Branksome Hall - Slogan Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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Year Book, 1964 Page 9

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The Branksome Slogan Page 8 The History of Dear Girls: It has been suggested that in my letter to you this year I tell you something of the history of your School which is celebrating its Diamond Jubilee. Branksome Hall was founded in 1903 by Miss Margaret T. Scott of Dundas, Ontario, a distinguished educationalist, assisted by Miss Florence Merrick. Miss Scott rented a house at 102 Bloor Street East where the Manufac- turers ' Life Assurance building now stands and opened a residential and day school. The cosmopolitan nature of the School was evident from the begin- ning since among the small group of boarders two sisters from Dawson City and a girl from Australia were enrolled. Miss Scott ' s father had been born on the estate of the Duke of Buccleuch in the Scottish border country. When she was trying to decide what to call the School her friend. Dr. Alexander MacMillan, father of Sir Ernest Mac- Millan, suggested that it should be called Branksome Hall after the heredi- tary seat of the Duke of Buccleuch whose castle figures in Sir Walter Scott ' s Lay of the Last Minstrel. This is why every Branksome girl studies the Lay in Form II. From the beginning the School em- phasized the development of character and intellectual attainments. AAiss Scott was a devout Biblical student and was especially interested in the history and interpretation of the Old Testament. Residential students attended a Bible Class, conducted by their Principal, immediately after breakfast on Sunday morning. Then they crossed the street to Westminster Presbyterian Church Branksome Hall (now St. Andrew ' s United), where Dr. MacMillan was assistant minister, for morning service. After dinner the girls wrote a resume of the sermon which was handed in for Miss Scott ' s perusal, learned Bible verses which were recited to her, and at seven o ' clock attended evening service. The value of self- discipline was stressed in daily life and the term self-control because the by-word of irreverent students who, when older, paid tribute to the value of the training which they had received. Academically things went well and there was great rejoicing when the first group of girls passed the matriculation exam- inations. In 1 906 Miss Edith MacGregor Read joined the staff as a teacher of Math- ematics and Physical Education. Her organizing ability, vitality, her keen interest in girls and all the activities of School life, made it inevitable that her influence on the development of the School be far-reaching. In 1910, following the death of Miss Merrick, Miss Scott ' s doctor advised her to give up her work and it looked as if the School would have to close. Miss Read felt that so much of value was at stake that she persuaded the Bank of Nova Scotia to finance her. At this point the owners sold the building. Miss Read succeeded in renting 592 Sherbourne Street, v hich still forms the front of the Selby Hotel. Girls in attendance that year have told me that, while there were few luxuries, the School spirit was never higher than during that first year under Miss Read ' s leadership. In 1912 No. 10 Elm Avenue was purchased and became the nucleus of [Continued on page 10]

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Page 10 The Branksome Slogan [ Continued from page 8 ] the present School with its ten acres of land, ten buildings, and a registration of approximately six hundred girls. In 1 924 Miss Read, not wishing the School to close if anything should hap- pen to her, converted it from a Private to an Independent one when it was incorporated by letters patent under the Ontario Corporation Act. The School Crest, with the open Bible in the centre, the distaff, symbolizing women ' s work in the world, originally had the Latin motto, Industria et Scientia , inside the maple leaves which surround the whole. The motto was eventually changed to the present, ' Keep Well the Road , since it forms part of the inscription over the lintel of the door- way of the old Branksome Castle. After visiting the School in 1953 the Duke of Buccleuch sent a replica which was in- corporated with the stone front of the porte-cochere at the Main Building. At first the girls wore ordinary clothes to school. Then a uniform consisting of a pleated navy serge skirt, a middy blouse with navy collar and black shoes with long black stockings, was adopted. A black tie was worn by the rank and file while Sub-Prefects wore green, and Prefects, red ones. Later this uniform was changed to the present Hunting Stuart kilt with beige blouse, with the Prefects wearing the Royal Stuart tartan. In 1925, when the cornerstone of a building containing classrooms, gymna- sium, swimming pool, etc., was laid, the girls became very conscious of the importance of cornerstones. In consulta- tion with Miss Read it was decided that they would choose a special verse from the Bible from which the qualities which they wished to consider as the corner- stones of the School would be drawn. The verse chosen was from Phillipians 4:8: Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are of good report: if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things . As a result the School flags, red, green, black and white, symbolize truth, honesty, justice, and purity. By 1 908 Prefects were first appointed and a Head Girl in 1920. As numbers increased Sub-Prefects assisted in lead- ership in general, and Clan Chieftains in sports. In 1 958 Miss Read retired, living at the School until her death in 1963. The fifty-six years that she was connected with the institution saw an enormous expansion of its physical properties but the emphasis on the intellectual and spiritual development of the Branksome girl never faltered. The passing of ex- aminations was important but the girl ' s character more so. Old Girls in all parts of the world testify to the School ' s influence for good and their children are being taught the importance of truth, honesty, justice and purity as attributes of ideal woman- hood. No institution has a more loyal Alumnae. To those of you who will join its ranks this June I say farewell in confidence that you will Keep Well the Road while those of us who remain endeavour to be more faithful than before.