The Wingham Advance-Times, 1955-04-20, Page 1With which is amalgamated the Gorrie Vidette and Wroxeter News
^Subscription $3,00 per year, 7c per copy WINGHAM, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 1955 HIGH (SCHOOL SPECIAL EDITION
Board Got Initial Preview of
New School in February 1954
Members of the Wingham, District
High School Board got their first pre
view of the new high school last Feb
ruary, when J. D. Kyles unveiled a
perspective drawing in color of the
.new $634,000 school at the board’s
February meeting. At that time the
board got its first inkling of the color
ful, modern building which.the archi
tect was planning for the high school
students of the district. ■
The part one, part two-storey build
ing was vividly portrayed in the color
sketch as Mr. Kyles explained the
plan of the building and the type of
materials which would go into it.
As Mr. Kyles finished his descrip
tion of the proposed new building
there was almost a complete silence
in the room. Perhaps it was the radi
cal new color scheme for the exterior
that had startled the board members
.into silence. Whatever the reason, Mr.
Kyles got no response when he looked
.inquiringly at the board members to
.find their reaction.
Since that time everyone has got
■used to the idea of color on the out-
.side of the building and just about
■ everyone agrees that the usual run
■ of solid brick buildings looks pretty
FACTS AND FIGURES
There is a beautiful approach to the
school from Carling Terrace along a
wide concrete path fretted with an
interesting pattern of recessed flower
"beds.
drab by comparison. Many people
have remarked that it is the color in
the building which makes it stand
out so beautifully to anyone driving
in on the approaches of the town.
Panels Aided Construction
It was at this meeting that board
members first got details of the new
construction materials that would be
used in the school. Mr. Kyles explain
ed that materials had been chosen
both for their beauty and colorful
qualities and the ease and speed with
which they could be put together.
These last features paid off hand
somely in January, when the school
was ready for part occupancy much
earlier than could ordinarily have
been expected, after the destruction
of the H-huts by fire.
Mr. Kyles pointed out that the panel
type of construction as used in the
north, single storey wing of the school,
would save valuable construction
time, although the construction is
not any cheaper than brickwork from
the point of view of actual cost. He
estimated that delays and high labor
costs could be eliminated in the build
ing by using the panels and metal
sash, almost in the manner of a pre
fabricated unit.
Board members went away from the
meeting feeling that while the new
school might be radically different
from anything built so far in the
neighborhood, it would certainly turn
out to be a show place of the Wing
ham district.
Wingham District's New High School
WORK ON NEW SCHOOL
BEGAN ONLY YEAR AGO
entirely
Parker,
moving
of the
With landscaping still to be done on
the surrounding grounds, the new
Wingham District High School even
now presents an imposing sight, situ
ated as it is on top of a hill for all
to see.
Ceremonies in Auditorium of
New Building Start at 2 p.m.
the
Hon. Leslie M. Frost, Premier of
Ontario, will officially open the new
Wingham District High School this'
afternoon in a colorful ceremony
which will take place in the new
school’s modern auditorium. It is ex
pected that upwards of a thousand
people, students, their parents and in-
>G * *
Spacious playing fields with Vi mile
running track are set in a natural
amphitheatre south of the school.
. * *
The hew.high .school serves an- afcea,
. of 24 square miles and is built for a
present capacity of 400 pupils (300
rural - 100 town) and provides accom
modation for an estimated 600 pupils
by 1960. It is estimated that
eventual total will be 750.
W. Stanley Hall
Principal
Graduate in Bioiogy rrom University
of Toronto. Taught in Perth High
School and was principal at Niagara-
on-the-Lake before coming to Wing
ham in 1934.
specialist and agriculture specialist
certificate and in
duties as principal teaches the senior
agricultural science, and chemistry
and 'biology of Grade XIH.
He holds a science
the
Past Two Years Was
Busy Time for Board
Members of the Wingham District
High School Board have had a busy
time of it during the past two years,
during the time in which the new
high school was planned and built. It
was a particularly busy time
James Armstrong, of
served as chairman of
,ing 1953 and 1954, and
William, of Wingham,
^chairman of the building committee
lor the past three years.
Present representatives on the board
are: Chairman, A. H. MacTavish,
•Teeswater; vice chairman, Ernest
-.Casemore, R.R. 5, Lucknow; James S.
Armstrong, Brussels; Charles R. Coul
ees, Belgrave; J. Leslie Fortune, Turn
berry; R. S. Hetherington, Wingham;
.A. D. MacWilliam, Wingham; Dr. W.
A. McKibbon, Wingham; Gordon
Btobo, R.R. 3, Teeswater; Walter F.
Todd, Brussels; Frank Thompson,
R.R. 5, Wingham; J. H. Wylie, Wrox-
x ’Cter.
W. A. Galbraith, of Wingham, is
secretary-treasurer.
for
Brussels, who
the board dur-
for A. D. Mac-
who has been
one
H.S. Finance is Good,
Statement Shows
The year 1954 was a successful
from the point of view of finance
within the Wingham District High
School area.
’ It started off with a balance of
$15,'0’00 in tile barikj' compared with
an overdraft of $3,800 in the previous
year. This was made possible through
savings effected by the retiring of
the debenture debt on the temporary
H-huts, plus the closing of the Tees-
water school and economies in the
transportation system. Of course care
ful budgetting had much to do with
the surplus, also.
Because of this the high school
board was able to reduce the 1954 mill
rate from 7 to 5 mills, reflecting the
healthy financial condition in which
the high school found itself.
At the April meeting of the board,
at which the secretary-treasurer, W.
A. Galbraith presented his estimates
for the year, Chairman James Arm
strong voiced the opinion that the
board would be able to build the new
school and still stay within the 7 mill
rate set by the board in 1953.
Estimates for 1954 showed a balance
forward of $15,009.48 from the pre
vious year and an estimated $70,000 in
government grants. The levy of 5 mills
raised a total of $57,380.92 on an equa
lized assessment of $11,476,185 for the
school area.
Biggest item in the expenses for last
year’s estimates was the amount of
$66,166.00 for teachers’ salaries. Trans
portation cost estimates were $44,000.
Other items on the estimates included
instructional supplies, $7,700; general
expense, $3,229; fuel and utilities,
$3,000; furniture and equipment, $2,500.
addition to his
Cornerstone Laying
On Sunday Was Big
Anniversary Problemi
Whether it’s fitting to lay a corner
stone on Sunday or not, was the
burning question in June of last year,
after the suggestion had been made
that the cornerstone of the new Wing
ham District High School be laid at
the 75th anniversary celebrations. For
a while the question caused a good
deal of discussion.
It all happened when someone got
the idea of laying the cornerstone at
the same time as the anniversary fes
tivities, an idea which everyone
thought was excellent. The trouble
was that by that time all available
times during the memorable week-end
had been planned—except part of
Sunday afternoon. Chairman Johnny
Brent said he yvould be glad to have
a cornerstone laying as part of the
celebration, but could suggest no other
time except Monday, which would be
impractical from several angles.
The matter was finally resolved
when members of the anniversary
committee went on record as being
in favor of the move and the Mini
sterial Association gave its blessing to
the Sunday ceremony.
Work on the new high school build
ing actually started on Monday, April
26th, 1954, even before the paper work
on the new school had been
cleaned up...
On that date Olmsted and
Hamilton contractors, began
their equipment to the site
school and on the following day, sub
contractor Joe Kerr started to work
on the excavating.
Final approval of the municipal
board for construction of the new
school had not been received at that
time, but the town council, at a meet
ing the same day that the contractors
moved onto the site, took steps to
raise the $625,000 necessary to pay for
the building.
At the time work was commenced,
contractors told the high school board
that the structure would be finished
in nine months.., .
Frank E. Madill
Vice Principal
fromGraduate in Mathematics
Queen’s University. Taught in Port
Arthur, coming to Wingham in 1934.
He is a mathematics specialist and
a specialist in physical education,
and teaches mathematics in Grades
XI, XII and XIH.
Debentures for High
School Brought Nice
Profit for Board
Debentures for $625,000 for
building of the new high school were
issued by the Town of Wingham, fol
lowing a meeting of the town council
with members of the high school
board last April. Under the Munici
pal Act debentures for a district high
school are issued by the municipality
in which the district high school
building is situated.
Seven companies turned in bids for
the debentures at a special meeting
of the town council. The bid accepted
was a quotation from the syndicate of
R. A. Daley, Wood Gundy and Com
pany and the Canadian Bank of Com
merce for 100.51 at 4% for 20 years,
da&d June 1st, 1954.
The bid was slightly better than an
advance, bid made to the council the
previous night by a syndicate of bond
houses composed of Nesbitt and
Thompson, Bankers Bond and J. L.
Graham. It meant that the town actu
ally borrowed money for approximate
ly 3.94% interest, and that the high
school board realized an extra $3,187.50
on the sale of the debentures.
The tender was reported to be the
beSt ever received by a town in On
tario, and reflected the fine credit
rating of Wingham, which "has one
of the best records for tax collections
in this area,” according to one of the
bond house representatives.
HON. LESLIE M. FROST
who will officially open the new
Wingham District High School in.
ceremonies which commence at two
o’clock this afternoon.
Gymnasium is Popular
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Pride of the school is the how 46 x 73 foot gymnasium and auditorium. Laid
out for basketball, volleyball and badminton, and with spectator balconies
seating approximately 400, the gymnasium can also be used for concert
and stage presentations.
Mrs. Mary Cleland
Secretary
Graduate of University of Toronto.
Before her marriage she taught in the
Technical School in Sault Ste Marie,
and later was secretary of the Ontario
Training College for Technical Teach
ers. She teaches junior typing
well as doing the secretarial work
the school since joining the staff
1946.
Housekeeping Easier in New
School, But Much More of It
Quiet-spoken Wilf Seddon, main
tenance engineer at the new District
High School, says housekeeping in the
new building .is a cinch. The only'
trouble, says Wilf, is that there seems
to be an awful lot more floor space
than there was in the old school.
Wilf, who has kept things ship
shape around tlie high school for al
lhost three years now is in full accord
with modern methods
from the standpoint of
at least.
* "Take those terrazzo
hallways,” he said. "Kids come in
with muddy boots and tramp all over
them until you’d think they’d never
come clean, but the radiant heating
in the floors dries up the mud and
at the end of the day they sweep up
so you’d hardily notice it.”
We surveyed what seemed to be
acres of floor and figured that even
at that it would take a fair amount
of sweeping.
Terrazzo and tile floors get a good
waxing periodically, which helps to
account for the fact that they are
easy to keep clean between times.
Wilf figures that With SCVetai hllh-
of building,
maintenance,
floors in the.
as
of
in
dreds of panes of glass in the building,
window washing will take a little
longer that it did in the old school.
However, the windows in the new
school are lower and more accessible.
Big Front Lawn
Most of the features of the new
school are bigger than their counter
parts in the old, arid the front lawn
is no exception. Present plans call
for the grading and landscaping of the
whole front lot between the school
and Carling Terrace. This will repre
sent a fair amount of front lawn to
be taken care of, and grass-cutting
alone will be no small chore. In the
winter there will be plenty of snow
to shovel. Fortunately, Wilf has a
power mower and a small, push-type
snow blower to help him with the
task.
Incidentally," Mr. Seddon compli
mented the students of the school on
the way they are helping to keep the
new building in shape. Ho said there
has been hone of the malicious dam
age so common in many other schools.
That should go a long way toward
keeping the school in its present
beautiful condition,
The history of Wingham District
High School dates back to 1906, when
first concrete steps were taken to
form a high school in town.
During that year a board was elect
ed, and Dr. A. J. Irwin being the
public school representative on the
board was named as chairman, an
honor bestowed upon him because of
his activity in securing the high
school. Other members of the first
board were Dudley Holmes, secretary;
Dr. P. Macdonald, Dr. J. P. Kennedy, ’John Wilson, V.A., J. A. Morton, C. P.
Smith and W. F. Vanstone.
Several sites were suggested and it
was finally decided that the most
suitable would be the five vacant lots
on the east side of Carling Street,
south of John, and a portion of Wm.
Armour’s farm to the east of these
lots. ,
The new three-storey brick building
was to be 80 x 48 feet, with front
and side entrance, two large class
rooms, teachers’ room, waiting room,
hall and cloak room on the first
floor; three classrooms on the second
floor and an assembly room on the
third floor. The basement was to
house the boiler room and playrooms,
and the new school was expected to
accommodate 150 pupils.
An estimate for furnishings for the
building was $15,000 and a by-law was
passed for the issuing of debentures
to this amount to cover a period of
thirty years.
High school pupils took over three
rooms in the public school in the fall
of 1906. This enabled the high school
to receive its grants for the latter
part of the year.
In 1906 there were 112 students
enrolled at the opening of the term
with more expected. The fee was set
at $6.00, $8.00 and $10.00, graded ac
cording to the class the pupil was in,
regardless of whether the student was
from Huron County or not.
Opened in 1907
The new school was officially open
ed the last day of August 1907. The
formalities were presided over by John
Wilson, V.S., chairman.
The first principal was John A.
Taylor, who came to Wingham from
the Dutton High School. He remain
ed here until 1909, at which time he
was appointed school inspector for
St. Thomas and part of Elgin County.
The other teachers were James G.
Workman, of Orangeville, mathe
matics teacher, and Miss F. B. Ketch-
eson, of Toronto, teacher of moderns
and English. John C. Smith was hired
at the beginning of 1907 as classical
master.
The students of the school set out
toimmediately to bring distinction
the new Wingham school. William
Argo, 16 years of age, won the Blake
Scholarships in 1907, the opening year
of the Wingham High School. He was
first in the province in science,
botany, zoology and chemistry. He
passed part one and part two senior,
leaving with honors in chemistry,
zoology, botany and science, third
class honors in English, and was
third in first class honors in history,
winning the First Edward Blake
Scholarship in science, amounting to
$138. He was also 13th in the prov
ince for general proficiency.
District School
In 1948 the, status of the school was
changed to include the
municipalities in a high
trict. Temporary rooms
with the purchase of an
the Port Albert RAF station,
additional space was needed to take
care of the increase in enrolment as
well as the establishment of shop
work and home economics classes.
Enrolment has steadily increased
from 155 in 1946 to 430 in the 1954-55
term. Of these approximately 300
arrive at the school daily by bus and
the remaining students come from the
town itself. '
surrounding
school dis-
were added
H-hut from
The
terested citizens, will be on hand for
the opening ceremonies.
The opening exercises will start at
2 p.m. with music by Miss Margaret
Perrie and Mr? Neil Eadie. Chairman
A. H. MacTavish, of the Wingham
District High School Board will give
the opening remarks.
These will be followed by the pre
sentation of the key of the new school.
by J. D. Kyles, M.R.A.I.C., of Kyles
and Kyles, Architects, and William
Olmsted, of Olmsted and Parker, Con
tractors. The new school will be dedi
cated by Rev. H. L. Parker, of St.
Paul’s Anglican Church, Wingham.
Selections will be given by a choir
under the direction of Mrs. Marie
Douglas, after which greetings will be
brought by Mayor R. E. McKinney, of
Wingham.
John W. Hanna, M.L.A., for Huron-
Bruce, will introduce the speaker,
Hon. Leslie M. Frost, who will official
ly open the new school. A. D. Mac-
William, chairman of the building
committee will give the appreciation.
Following a choir selection W, Stanley
Hall, principal will speak on behalf
of the school staff.
Felicitations will be given by
Roy Renwick, Brampton, a former
student of the school; G. L. Bracken-
bury, Port Hope, a former principal;
I Elston Cardiff, M. P., and Marvin
Howe, M.P.
Following the opening ceremonies,
a group of the students will conduct
parties of visitors around the new
school, explaining the points of inter
est. Refreshments will be served at
the close.
The new school will also be open
during the evening for the conven
ience of those who are not able to
come during the day. Students will
also be on hand during the evening to
conduct visitors around the building.
Ready for Lunch
Students from town as well as those from the country will make good use
of the now cafeteria Which, with the kitchen attached, will bo capable of
handling 500 hungry students at noon hours. Hot lunches will be available
to all students next fall.
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