Located on the corner of Lens and Windermere in south Walkerville, is this grand old school. Built in 1928 by the local firm of Nichols, Sheppard & Masson, sadly this building also received the same half assed window replacement that Walkerville C.I. also received.
This big three story building ended up very different from the original plans… Why things changed so dramatically, I have no idea…
From the Border Cities Star – May 22, 1928
Above a sketch of the new Walkerville public school which will be under construction by the end of July.
The Building is of the one-storey type, and will have 11 classrooms besides combined auditorium and gymnasium, teacher’s room, dentist and nurses’ quarters, showers and toilets.
The plans and specifications are being made by the firm of Nichols, Sheppard & Masson, architects, who have been commissioned to have them ready by July 1, so that tenders may be called on that date.
The structure will be of brick, decorated with stone work, and fireproof throughout.
It will be located on Lens Avenue, on Windermere Road, and is to cost approximately $160,000 (approx. $2,037,333 in 2008). The Walkerville school board selected the one-storey type of building over several other designs with the view of the economy, as it does away with the necessity of expensive excavation.
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Also a reminder that tonight is our monthly blogger meetup, so if you’re interested, feel free to drop by Taloola Café on Devonshire Rd. in old Walkerville. We meet up around 7:00-7:30 or so, and they usually last until about 10:00 pm or so.
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Have fun at the meet-up, folks, for I won't be able to meet-up with you this month. And stop talking about me behind my back! ;)
i can live with the windows, looking as crappy as they do, as long as they just don't tear it down
Maybe due to the increase of population in that area they decided to make it larger? Who knows but I think the school that was built is a very nice one as was the original design. At least it wasn't the opposite of what usually happens in this day and age. All glitz with no glamour, or if you prefer all show and no go! :)
I like to take my metal detector to old schools like this to look for old coins. This schoolyard and surrounding grassy areas produced close to 1000 coins, the oldest being a 1911 American penny.
They should have just glass blocked the upper parts. It's cheap, fits the historical context, and it looks 10 times better that than the cladding.
They should have just glass blocked the upper parts. It's cheap, fits the historical context, and it looks 10 times better that than the cladding.
i think it's safe to say that had the orignal building got built it would have been torn down already for a new school, probly by the 50's or 60's. it just looks too nice. i sure wish they put this kind of thought into building today. whatever happened to people ideas of a solid, beautiful, functional building?
and i agree about the windows, but the only thing that would have fixed them was windows top to bottom like i'm sure they were. no blocks, no cladding, just glass.
Fine old school...great teachers...boys and girls entrances...gym with stage. Grand front staircase off centre doors up to the second floor main officeMy siblings also attended. My brother jokes that our sports teams always got a "huge beatin'"!