Huron Expositor, 2015-01-28, Page 5Wednesday, January 28, 2015 • Huron Expositor 5
Seaforth Collegiate Institute:
"Success Nourishes Hope"
0 n Jan. 8, 1879, the first
classes began for 50
students, two teachers and
one principal at the newly
opened Seaforth High School.
At the formal opening on the
previous day, a large public
gathering crowded into a class-
room to hear the Mayor, trus-
tees and local clergymen for-
mally inaugurate Ontario's
newest secondary school. Its
opening marked the progress of
Seaforth's transition from a
rough frontier village to a
vibrant, and prosperous market
town. The school also embod-
ied the town's hopes and aspi-
rations for generations of its
children.
'Agitation' for a new high
school began in early 1878. As
Seaforth grew in size, the need
for secondary schooling that led
to the trades and professional
schools became necessary to
aid in the towns prosperity. A
town referendum in July 1878
resulted in an overwhelming
four -to -one majority of ratepay-
ers in favour of raising tax
money to fund a local high
school building.
Three acres of land was pur-
chased on the site of the pre-
sent Education Centre and Sea -
forth Public School.
Construction on the $3 732
building began immediately.
The Huron Expositor hoped
that the new school would be
'ornamental to the town' and
'would show so prominently as
to attract at once the attention
of the stranger.'
The result was a "very attrac-
tive' two storey white brick edi-
fice trimmed with dark
red. With four classrooms, two
on each floor, The Expositor
was well pleased with the
schools 'fine high ceilings, per-
fect ventilation and abundance
of light.' It was hoped that the
high school would become 'a
most useful and popular educa-
tional institution.'
With 'liberal salaries,' the
school trustees hired 'the ser-
vices of teachers of high stand-
ing' who were certain to bring
to 'the institution a reputation
which cannot fail to secure
success.'
By the end of its third year,
Huron History
David Yates
110 students were enrolled in
the school. The families of pro-
spective students paid the con-
siderable sum of $10.00 to write
the entrance exams, which were
sent to Toronto for grading. Tui-
tion may have been free but stu-
dents had to pay for books,
pens, ink and other school
supplies.
Until the late 1940s, out of
town students had the added
the expense of paying for room
and board. Yet, for many rural
families sending at least one
child to secondary school was
well worth the cost because it
opened the way for greater pro-
fessional opportunities. It also
added prestige to the family
name.
By 1887, more space was
needed to accommodate the
growing number of students.
The result was one of most 'ele-
gant and substantial structures'
in town. Two more classrooms
fitted with the latest scientific
apparatus were built onto the
school. An assembly hall
lighted by eight large windows
was added to the second floor.
The hall could hold 300 people
to hear lectures, debates, recit-
als and other entertainments. A
library adjoining the staff
lounge was also added.
At the rear, or east side, of the
school, a large gymnasium was
erected for 'every kind of ath-
letic amusement.'
Former school graduate, Isa-
belle Campbell in The Story of
Seaforth remembered that a
wood -burning stove was the
only heat in the gym. However,
the Victorians believed that vig-
orous physical exercise in cold
temperatures kept impure
thoughts away from young men
and built character.
In April 1888, Provincial Min-
ister of Education, George Ross,
officially dedicated the new
school building. It was a
momentous occasion for the
'lively and prosperous town'
because Ross elevated the
school's status to a 'Collegiate
Institute' indicating that Latin,
Greek and 'such subjects as a
gentleman ought to know' were
now taught there.
Ross, then, officially
announced that henceforth the
school would be known as Sea -
forth Collegiate Institute and
only the 26th collegiate in the
province. At this time, the
school's crest and Latin motto
`Spem Successes Alit' (Hope
Nourishes Success) was proba-
bly adopted.
Ross, who briefly lived in Sea -
forth when he edited The
Expositor almost 20 years
before, lauded the efforts of the
school staff and trustees. He
also advised the school's 151
students to 'make the best use
of the privileges so bountifully
provided to them.'
Ross gave another lengthy
address to 'an overflowing
crowd' at Cardno Hall in the
evening. Members
of Parliament, Mayors, council-
lors, headmasters and teachers
from the entire area had come
to 'show their interest in the
important event which formed
the basis of the day's celebra-
tion.' The Expositor hoped that
with collegiate status, 'the Insti-
tute will be widely known and
appreciated, and that we shall
see here students from a much
larger circle of territory.'
The Seaforth Collegiate in the
next few decades graduated its
share of famous alumni includ-
ing William Aberhart, the first
Social Credit premier of
Alberta; Harriett Brooks, pio-
neer radiologist; Wilfred Bren-
ton Kerr; famed author and his-
torian; and, his younger
brother, Howard Kerr who
founded Ryerson Polytechnic
Institute.
In 1938, new curriculum and
a diverse array of new subjects
created the need for additional
school space to accommodate
technical education and home
economics courses. Although
every 'care was taken' to ensure
the new design conformed with
the 60 -year-old building, the
old outdoor gym was torn down
and a modern one was built
inside the school. One student,
Alistair Wigg, wrote in The
Expositor that 'no longer do the
pupils have to wear ear muffs'
to gym class.
Over 800 people toured the
newly expanded collegiate
when it opened in January 1939.
The Seaforth Collegiate Insti-
tute saw its greatest expansion
in the post-war years. Free bus-
sing, in 1947, allowed more stu-
dents from the country to
attend secondary school.
At the height of the post-war
Baby Boom in the mid-1960s,
the Collegiate had over 500
students.
With more students and an
ever more comprehensive cur-
riculum, the old school building
was demolished in 1966 to
make room for the existing
school building.
Yet, in the late twentieth cen-
tury, changes in rural demo-
graphics saw a rapid decline in
the secondary school age popu-
lation, which lead to the closure
of the 133 -year-old Seaforth
District High School in 2002.