Fire early last Thursday morning (Feb. 19) completely destroyed the school at Baggotsville, about two miles west and a mile north of Whitby, in the Township of Whitby. The fire is supposed to have started from overheated pipes from a furnace which was located in the school room. The loss will be about four thousand dollars, partly covered by insurance. A new building will be erected as quickly as possible, and in the meantime a temporary building has been secured, as it is planned to have the new structure ready early in September.
The school, known as S. S. No. 5, was one of the oldest educational institutions in this part of the country. The building had been in use just exactly fifty years. There was an attendance of 25 pupils, and, according to Inspector Hutchison, good work was being accomplished by the teacher, Miss Sheppard. The building was of brick, the walls remaining standing after the fire.
The work of re-building the school will be entrusted to Trustees F. H. Puckrin, W. J. Pardon, and W. H. Guthrie, all three being of the third generation of the section. A modern building will be erected.
