Purvis Street School

History of Purvis Street School (S.S. #8 Front of Yonge)

While we acknowledge that this school was located in the Twp. of Front of Yonge, we have included it on our website because of its closeness to Lyn. The students and families that sent their children to this school would have considered Lyn as the nearest town where they would shop etc. Many of the names seen on these photos will be familiar to the residents of Elizabethtown-Kitley Township.

The brick school was closed in 1967. It had been built in 1890 to replace a stone building which had been erected in 1844.

On May 12^th, 1890, the ratepayers held a meeting and voted 11 in favour and 9 against the building of this new school. The secretary was advised to advertise in a Brockville paper for tenders for construction.

On June 16, 1890, a trustee meeting was held at John Chick’s residence when the following resolution was passed: “The tender of George Aaron Purvis of Purvis Street to build a second school similar to one recently built near the Toll Gate on the Perth Road, at the rear of Brockville for the sum of $675.00 and use the old material from the other school was accepted. (the school referred to was the brick school on the Chemical Road in Elizabethtown).

A plate bearing the date of the old school was transferred to the new one.

The first teacher at the new school was Miss Laura Clow and later Mrs. McCracken who received a salary of $225. The Caretaker received $15.00 a year.

In 1891 William Young furnished the material and built a wood shed for $80.

(Recorder & Times )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teachers at the school in no particular order were:

Miss Laura Clow

Mrs. McCracken

Mrs. Grace Bolin

Mrs. Aleda Edgar

Mrs. Beatrice Morris

Mrs. Florence Warren

Mrs. Edgar Webster

Mrs. Winona Keys

Mrs. Velma Ferguson

Mrs. Jean Vandusen

Mrs. Myrtle Johnston

Mrs. Marilyn Hendry

Taylor Franklin

Mrs. Marjorie Warren

Mrs. Myena Welch (O’Neill)