Bowmanville High School - Screech Owl Yearbook (Bowmanville, Ontario Canada)

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The High School Board, organized initially in February 1889 for the purpose of erecting the new building, was chaired by J.B. Fairbairn. The other members were Col. F. Cubitt, who soon after the school was built replaced Fair- bairn as chairman until his death in 1897, W.B. Couch, who continued to serve as member until 1906 and then as chairman until his death in 1931, J.P. Rice, W.M. Horsey, P. Trebilcock. F.F. McArthur replaced Mr. Horsey in 1890, so his name appears on the building plaque which lists J.P. Rice as chairman of the building com- mittee with Col. Cubitt and Mr. Fairbairn as assistants. Mr. Fairbairn served again as chairman from 1897 to September 1906 Cdeathl. At that time Mr. Couch took over as chairman, having as his co-members D.B. Simpson, C.M. Cawker, James Gale, E.R. Bounsall, Dr. A.S. Tilley. At about the same time or a bit later, J.S. Moorcraft became Secretary-Treasurer, in which post he served until 1926. Seldom has a board been favoured by a more public spirited or a longer service member than Mr. W.B. Couch. His period reaches from the original building, through all the changes of 40 years to the construction of the front ad- dition in 1929-'30. He presided at all com- mencements, took a personal part in the hiring of the best teachers, presented a prize 685.00 in booksl to the two best writers, and in every way manifested his interest in the student body. His death in 1931 was marked by the pic- ture shown here and an In Memoriam page in the Screech Owl. He was 92. From 1912 fthe earliest record we can findl he was supported by other long service board members, Dr. G.C. Bonnycastle, 1912-1942 Cduring which period he succeeded Mr. Couch as chairman from 1931- 10 '39Jg Dr. J.C. Devitt, 1912-'39, 1943-'50, Mr. F.C. Vanstone, 1912-'38, Mr. J.H.H. Jury, 1912-'38, Mr. A.L. Nichols, 1912-'29, 1931-'33. The early staff members besides the Prin- cipal, Mr. M.M. Fenwick, B.A., who taught classics, included Mr. James Gilfillan, Science, Csee note belowl Mr. D.H. Coates, B.A., Mathematics, Miss Ida G. Eastwood, B.A., Moderns. By 1892 Mr. J.G. Witton, B.A., had taken over in Mathematics, to be replaced in 18 96 by Mr. M.T.H. Frost, B.A., who continued until 1906. He was the best teacher I had through school and college CMiss Ann Coulter 1902-'06J. Mr. J.F. Rogers B.A., classics, who later helped open the 1930 building, taught from 1894-'06. Mr. Gilfillan now with his B.A. degree, became Principal in 1896 and served until his death in the fall of 1905. . He had been on the staff since 1880 in the old Union school. Principal Elliott, in a history of Bowmanville High School, written in 1907, says of him-- He had been on the staff for a quarter of a century, longer than any other man, and it is not putting the matter too stronglyito say that no one else has left behind him in con- nection with Bowmanville High School so marked an influence as he. It is fitting that his old students should, as they are doing, seek to perpetuate his memory by founding in the school a prize which is to be known as the Gilfillan prize. 2 The mentioned prize was first given in honor of the late James Gilfillan for highest standing at the Normal Entrance examination ' 810.00 in books , but in 1922 was changed to highest standing at Middle School examination for entrance to Normal Schools. Winner that year, Alexander McGregor.

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f T'OlLE'TS TOILETS 8, 94 Cl-.OAK ROOM ' CLOAK ROQM LAEQRATQR 3K0 FO Nl Y R Boys Cram.s 'V lit I 1 - ln' l 1 J P H 6' .IEIH y 1 I Milt 'YQ -.lllwlll -as ...- Lp G? 277. gg 711 o mm WZ wa ru 35.0 dl srfxcfe Assamauf Room ii za -'NJ -1 QND FLOOR BASEMENT The architectural appearance of the building is likewise quite in keeping with its location. There are two storeys, containing four large, light, and cheerful classrooms and two reception and cloak rooms each for boys and girls. A hall 12' wide extends through the building from east to west having on the south side two large classrooms and on the north the teachers' and reception rooms. Joining the main hallway from the north is a short hall 12' wide leading from the front entrance. The pupils entrances are from the east and west. The second floor is reached by two wide stair- cases. Here are an assembly room that will seat 400 persons, a science room and a classroom ..... The third floor is the full size of the building, with high ceilings, and is in- tended for a gymnasium. There is a full size basement also, with recreation rooms for boys and girls, closets, furnace rooms, etc. The style of the High School is modern Romanesque .... . The roof is slate. The north east corner has a round tower containing a belfry. The main en- trance is approached through a large arched porch of brick stone, and terra cotta. The equipment has received most careful attention ..... The science room is 36 x 26 feet has six large windows with inside shutters for darkening the room for optical and electrical experiments. Tables are provided for 30 pupils and the cabinets are arranged along the walls . . . . . There is a sink and lavatory with marble top. A new library about 400 volumes ..... is kept in the reception room on the first floor, which is elegantly and appropriately fur- nished. During the evening meeting mentioned at the beginning, the minister of education, Hon. G.W. Ross, stated that the province spent 54,183,000 on elementary education which was free to all, but only about 517: of the 500,000 children in the province attended regularly- therefore com- pulsory education, as in England, should be en- forced. He saw the High Schools as a midway step between elementary and university education. He mentioned the excellence of the teachers of Ontario, 179 being grads of Univer- sity of Toronto. Much more attention was now devoted to instruction in commercial subjects but in his opinion the best practical way to educate a child was to teach it to think. 9

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Our Late Clmirmmz Continuing the roll of early teachers, we find Miss Mackenzie, B.A., Teaching Moderns from 1892-'96, Mr. W.W. Tamblyn, Cwho had been principal from 1882-'88, returned from retirement to teach Moderns, 1897-19019 and Mr. T.G. Bragg, B.A., Classics, 1897-1903. Thos. Bragg had entered Bowmanville High School as student in 1889 at the age of ten, gained his honors and a scholarship to enter University, finished his course with the Governor General's gold medal for general proficiency, and retur- ned to teach in his home town school. From Bowmanville, he went as principal to Dawson City's public and high school and later became Superintendent of Education for the Yukon Territory. We girls had a crush on him KMiss Coulterl. Miss E.A. Allin, M.A., who later became Mrs. Daniel DeLury, taught English from 1902-'07. We are now approaching a period where the memories of ex-students begin to play an im- portant part in our listings. One time Miss Allin was ill and Mr. Gilfillan had a substitute teacher from the Normal School filling in, but she was not able to handle the students. I was in Form III, and Mr. Gilfillan asked me if I thought I could carry on Miss A11in's classes in Forms I and II for a couple of weeks till she was able to return. I asked him if HE thought I could do it, and on his assurance, I undertook the job. It was a wonderful experience. I didn't have a bit of trouble, but I think some of the parents had put the fear of the Lord into their children against cutting up. My own sister was one of the class, quite a situation for both of us. A school mate I remember well is Arthur Trebilcock. He and I vied for first place stan- ding. If one was first the other was second. CMiss Ann Coulterl. On graduation after Senior Matriculation, Miss Coulter went to College of Education, then University College, University of Toronto, where she graduated with a R.P.D. degree, and was dietitian for 11