HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1975-06-26, Page 82Servo g Seaforth and District
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THE HURON EXPOSITOR, JUNE 26, 1975 —9
a
With 500 pupils in 1878
School budget under $5,000
By Miss Isabelle Campbell
A kindergarten was opened on
June 1, 1910, with Miss Sarabelle
McLean as teacher. She faithfully
and lovingly carried on her task
for 41 years, till she retired on
June 30, 1951. No one can
estimate the influence for good
she had upon the lives of the
thousand or more children she
introduced to school life.
In 1878 the last year before a
secondary school opened, the
(Continued on Page 16)
(15
In the early 1840's , children in
the vicinity of what is now
Seaforth had to foot it through the
woods to a log Union School, near
Irishtown, 'and' a little later to
another in McKillop, where
Maitlandbank Cemetery is now.
As the Seaforth population
increased, more school accom-
modation was needed than a one-t
eacher school could provide. In
Confederation Year, 1867, land
was procured on James Street
and on it was built a substantial
brick two-storey structure,
V containing two rooms, facing on
Church St. Archibald Dewar was
the first principal, and Miss
Jennie Guthrie was his assistant.
There were over two hundred
pupils in attendance.
Lopsided
When opened, the school had a
lopsided appearance, but the
ratepayers had an eye to future
additions, and by 1872 the need
arose and a wing was added to the
south, which balanced the outside
appearance. Five teachers were
then on the staff. In 1874,
Seaforth had 592 children,
between five and 16 years, m
aking it necessary to add a north
wing, and to hire two more
teachers, making the total seven.
Later, a rear addition was made,
completing the eight-room
school. In all, the price, including
the wings, amounted to around
$10,000. Originally, the building
was white brick. Later it was
painted barn red, but in a few
years the elements and green ivy
toned down the harsh red, and
gave the front an imposing
appearance. The back was
different. Here, no paint had
been wasted, no ivy planted, and
• only a cinder playground
surrounded the building. It was
here that all the town children,
both Protestant and Catholic,
were taught the three R's, till St.
James' Separate School opened in
1902.
SPS CLASS IN 1932 —It looked like a cool spring
afternoon in 1932 when the Grade 3 class of 1932
posed for this picture. In the photo, loaned by Mary
Pryde, Exeter, are back, left, Mary Geddes, Mary
Wood, Helen Moffat, Ruth McNairn, Helen Fraiser,
Sterling Habkirk, Jack Cameron, Frank Case, t,arl
Montgomery, second, Doris Barlow, Florence
Calvert, June Siegrist, Marion Sclater, Ruth Joynt,
Bernice Boniface, Barbara Best, Ruth Fraiser, Lois
McGavin, Dorothy Fletcher, front, Tommy Wilbee,
Alfred Siegrist, Reg. Dolmage, Donald Scott, Stuart
Wigg, Frank Golding, Jack Hanley, Joe Smith and
Alex Baker.