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This typeof school was organ- ized to give students a wider educational experience. Subjects such as home economics, indus- trial arts, and instrumental music were offered. Operating on a half Writing about our school history at this time and sub- sequently, Mr. Max Bemrose, (a former principal), states: "The yard on the east side, later enlarged, was the’same size as that on the west. John St. from Pine to Jane was unimproved. A very large elm tree stood in the middle of it about opposite the entrance to the east yard. Then in 1929 a 4 room addition Weston Senior Public School was opened in 1948. It's first principal was Mr. Grant Gillespie, who later became the Director of the Board of Education for the Borough of York. On a sunny afternoon of July 5, 1919, the Honourable Dr. Cody, Minister of Education for the Province of Ontario, laid the corner stone of the Memorial Public Shcool for the Weston Board of Education.* This original building consisted of eight rooms which presently constitute the northern portion of our existing two storey structure. The entry was from Queen's Drive and the original attractive Georgian type portico is still visible although the steps and entry way,have disappeared. with that of the chufch, was first built on its present George St. site in 1892. Under the next three head- masters the numbers fluctuated With about 20 pupils ranging in age from 8 .. 18 he opened school on August 10, 1857, in the basement of the new Methodist Church, but within a few weeks moved to the fine old stone residence opposite the church. By 1858 the new school was ready: a two room, two storey building with a residence attached for the master and boarders. On February 4, 1857, in spite of opposition from Markham, York County Council authorized the school and appointed a Weston Board of Trustees. Mr. Tyrrell started a subscription list with $500.00 and 2 acres of land just east of today's King and Elm Street corner. Reverend John Bullock Logan was appointed headmaster at a salary of 275 ($375). WESTON 'S GRAMMAR SCHOOL ESTABLISHED One brisk autumn day in 1856 William Nason walked along the Plank Road and turned in at James Cruickshanks’s Carriage Factory. His purpose? To discuss the possibility of a Grammar School for Weston -- population 500, but growing! They agreed to approach William Tyrrell, the builder. Post W.W. II Growth Creates C.R. Marchant S.S. _St. John the Evangelist Separate School, whose history is described Weston Memorial School Originally Eight Rooms In 1967, when Metropolitan Toronto was reorganized into the borough system, Weston Senior Public School was renamed C.R. Marchant Senior Public School after Mr. Clifford Marchant, who had served the Weston Board of Education for many years as its business administrator. *The sterling silver trowel used in the ceremony was found in the school. It was used by the children,to plant the tree for our Silver Jubilee Ceremony in May of last year. It has a permanent home in the school office. time rotary basis, it helped ease the students into high school which were full rotary. "The growth of Weston after World War II was rapid. The opening of the Senior Public School in 1948 eased the pressure on pupil space but not for long. By 1954 we had classes in the auditorium, staff room and office as well as 2 classrooms under the present office and library. In 1955, 6 rooms, with the front entrance changed to John St., were added. The present auditorium-gymnasium was added in 1966. During the 60 year history of the school the office is now in its sixth location. Ft was added along with a larger office, staff room, and an auditorium. In spite of York County Council opposition, Mr. Tyrrell and the Board accepted the $2000. insurance and subscriptions of $480. and rebuilt the school on the same site and on the same plan. , In January, 1876 Weston High School opened with about 30 pupils. With the enthusiasm and dedication of the 29 year old George Wallace older students Mr. Raveill, notified that his salary would be cut to $700., resigned. Mr. George Wallace, a junior master at Upper Canada College, took the pupils back to the Methodist basement on April from the high of 74 in 1859 to a low of 38 in 1865, and due to the Education Act of 1871 it got its second name, Weston High School. On Thursday, March 25, 1875 the end came to that school with dramatic suddenness. About nine o'clock in the evening, just a few hours after the pupils and teachers had left for the Easter weekend, Mr. Raveill discovered fire in his apartment; within an hour the school had been totally destroyed. FIRE AT SCHOOL Shortly after the Senior School (now CR. Marchant) was opened, the Board of Education decided to add grade six to its roster. However, a decision to return Katherine Campbell (Mrs. T.R. Simpson) was appointed acting principal after Mr. Alexander's retirement, a post she held until her retirement in 1956. At that time, the vice-principal, Harvey Jeffery became the new principal, continuing to serve until 1968. The teaching of music was discussed in 1903, but it wasn't until 1937 that a supervisor of music was appointed for Weston schools. Fitz) drills were established in 1904. By 1916, the old Public School Board was abolished and both high and elementary school came under the supervision of one Board of Education. In 1911, four additional rooms were added and the renovated building was opened in J anuary, 1912. During renovation, the classes were held in basements of churches, the Town Hall and Sunday School rooms. i In April, 1903, H.J. Alexander became principal, a position he held until retirement in 1943. A modern brick, two room school was built on the same site in 1860, with the Latin inscript- ion "Pro Bono Publico" engraved over the door. Always kept in good repair, it was sold for commercial purposes and later became a residential dwelling. This building was demolished recently. A new site on King St. was purchased in 1892 and a six room brick structure was erected. Mr. R.H. Leighton was in charge until 1894. The first assistant, Edith M. Leewas was appointed in 1897 and continued to teach there until her retirement in 1932. This house, situated on the west side of Weston Road, opposite Rectory Road, saw Captain John Pirritte as its first teacher. In 1842, the school was moved to the east side of Weston Rd. and Major John Paul was schoolmaster. Seven years later, this land was purchased and the first Common School was con- structed under the jurisdiction of the Home District Council. A modest clapboard dwelling was home to the first students to attend school along the banks of the Humber, in 1833. A second Reunion, August 29, 1907, saw no better facilities, but a fine spirit and a growing demand for a new school. In September 1909, Mr. Harstone with four teachers and 115 pupils, decided to offer Grade IV, Senior Matri- culation, to bring back senior pupils from Toronto. With the boom of the late 1890's hope revived. A very successful Reunion proved the existence of a loyal alumni. The Board, realizing that if the school was to survive, it must bring back senior students and prestige, gambled on three new, young and inexperienced teachers - but each with a degree. Then decline. Why? The death of George Wallace at the age of 40, on February 25, 1886; frequent changes of headmaster and of assistants, continual money problems, competition from new schools in Toronto and finishing schools for the young ladies, declining relations between teachers and Board and a dilapidated building within and without. began to enroll and the quality of the education earned the school a new respect - even an extra room. Weston's First Public School H.J. Alexander, King St. by Hazel Lee HIGH EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS King St. School, with its bell tower reaching for the sky, was the forerunner of H.J. Alexander School. In fact, Mr. Alexander was the principal at King St. School for 40 years. Mrs. Ella Norman laid the corner stone for H.J. Alexander School on June 27, 1957 and classes opened on Monday November 18, 1957. The same day, demolition of the old building began. The auditorium was completed in 1958, while the present library was added later. The principal, students and From 1913 the school never looked back. One year before Weston had changed from village to town, Mr. Alex. Pearson began his long era as principal with a fine new school of six classrooms, an office, a laboratory, and a gymnasium-auditorium, and 95 pupils and three teachers. When he resigned in June 1936 he was principal of the only composite school in York-Weston High and this grade to the elementary schools posed a problem for King St. school. Metro School Board refused permission to add two rooms to the old building. It was decided that an entirely new school would have to be con- structed, which would include ten regular classrooms, plus a kindergarten and general purpose room. The building, designed by former pupil Harold LIndsay, was built on the former King St. School lawn. A STRAWBERRY PATCH On January 14, 1910, the new Board of Trade took up the issue of a new school at their annual banquet; thus encouraged the School Board, at its February 2, 1910, meeting made a new school its first consideration. Wallace Cruickshank, Chairman of the Board, took a $2. option on a strawberry patch on William Street belonging to Edward Eagle - soon purchased for $6000.; George Sainsbury began the building June 1912. On Friday, September 27, 1912 the Cornerstone was laid; on August 28, 1913, the Ex-Pupils' Associ- ation held a "Farewall to the Old School" Ceremony; in October 95 pupils, Mr. Fairchild and three teachers moved into the new school. staff of H.J. Alexander School continue to contribute to both the school and social life of Weston. This year the school choir will sing the Weston Centennial song, composed by their director, Mrs. E. Edwards. Even before C. Wesley Christie succeeded Mr. Worden on September 1958, it was clear that what was needed was an end to patchwork additions. The new name - Weston Collegiate Institute -- had come in 1965. Then January 1, 1967 the Town of Weston became a part of the Borough of York. Almost immediately it was decided to build York's flagship school for new educational developments in Weston, on Pine Street, just east of the old schooL’In September 1969, Mr. W.H. Hill succeeded Mr. Christie to open the new era in W.C.I.'s history. Dora Wattie Weston Historical Society But, when Ernest H.G. Worden became principal in 1936 he took over a school of 1100 which had been built for 750. It gained its new name in 1939, Weston Collegiate and Vocational School, but a depression, World War II and new schools in York made further additions impossible. Attendance close to 1200 in September made further delay impossible. In March 1951, final plans were made for an addition of 16 classrooms, a gym and cafeteria. On September, 1953 the new addition opened. By 1967 -- centennial year - the school was again overcrowded with 1532 pupils. The Vocational School had begun with Dr. E.F. Burton's election to the Board of Education in 1916 and a long campaign from 1916 to 1921 but with little success until the Adolescent Act of 1921 raised the school-leaving age to 16 brought a flood of pupils to the schools. Additions came quickly: four rooms to the High School in 1922, a gymnasium and Vocational School in 1923, 4 rooms at the north end of the High School and six rooms at the west end of the Vocational in 1925. Vocational School - 28 class- rooms, five shops, a library, a large gym-aud. on the first floor, a cafeteria, 933 pupils, 34 teachers, and a secretary. the CENTENNIAL page 7