Branksome Hall - Slogan Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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The Branksome Slogan 27 us look back upon this year of construction, this year in which we have added a demonstration course in road engineering to our curriculum. May we not feel a certain nostalgia for the exciting state of things as they used to be ? Won ' t some of us miss the novelty of following a new and tortuous path each day between Main and Readacres ? Of romanti- cally walking the plank ? Shall we not miss the cheerful gangs of men and the mysterious machines ? Who has not stopped to watch the prehistoric monster on the corner, as it chewed rock only to pour forth pavement? When we spoke of machines, did someone mention noise? Ah, the noise. At times, both staff and girls thought the noise would drive them crazy. Often one would feel the perfidious stillness of the classroom making itself conspicuous. With her eyes, everyone said, ' ' This is too good to last. And then, eh-eh-eh-eh-eh , the drills exploded into action, digging their way into the hot cement. The sweet calm was shat- tered, and the battle to be heard began again. All that is in the past now, and the new street stretches broad and white past our grounds. When the Clifton Road Extension is completed, it will alleviate many traffic problems, and will be as welcome addition to Toronto ' s Rapid Transit system. The conclusion of this project will mark the end of four years of planning and construction at a estimated cost of $4,000,000. Although we can see matty changes coming, our school has always been on the side of progress, and we can see no reason why changes should affect Branksome ' s traditional tranquillity. A Section of the Clifton Road

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26 The Branksome Slogan Branksome Notes Readacres REPORT ON READACRES The First and Second Forms have shaa: ' ed the privilege of completing the 1949-510 school year at Read Acres — the newest addition to Brank- some ' s spreading: campus . Since her initiation into the Branksome SOirocrity, Read Acres has taken to her heart the traditional Scottish kilts of her new wards, and proudly watches them fly on the game field below. Ne v:ly-decorated classrooms beckon from both sides of a wide hall, and already the ground floor has that familiar smell of chalk-dust and Wet rubber boots. Every thirty minutes clanging bells echo in the halls. And aboiUt those bells — the stately, old house seems to be stubbornly convinced that the electric bells detract from the dignified atmosphere. More often than not, she proves how insistent she can be, by refusing to let that electric bell ring. Out comes the old hand bell , and that seems tb satisfy her, because as yet the clapper has not disappeared. All ihembers of the staff should be ready to enter the Marathon. How they manage to get over to Read Acres with anything left of the peHod, is a mystery to the whole student body, which struggles vainly to get from gym to classrooms in time for the first morning class. But ' ' Read has taken good care of her wards, and they in turn have grown fond of their guardian. Branksome proudly marks; the first anni- versary of Readacres, and predicts great success for her future. WE ' LL GET USED TO IT Yes, we ' ll get used tc it — the Clifton Road Extension. Any incon- venience caused in the name of progress this year will soon be forgotten when the convenience by which we hope to benefit is established. But before we embark on a rosy dream of buses on Huntley Street and a subway shuttling us to our homes in a fraction of the original time, let

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28 The Branksome Slogan SCOTT HOUSE, FORMER HOME OF A CANADIAN AUTHORESS Passers-by know it as 125 Hunt- ley Street, Branksomites know it as Scott House, the building that houses the School Infirmary and the Arts and Crafts Studio. Those of you who are reasonably well-in- formed know that it was named in honour of Miss Margaret Scott, the founder of Branksome. Most of you can remember when the building contained classrooms; many of the Staff can remember when it was a school residence. But how many of you know that Scott House was once the home of Marshall Saun- ders, who wrote the classic animal story, Beautiful Joe ? Miss Saun- ders lived here when it was the residence of her father, the Rever- end Dr. Saunders, and after his death she continued to live in. the building which is now a part of Branksome. Her pet bird, ' ' Princess Scott House Suki , is buried in the garden near the tennis courts. At the Farm