Weston Collegiate Institute - Conning Tower Yearbook (Weston, Ontario Canada)

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with Rev. John B. Logan of Edinburgh, the first principal. Obviously this was not a suitable place for school purposes, and the next year William Nason granted the school the use of the old Porter homestead,a fine stone residence, where the Public Library now stands at the corner of Main and King Streets. Rev. J. B. Logan held the position of first principal Luitil December, 1865. He was a very able teacher, and a fine gentleman. During his sojourn he conducted a large Bible class and at times preached in the Presbyterian Church. Mr. William Wadsworth, whose son Vernon, was the first pupil registered in the Grammar School, joined the Board in 1860 and William Tyrrell in 1874. It is remarkable what an influence the concept of public duty exerted on our early citizens, and how it was exemplified by their standards and ideals. The substantial men of our early Village -Holley, Farr,Wadsworth, Tyrrell, Nason, Dennis and others, set a high standard of public respon- sibility and duty. They were actuated by Community needs to such a remarkable degree,that after establishing their homes, came that intense interest in found- ing Churches and Schools. This loyalty and love for their beloved Weston was the secret bond that lmit our people together a century ago. Thus,our school presently knovm as the Weston Collegiate and Vocational School has a great lineage. It was founded in the reign of Queen Victoria, and for many years was the only Gram- mar school west of Yonge Street. Its capacity was somewhat reduced in its early years, yet it survived hardship, fire, depression and County Council intrigue, to become the forerunner of the first composite High and Vocational School in the County of York. Now, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, it is fitting for us, at this Centennial, to remember its humble beginnings and to pay honour to those noble teachers and stalwart trustees, who through a century have always kept it in the forefront. Above is Mrs. Green at the spinning wheel ln the Museum at the Centennial celebration. WESTON HIGH AND VOC,-1 TIONAL SCHOOL -1916 I2

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days. Less space was now available in the Globe for the continuous attacks on Clergy Reserves. lt is possible that the Crimean War may have done more to found the Grammar School than any single factor. England was desperately short of wheat and 1lour,which she had imported for many years from Russia and Hungary, and the supply was now shut off. British agents born of desperation and extreme urgency went among the farmers in the Weston area odering fantastic prices for wheat. Wheat prosperity was a boon to Weston. Newly rich farmers purchased carriages and wagons, new pumps replaced the old windlass on the well, and wives and daughters bought cloth by the bolt. Everyone in Weston was working,business men were becoming rich and as usually happens in boom times the people began to think of things cultural and educational. Throughout 1855 work was pushed on the Toronto and Guelph Railway, running through the village. The new high level bridge over the Hum- ber was almost completed. It was so well built, that it remains to this day, as a monument to the Crimean War boom. A trial run was made by the railway, on the 30th of January 1856, and the next day the Globe said editorially We heartily con- gratulate our Citizens on the near prospect of this important line being opened for traffic. The im- petus which will be given to trade connot but be very great . A regular train service, was estab- lished on the first of July, 1856, amid great celebration and a large and highly excited group of citizenry gathered on the west bank of the Humber to welcome the first train. As we pay homage this centennial year to our Grammar school, let us not forget the day the first train huffed and puffed its way through the village. Its coming certainly did no harm to the early founding of the Grammar school, as it underlined more than any other happening up to that time that Weston would grow. Following the ceremony, gentlemen wended their way across the fields,to visit with William Wadsworth, the miller. Here in the spacious draw- ing room of Pine Hill , overlooking the River Humber and the site of the early hamlet, which had been completely washed away in the great flood of 1850, these men sat in earnest conversa- tion. They had plenty of contentious things to dis- cuss - The Crimean War, Clergy Reserves, Church Schools, and Dr. Egerton Ryerson's famous school report as recorded in the Globe stated - that to permit sectarian schools was likely to prove the destruction of our school system . To the host and his guests, which included such stal- warts as - William Nason, Colonel J. Stoughton Dennis, Dr. John Hathaway Banks, Squire Wm. Tyrell, James Cruickshank, James Coulter, J. P. Bull and others this was a thought provoking statement. At this time Bishop Charboneff of the Catholic Church had begim to organize a separate school in Weston, a.nd the minister at St. Philip's was teach- ing a group of parish boys in the Rectory. These were ominous signs, and not popular in Weston, which was decidedly Orange and Low Church. At the time of this 1856 gathering William Tyrrell was Chairman of the Educational Commit- tee of the County of York, a fact, which would make him useful in the appeal for a Grammar School in Weston. Councillor Tyrrell, no doubt felt obligated to his mentor and benefactor - William Wadsworth who along with other friends, was quietly promoting the Grammar School scheme. Tyrrell favoured the idea, and was anxious to be of every assistance. D7'1ll1'lIlg' or LVL'-ti-lfllllllll vlr't'n'zl1i1r'lwr ln August of 1856, William Nason, one time Common school teacher in Etobicoke, and an ardent promoter of a school for higher education in Weston, attended a meeting along with William Tyrrell, County Educational Chairman, in the office of James Cruickshank, the carriage builder, for the purpose of drafting a petition. The docu- ment with signatures of eighteen citizens attached, was presented by Mr. Tyrrell to County Council, humbly beseeching that a charter be granted for the establishment of a Grammar School in Weston. Subsequently, notice of motion on behalf of the petition was presented by Cotmcillor Tyrrell, who presented argument that downed all opposition to the proposal. On February 4th, 1857, Cotmty Council passed a by-law, authorizing a Grammar School in Weston. The school opened in August, 1857, in the basement of the old Methodist Church on the Plank Road, 7 JOHN si., wesfon C-H, l-9747 368 Eglinton Ave, West, Toronto HU. 8-1897 .fzadfwf Getz' SAW limited Quito EDtAza..fu.m CHINA -. LAMPS GREETING CARDS ll

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,,,. Above is Cadet Lt.-Col . Doug Harvey receiving the Best Cadet oword from the inspecting officer Lt.-Col . McGinnis at the conclusion of our annual cadet inspection. W f if ani Q 'W 2 N- - A S01 A - Qt' 'Aff yy, ffl 4'-Lm'A,31f 6:46 f, -,M f jfs- l , aj 'I ir A 2321 ff. ff-raw f' 1: l .. G w, Q ar :T - N- . X Zn . V A' i wg' K'-it f 5 twig' l - 'B' TL fsgx ' f , gg 9 Axlxrg A 'A K 'V M' f?'4 x X ' af, i-af ' ' ., r arm. A K A-. ,Afm ., .. 'Q if ., ' -. V S- ' .1 ,','- . . ' K. gi 1' ' A ' f,,,., me f . Above is the Bren gun demonstration on Cadet Inspection Day. At the guns left is Bob Carson and beside him is John Leigh. Officers observing are left to right: Lt.Cdr. Lancaster, Moior Bronscombe, Lt.-Col. McGinnis, the inspecting officer, and Cadet Lt.-Col . Doug Harvey. The Campiire Tis' evening and all is still, Only the sound of a whippoorwill Echoes, in the darkening land. High on a hill a campfire glows, Mysteriously lending, blending its tones On all around. Out from these flames leap a thousand words, Telling of peace of hope and of love, Like a motherls prayer. But as the bright sun peeps o'er the distant hill, The campfire fades, with only the glowing embers Left as a memory. -Judy Pearson, 11A. ...I J-AJ. A. Pl THE l?I'lI l7fl?S HI llll Hlfih' .XFl1'0!7l, Iliff - WI? llf ifrmur' mul V1 lfirl'.'Ml1l1xlW!x' -Ulf mul filly from rlulil nmlzlll' ffm' Compliments of C. Wes Boddington Agent, Motor Vehicles Branch Department of Transport QMAIN STREET S, TORONTO, T5 ONTARIO CH, 4-0911 ies