Over the weekend, I received a few emails that the old grade school at Ontario just west of Pillette was biting the dust. See here for photos of the demolition on Windsorite.ca.
Another part of Windsor’s history again bites the dust.
Designed by Albert McPhail, the school was built in 1922 and was opened as the Ontario Street School.
It was eventually renamed in honour of long time principal Ada Richards.
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From the Border Cities Star – December 21, 1923:
Another one bites the dust.
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Ugh.
"...360 children, who, following the ceremony, presented a very pleasing cantata in the fine school auditorium."
*sigh*
Thanks for your research Andrew. It's very interesting to see the original facade. The windows over the two front entrances were actually removed and bricked in with smaller replacement windows while I was a student there (1976-1985). Sad to see the old place go, but sadly the building had become pretty derelict in recent years. Too bad someone couldn't restore it. Edith Cavall Public School is from the same era and that was converted into condos. I wonder if that was ever considered. I would guess the condo route would have a lot of risks to the developer.
Interesting that the U's in the 'Auditorium' etching appear to actually be V's. I've seen this several times before on other buildings before as well. Does anybody know what the story about that is? Did they just have a limited stencil to create the font?
With this, now my old high school AND the school where I had my first day of school are both gone.
Robs
The intention was to make the inscription look old, in the middle ages the letter v stood for its present sound and the u sound, see the wiki link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U
Ive always liked these kind of school designs.i went to gordon mcgregor and it was of similiar style.gives it character.But of course being typical Windsor destroy everything that has good history the minute it closes but dont touch buildings that have been around for a short period of time.let them sit empty.oh well.But does anybody know why this school closed?Lack of funding?
To Orlando, I know enrollment in that district has been very low for a long time. The Board of Ed. kept it going as a continuing education facility of some sort for a while in the 1990's. Around 1980 there was a huge controversy about asbestos being removed while school was in session. I often wonder how much was actually removed and if that played a role in the school getting mothballed. I also wonder if I was ever exposed to asbestos as a kid.
Here is video I took today of the schools final take down....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40XwPN8LYM4&feature=channel_video_title
Here's a vid of the last blow bringing the old girl down.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40XwPN8LYM4&feature=channel_video_title