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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1953-03-05, Page 4PAGIJ. ?~ OU C.[ INION N4W.S,AEGQ11.IP Ti iUR.ST?AX, MAaCH ,).9a3 PJayrQom,Audltonurn, Minus. Frills The playroom in the new school, approx. 73'x36'{ has lots of space, plenty of light, and a multitude of uses. At the right hand side of the picture above is the temp- orary door leading to the areaway and playground at the east of the school. This will be the entrance most com- monly used by the children when they come in from the outdoor playground for orgc,nized recreation inside. At the left of the picture is shown one of the two large entrance doors leading from the corridor. These will be used for access from the classrooms, and also by audiences coming to enjoy concerts in the playroom, for plans are made for this room to serve as an auditorium. When the price on the first plan was deemed too high, some of the "frills" had to be cut out, so that the neces. sities could be payed for. The stage in the auditorium was among the first to go. The above picture, taken from the end of the play- room where the stage was to have been, shows two small apertures high up in the end wall which will De used from the projection room for the showing of films Behind the large door -like affair to the left of these apertures is housed the equipment which heats the playroom. This equipment, which incorporates a system of many louvred metal plates, gets steam heat from the two boilers in the basement and distributes hot air into the playroom area. The small door at the left end of the rear wall leads into the kitch,en, beyond which is the teachers' room, School Building Grants Cover Essentials Only Because of the very large annual increase in school enrolments which must be expected in Ontario for several years to come, the On- tario Education Department has • decided that, from now on, no ex- penditures will be approved for grant purposes except those made In respect of ordinary classrooms (in eluding science laboratories in secondary schools) and upon essen- tial administrative and service areas. So urgent is the need of accom- modation for the thousands of new pupils who will enter school in the next academic year, and in each succeeding year, that neither the municipalities nor the Provincial Government' can hope to provide more than essential school build- ing, C, F. Cannon, Deputy Min- ister of Education, states. A. F. Cudmore Has Served as Chairman For 34 Years The present chairman, A, F. Cudmore, has been on the Public School Board for 34 years. He has served as chairman since 1941. When he first began on the Board, his daughter, now Mrs. Harvey Taylor, Kinburn, was at- tending the school. She became a teacher and after spending one year in a school between Sudbury and North Bay, she returned to Clinton and taught here. Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Taylor now have two boys in the entrance class. Mr. Cudmore has seen four sec- retary -treasurers with the Board: H. E. Rorke, Harrison Wiltse, Joins Hartley and presently, H. C. Law- son. In the same period there have been six principals of the school including George H. Jef- ferson, who is this year complet- ing 26 years of service. Congratulations to the CITIZENS SCHOOL TRUSTEES and OFFICIALS of CLINTON Completion of a fine new school will add greatly to the educational facilities community. of this progressive We are gratified to have taken part in the project by supplying slate blackboards. All school authorities ore invited to communicate with us whenever they wish to obtain smart, mod- ern furniture, chalkboards and other equipment. HENDRY DIVISION Contra Scientific Company of Canada Limited 146 Kendal Avenue Toronto 4, Ontario Montreal *ROW* VOuntouver , „ p 1 own The Corridor If The Years •(By Anne I1, 1VIa en) ('1Che C IUOW NEWS- Ii,i CORD is deeply indebted to. - i%iiss Anne }I lvlason, London, who collected this information concerning the frame school of USS 2, 'Mullett Township, Her father, the late Charles Mason, was born and raised in Clinton, and titteneed the old log school in Hullett. Ann's older brothers and sisters attended the fame school In the picture, and the %may moved to London -in 1907, where her father was employed with the London Street Baal. way, With her brother, Leon- ard, and her mother, 1VIrs. 0. Mason, who was hien 81 years old, and her nephew, Boger, Miss Masora visited USS 2 Hui^ lett in August, 1902.) Back to the old village schoolhouse Anchor outside the school door You look in and see— There's you and there's me A couple of kids once more. Wooden storm doors cloak :its double entrances. Tall weeds frame the little one -roomed build- ing, A giant maple guards the dusty roadway leading inward. There is an air of expectancy and loneliness • about it, as if it waited for children's shouts and laughter. A Bit of Reminiscence A former pupil has travelled many miles on this hot August day to see again the haunts of his childhood, and to savor the pecul- iar joy that comes to a man who is able to point out to his grown son, (used to the ultra -modern), dipper remind the onlooker of the Cooling drinks he had so thirstily quaffed when fresh hater was brought in from the pump in those far-off days when sanitation was but a word. A tiny glassed -in cupboard in the south-west corner preserves the meagre library—much-used books that had brought to life stirring tales of history and ad- venture when read aloud by the teacher, In the centre of the room a box stove with :its high tin shield still around it, looks forlorn, having fulfilled its destiny with a surplus stock of wood neatly piled in un adjacent shed. The low rows of desks and eats worn smooth as glass and glowing in the rich sunlight speak of past generations of lively, robust child- ren who had so reluctantly slid into their seatsof learning, and so happily scampered out when school was dismissed. In retrospect, the visitor sees again the boys two by two sitting on one side. of the room, the girls two by two on the other side, but at recess all had mingled together joyously to play such innocent games as Tag, Far- mer in the Dell, and Drop the Handkerchief. Such is U.S.S. No. 2, Concession 3, Hullett Township, Huron Coun- ty. It is a Union school section for it includes a portion of Goder- ich Township. Origin of U.S.S. No. 2 . U.S,S. No. 2 was built as it now stands in the year 1874, but pre- vious to this date as far back as 1847, when there were but 524 in - USS 2 Hallett Public School the simplicity of a country school. Together they open the outer door; as they test the inner door its squeaky hinges yield slowly, opening into a hallway festooned with filigree cobwebs. Passing eagerly through the boys' cloak room, but noting the familiar pegs, the visitors approach the threshold of the classroom viewing its unchanged dignity, its quaint ap- pointments. The father is filled with awe and emotion, the son in- spects the museum -like equipment with wonderment and delight. The brilliant sunshine lights up the room to the farthestcorners, setting into focus the t'eacher's small desk, and behind it as though used but yesterday, the gaily path - ted red armchair, lacking the com- mon luxury of castors. Beside the blackboard a large may outlines some fascinating countries, that seemed in boyhood to be as far away as heaven itself, now to be reached by plane within a few hours. On a ledge in the south-east corner of the room a huge pail and Large Airy Rooms (Continued from page three) rooms, all with windows looking toward town. Another shqrt cor- ridor leads to an outside entrance on the east side of the school. From this is an entrance to the other classroom which was includ- ed in the original plan of the school. This was intended for use as a kindergarten classroom. Additional Classrooms Since approval for the addition of two more rooms to the school has been tentatively given by the Ontario Municipal board, plans have been made to extend this corridor, and add one more class- room on the north east corner, while the second extra classroom will open off the corridor, and ex- tend from it toward the south. This will produce a small court- yard effect bounded on three sides by classrooms., Some washrooms will be added for the use of the children in kindergarten. The ceilings of all the class- rooms, and the playroom will be finished in acoustic tile, in the new random pattern. (Any of you woo have seen Swiss cheese, will hat e, an idea of what this pattern looks like. However, an even better comparison in the look of that centre section of a eoffeecrisp chocolate bar.) All ceilings ex- cept these are to be done in acous- tic plaster, Floors in the corridor and wash- rooms are of two-clour grey ter azza. The walls will be finished in cement enamel to a height of four feet, six inches, and from there to the roof in sandlinie bricK. Classroom floors will be firrishod. in mastic tile of different colors. Doors All of fiireh Veneei' All of the classroom doors are of birch veneer, to be finished in natural colour, with three lights, each two fent wide, and one foot high. The top and bottom light is obscure, while the centre one is of clear glass, The entrance and vestibule doers also are of birch veneer, finished natural, and have large two feet wide by five fact high lights. They also have quite large side lights. ("Lights" is the proper terrn for what used td be known as window panes). All glass in the auditorium, vc„- tibule and entrance doors and side lights are of arrnourplate glass. This is the same material tiled be= bind •the nets in the Maple Leaf hockey statism to prevent flying pucks from injuring any of the audience, W triose here ey, stags -Can't break armourttlate, it should be fairly .safe even with Mile schodi stridents,) habitants in the township, there was a log school, for which the Legislature provided a grant amounting to £8.13.9. The school teacher received £40 annually. The present site was purchased from Robert Phillips, in 1859, for "Five shillings of lawful money of Canada, Part of Lot 23, in the third concession of Hullett Town- ship, consisting of one -twelfth of an acre," John Hullett for whom the town- ship is named was one of the dir- ectors of the Canada Land Comp- any. The district was opened about 1830. Today the population in the township is about 1,837. Early ''.Teachers Among the teachers who taught before 1874 at USS No. 2, Hullett, were: George Shepherd, Miss Wal- ker, Daniel Whiteford and James Scott. Teachers who were employed af- ter the erection of the present building are listed as: James Scott, 1874-1881; Thomas Murch, 1882- 1884; Asa Mair, 1885; Bella Mc- Callum, 1886 -June; Tena McDoug- all, 1886- December; Nellie Greg- ory, 1887-1888; Fred Fowler, 1889; Bella McCallum, 1890-1892; Thos. Murch, 1893-1905; Annabelle Mc - Ewan, 1905-1907. Early Christmas Concerts It was during the Murch -Mc - Ewan regime that the ex -pupil now a resident of Ohio attended the little school. Of Mr. Murch he says: "Mr. Murch was a most unfor- gettable character, a good teacher, He went up and down the aisles stroking his beard and carrying a long pointer with which he kept law and order. He was beloved by the children, for although he sometimes threatened, he never really Iicked them. "The Christmas concert was the highlight of the year, Quite ad- vanced theatrical skits were re- hearsed weeks before the enter- tainment so that the cast could perform with credit before their Teachers To Choose iColouirs For 'Their Own classrpoins To -day the teachers of Clinton Public School are making avisit to the new school at the haat end of Rattenbury Street. With R. S. Macaulay, chairman of the building committee, and no doubt Earl Horst, who is in charge of the construction for Ball Bros., Limited, they will tour the building with a special eye to the decorating. Colours of their own .class- rooms will be chosen according to their own preferences. 'There are at present, eleven teachers: George H. Jefferson, Principal, who teaches Grades 7 and 8; Miss Edna Jamieson, Grades 7 and 8; Clayton O. Martin, Grade 6; Miss Mary Skelton, Grade 5; Francis Huts - ser, Grade 4 (Presbyterian Church) ; Miss Luella Johnson, Grade 3; Mrs. Ethel Jefferson, Grade 2; Mrs, Audrey Middleton, Grade 1; Miss Grace Goodfellow, Grades 1 and 2; Mrs, Jean Mun- son, Grades 1 and 4 (Church of England) ; Mrs. George Falconer, Kindergarten (Ontario St. Unit- ed Church). assembled parents. Mr. Mureh was an artist at reciting. He held the rapt attention of both young and old, for at heart he was a poet. As the schoolhouse had no illum- ination facilities the concert was held in the afternoon." Miss McEwan Became a Doctor After the retirement of tlae bearded Mr, Murch, the fresh young beauty of Miss Annabelle 1VfcEwan caused quite a ripple of approval to permeate the class- room on her first appearance as school mistress. The older boys thought they were about to enter on an era of freedom unlimited because she was too young to be strict, They soon discovered their mistake for Miss McEwan was a disciplinarian without the use of the long pointer. • She was a un- ique and splendid teacher for the children who remember her well have never forgotten that she drilled them faithfully in the re- wards of honesty and courage. On one occasion she brought the heart of a calf to school to demon- strate to the pupils the fundamen- tals of circulation. No doubt this was an early evidence of her am- bition to become a doctor. Within a few years she left Clinton to at- tend the University of Toronto, and in 1913 she graduated with her M.D., degree. Since graduation she has served in India for 25 years as a medical missionary. During one of her furloughs she was a guest at the White House in Washington when Herbert Hoover was the reigning president. Dr. Annabelle McEwan is now a resident of London, Ontario. Early • Students Some of the children who atten- ded USS No. 2, Hullett, at one time were: George Bailey; Ray Ford; Jenn- ie, Addie and Henry Glew; Ida and Glen Cornish; George, Bella and Matnie Manns; Flora, Jim and Mern McNeil; Wilf and Clara Big- gins; Norman East; Myrtle Tip - lady; Johnnie, Eva and Willie Mil- ler; Jennie, Bessie and Bob Brown; Lyle and Mabel Brown (another family); Charlie Hale; Teddy Weir; 3 Tyndalls; Anthony Van- Egmond; a Ewart; a Shipley; a Farquahar; Cyril Hoare; Jean, Leonard, Merlin and Lucy Mason. The teachers who served since then were: Harvey Reid; Mabel Brown; Charlie Holland; Edith McMich- ael, Addison Johns, Jean Lindsay, Tena and Stella Marquis, M. Gilk- inson, Amy Parsons, Evelyn Nott, Pearl Laughlin, Mrs. Elsa Smith, and Helen McLeod. The present trustees. are Ross Trewartha and Keith Tyndall. The secretary is Willis VanEgmond. The school closed in September 1, 1946, because there were but three children in the community of school age. It was thought best to transport these few pupils by bus to the Clinton school, and ar- rangements'then were made for this transfer. A modern "L" shaped 12 room public school is being constructed now by Clinton on seven acres of land annexed by the town from Hullett township. It is located in the north-east section of Clinton, near Highway 8. The new school is expected to be ready for the term beginning September, 1953, Modern, more commodious, yes! but tomorrow's children will carry no lighter hearts, dream no better dreams, nor reach higher goals than did those "graduates" of yest- eryear. &trrowiJctJJ, A Cloak And Playroom These young men are (from left to right): Donald Sirot, Paul Pickett, Louis Ling, Charles Bartliff, Wayne Ebbett, Ronnie Livermore and Hownrd Edwards, Mem- bers of Grade 5, taught by Miss Mary Shelton in one of the upstairs classrooms in the old .school, these young fellows had been sent dawn to the washroom beside the front door, to wash up a bit. There in the narrow, poorly- planned hallway, our photographer caught their picture. This whole trip to the washroom would• have been eliminated in the new school, for there is a sink in every classroom, for just such purpose. Woe to the young lad who comes in from play with any sign of dirt about him; no longer will he have an excuse to linger along the way toward cleanliness. Compared with the lighting in the old building, natural light is admitted to Clinton's new_ school corridor by means of crystal domes, two feet in diameter, six of which are spaced the length of the main corridor. Two others admit light over the nurses' rooms. There are three drinking fountains in the corridor and two outside just off the washrooms on the east side of the school There are four recessed fire extinguishers spaced along the corridor, FINANCIAL: APPEAL EI°Cfi1CQl Work at the NEW CLINTON PUBLIC SCHOOL was done by ld 4, n� 1ectic GODERICH, ONTARIO Architect's Original Conception Of New Public School ,' Y • t.Y+ Compliments of BARNETT & RIEDER l ill .enet Tor oto ARCHITECTS