Today’s post features a subject suggested by a reader, today we take a look at Victoria Public School.
Victoria Public School was opened in 1922, and designed by Windsor architect Albert McPhail.
While Victoria Avenue is named after Victoria Dougall, the daughter of James Dougall, an early Mayor and the man who gave our City the name “Windsor”, the school is according to the program from the opening, named after the Queen.
This school is in great shape, and is an oddity in Windsor, as the building is just covered in architectural sculpture.
A beautiful building, a work of art even, given the amount of sculptures on it.
I hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend, and relaxing today. Back to work tomorrow 🙂
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always loved this school !! Love historic stuff ! If this school is gone one day while i am still alive i will cry !
I uploaded the program from the school’s opening on my Flickr site. This link should take you there:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/45579087@N00/sets/72157621851265267/
There’s also some old shots of Windsor’s past you may enjoy.
A marvelous exposition of the superb stone carvings adorning this building. Walked by it a zillion times as a callow youth and never noticed. Shame on me.
thanks Andrew!
hey Doug that’s a great stream, where did you come across those old pics of Windsor?
thanks for sharing those with us!
This is on the preservation list that the school board wants de-listed. Such a wonderful school.
Shame on me, too, for not noting those details until they were pointed out. Great photos. And I loved seeing the program as well.
Aaron,
Most of the old B&W pics are scans of my Grandfather’s old negatives. He started teaching in Windsor in the 1920s…..the Victoria school program was in his collection.
And the colour scans are from my Dads slide collection.
Doug – too bad you don’t know the location of some of the old pictures. Interesting to see all the vacant lots on Josephine in the 30’s.
I attended Victoria Public School now called I believe Queen Victoria Public School from 1950 to 1956. Principal was E.W.J.Bowes. The school was in fact named afterr Queen Victoria not the daughter of an official ( she may have been anmed after the Queen) ( see page in opening programme regarding the name. When I was there there was always a marble bust of Queen Victoria on a pedestal /cabinet at the central entrance to the auditorium which was right in front of you as you came up the front steps from the front doors ( students were never allowed to use those doors). Someone told me years ago that the bust had been stolen. Does anyone have any information on this?
Lot of memories,mostly miss to be intouch with fellow students. Would be nice to know if and when there will be a Reunion?
Would also love to have a class photo of grade 8 if anyone has it still. (Thank you)
You can find me at Facebook,search my name and say “Victoria Public School”. Love to chat with you:)
Pamela Booze
I too attended Victoria…1938-1946………such wonderful memories and the teaching staff was the best!!…………in particular, Lucy Smith, Helen Golden, Melia Dickson, Bessie Machecran, Harold Pillon, Alexis and Norma Hackett, E. B. Smith and many more…..Fred Snyder was the first principal, then E.J.W.Bowes…..I remember during the War we planted a Victory Garden outside the front of the school…it was a great source of pride!!….we also participated in the yearly Ameteur Night productions in the auditorium….some danced and others sang or some played the piano….talk about having stagefright!!…….wouldn’t trade my primary education for anything….I feel that to-days is falling short of what it could be…….Margaret Lanspeary Hall
i think this is a great school beacase we learn many things in our classes and if any body was moveing they should pick our school
I was at Victoria 1973-1978 and 1980-1982 (I think those years are right). In those days, the windows downstairs were protected by security grilles. It looks like the windows have been upgraded and the grilles removed. Also, I see there is quite a fancy kids’ gym at the front now. I don’t think that would have lasted long back in the ’70s, LOL.
Hello all, I am working on a commemorative book for the School…if anyone has primary sources or oral testimonies they would like to share julienneblackmosspress@gmail.com
Also, unable to see the pics from this post…could you repost?