complete with a bronze plaque picturing the old school as it looked before the fire and what happened as a result of the flames. In 1985 two test holes were dug in order to expose the remains of the foundation wall and to determine the depth of the wall, its thickness, its condition and stability. As it turn-- ed out, the base of the wall is four feet below the existing grade level. It is two feet thick, and consists of large stones. And despite its age, Mr. Arculus says it's quite stable. But the wall isn't the only artifact the young excavators have found. Student Dan Beacock discovered a window lock of some kind, com- plete with hinge and knob. And Joe Murphy picked up a lock, presumably used for the front door. Because the school was closed at the time of the fire, the lock is just that- -locked. All artifacts discovered at the site will be treated and displayed during the reunion festivities. And although the remains tell quite a story abo. Port Perry High School's old days, the foundation doesn't reveal everything. For example, a new school to replace the burned ore almost didn't get built. The estimated cost at the time was $95,000, and while in- surance supplied a good portion, it didn't supply it all. In fact, the Board of Education still needed $65,000 to re-build. Some people said '"'it was too much," and suggested not replacing ~ the school at all. Others were vehe- ment in their crusade to re-build, " and for several weeks after the fire. the Port Perry Star was filled with letters to the editor both for and against the proposal. The issue caused such a commo- tion that Council called a public vote on a by-law to raise the necessary $65,000. And on August 6, 67 voted against the by-law. 315 voted for it. 'With a 248 majority, plans for reconstruc- tion went ahead. Finally, with much hoopla, the new school was opened May 18, 1927, by the Honourable John S. Martin, minister of agriculture. Still combining public and high school teachings, the new school housed 11 classrooms and a good- sized gymnasium. A story about rhe opening in the Port Perry Star described the scene as having 'Ideal weather. Good Crowds. A pleasing' programme. Brilliant dance ends a perfect day." And towards the end of the story was the ironic sentence, "It is as nearly fireproof as possible." Must have been. She hasn't burn- ed yet. Dan Beacock discovered an old window hinge and knob while excavating Port Perry's old high school foundation recently. ODDFELLOWS Dabber Bingo {10 - Early Bird Games 2 - Special Games 10 - Regular Games JACKPOT MUST GO! *250.00 Feature Bingo TUESDAY, APRIL 28 DOORS OPEN ........................ 5:45 PM BINGO STARTS .......... eeeerrnene. 6:45 PM a a | Bl ---- eee pom CAD A, --.