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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1979-07-25, Page 16rano . 40 KU This picture was taken at the Wingham Public School in 1929. Education in Wingham has dveeloped during the years This history of the development of the educational system in Wingham is taken from a paper researched and written.by Lynda Elston and Florence Reavie, "I+Iistory of Education in the Town of Wingham for 100 Years, 1879-1979". 0-0-0 Since the time of its settlement, Wingham has boasted quite a number of schools: three private schools; the Wingham Public School; Lower Wingham School; three business colleges; Wingham high school; the Golden Circle School for the trainable retarded; the Silver Circle School, a pre-school for the trainable retarded; the Jack Reavie Workshop for the men- tally retarded; the Jack and Jill Nursery, Wingham Day Care Centre and Wingham Nursery School; and the Sacred Heart separate school. lulrtm 1Nivate SC,inivm the town until the first public school was built in 1863. The first of these was operated by Miss Murphy, a sister of Rev. Murphy of the Anglican church. She conducted her lessons over Thomas Abraham's shoe shop on Victoria Street. Mrs. Ogilvie Varney and Mrs. Ellen Spence also operated private schools previous to the public school. The first public school was built on the southwest corner of John and Leopold streets in 1863. This property was known as the Commons and had not been developed. The school was a small frame building. Mr. Mundell was the fust school master and he was assisted by Mrs. Ellen Spence, who taught the infant class in the anteroom. Charles and Farquhar Stewart followed as teachers, then an ex - soldier named Molesworth. It is reported that Mr. Molesworth's nose had been shot off during military service, impairing his sight and hearing so that he was handicapped in keeping order. His reign was short and upon being left an estate in Ireland (and a title too, it was said) he vanished. George Henderson taught for one year after Mr. Molesworth And then James Ferguson took over the master's duties. He was thorough and energetic, teaching physics, algebra and Euclid as well as literature. In 1878 a two-storey brick structure was erected on the northeast corner of John and Francis streets and this was the school until 1967. It was reported in. The Advance -Times that this STUDENTS—This photograph was taken about 19M at the public school and shows Mary Crulkshank (Cleland), Beryl Brown (E I 1 l)tt) , Isabel Habk i rk, ( Howson) , and Bernice Mundy ( Roberts) . ( Photo courtesy of Mrs. Ken Mowbray) I was one of the best r � :, _, the Masonic Hall was rented for were selected and given the steam heated schools in Ontario- the Kindergarten class until 1950. responsibility for choosing a site. with many beautiful shade trees It then returned to the public They recommended either two and plenty of room for all sorts of school, but it was evident more vacant lots or the purchase of the athletics. space would be needed and a Baptist chapel and at a meeting a The new building contained building project was undertaken week later it was decided to eight classrooms, two halls, a in 1952. The T-shaped addition purchase the chapel for $300, teachers' room on the second ' was a one -storey building con- payable in eight months. The floor, two basement playrooms, a taining a corridor, three chapel had a platform, stove and furnace room and bunkers. The classrooms, the Kindergarten stovepipes, but the desks had to building was erected at a cost of room, an office and washrooms. be contracted. The iron casting $10,000 and six teachers were Another addition was was done for $60 and the wood - hired to instruct the nearly 400 necessary and was built in Oc- work for $84. The chapel was students. Mr. Ferguson was the tober, 1956, to be occupied in vacated by the Baptists on Jan. first headmaster. September, 1957. To alleviate 20, 1875 and the school opened on The first principal of the new overcrowding the Kindergarten Ahe 15th of February. school was W. E. Groves, a was returned to the Masonic Had Wm. Mooney was the first native of Wingham who had for 1954-55 so that a Grade 3 class ` teacher, at a salary of $400 per taught in the Lower Wingham could occupy its room. The year. It is reported he was an school befor�accepting the second addition was also a one- eccentric character with one bad principalship 1884. He later storey structure which stretched eye and because of this the older resigned to take a position with along John Street and contained pupils put a great deal over on the Ryerson school in Toronto four classrooms, a teachers' him. He resigned in December, and was replaced by A. M. room, principal's office and the students being too much for Musgrove. It was under Mr. caretaker's storeroom. him. Musgrove that another teacher In 1964 the boilers were deemed Miss Mary Fisher was engaged wa-Padded to the staff of eight to dangerous and had to be to replace Mr. Mooney. There `-ng ` ^^ r -Waved. Officials in Toront was a large attendance at the a11UW t1lC tCtllulu6 va C....- � tinuation school classes in 1902. suggested the old building, school and after entering her Mr. Musgrove was in charge of erected in 1878, be demolished second term (at an increase of these continuation pupils. and replaced; this was done and $25) she asked for an assistant, In 1905 the overcrowding the new section occupied in but the trustees felt they could became apparent and at a special September, 1967. not afford one. board meeting it was decided the Attendance at Wingham Public difficulty could be overcome by School was never the problem it Continued on next page renting the old Congregational was sometimes supposed to be in Church which was not being the country schools, since all the used. Two rooms were fitted as pupils came from within the town classrooms, but this arrange- limits. It was reported in 1880 ment did not last long as the high that in the province of Ontario, school was built the following "the number of children of school year. age had risen to 20,893 of whom Mr. Musgrove resigned in 1906 20,639 actually attended school, so he could enter the political but the average attendance was Fiftymthree realm and his place was taken ray still way out of proportion and Joseph Stalker until 1913 when A. was calculated to be 9,170". L. Posliff was appointed to the In 1969 the educational system in principal's post. Under his reign in Ontario came under theyear a Kindergartenwasestablished jurisdiction of county boards and in 1914 and Miss Pearl Butler, a the Huron County Board of graduate of the Toronto Normal Education became the governing School, was engaged as the board for Wingham. teacher. This appears to have John Mann became principal of Wingham been discontinued after a few the Wingham school in 1973. years and was not reestablished Prior to coming here he was until 1948. master of environmental studies Mr. Posliff took a three-year and physical education at the leave of absence to serve in the Stratford Teachers' College The war, but resumed his duties in school has a staff of 18 including September, 1919, and held the the principal and vice principal, position until his death in 1936. He Rick Whiteley. was succeeded by S. G. Kidd (193641) and Colin Crozier (1941 - Our contracting firm was established here before the town had celebrated the half century mark and it was my personal pleasure to assist in arrangements for that 50th birthday. My own interest in our town has taken a practical form, having served as councillor, deputy reeve and reeve for 26 years. I have profound respect for the men and women who founded our community and nurtured its development in the early years. May such wise leadership be available in the future. 42). In 1942 T. S. Beattie came LOWER WINGHAM SCHO01. Congratulations and Best Wishes on from Flesherton to take up the As well as the composite public oe principalship and he continued in school, Lower Wingham sup Kerr this, our 100th Anniversary. that position for 31 years until he ported a one -room schoolhouse. resigned in 1972. Many people had settled in the t Joe Un. In 1948 the Kindergarten was original town plot, but since it reinstated. Mrs. Vera Elliott was was not a part of the incorporated hired si the teacher and filled village the people there had to n. 0� ���� that position unto her rdirenent establish a school of their ow -n. in 1972, at whichtime the present In January of 1875 a public rs Ltd* leacher. Mrs. Callow Robertson, meeting was called regarding the G. took over. Because of a lack of need to establish a school in space in the public school in 1946 Lower Wingham. Three trusted - - - - - - - `� "' "' .1."'- . ` .. ' - ' . ' ' ` ..."" (,