My kindergarten class, I'm guessing 1951. On the back door steps.

The picture represents McArthur School (formerly Port Dalhousie Public School) in its infancy. This was the first flag raising ceremony.

The school was built in 1877 with three classrooms. A time went on other additions were added. In 1913 the upper storey and hallways were added. Around 1921 the basement and washrooms addec. At this a new heating and ventilation sytem were installed. in 1934 five classrooms were operating with grades including first year of high school. The final addtion took place in 1947 with the addition of two classrooms and in 1948 two more classrooms were added.

PORT DALHOUSIE PUBLIC SCHOOL (McARTHUR)
By Bill Stevens

In the early days of education in Port Dalhousie, pupils were taught in a small, likely log cabin school, located in Louth Township west of the village, where St. John's Cemetery is today. The church, then St. James Anglican started with services in the school house. This school was replaced by a school house in the hamlet, on Dalhousie Avenue (formerly Queen Street) in the area of Gertrude Street. Latter a newer two room school house was built up Dalhousie Street near Elgin Street. This school was eventually sold to the Separate School Board upon completion of a new public school in 1877 (former St. Ann's School site). This school building was subsequently moved down Elgin Street towards Lake Ontario and was converted into a double house. On October 30, 1862, Port Dalhousie became a Village.

Around 1876 a site at the north-east corner of Main Street and Ann Street was acquired for yet a larger public school. In 1877 the Port Dalhousie Public School opened with 3 class rooms. In 1913 an addition was added including three more class rooms in a second storey with a hallway. In 1922 a basement and washrooms were added along with upgrades to the heating and ventilation system. In 1934 the school had five classrooms housing grades one up through the first year of high school. On May 9, 1948 Port Dalhousie was incorporated as a Town and also part of Louth Township was amalgamated into Port Dalhousie. In 1948 a further four room two storey final addition was completed. In November of 1948 a dedication ceremony was held with Dr. C. D. Gaitskill officiating.

With development occurring in the 'new' west end area of Port, enrollment was increasing and before long a second public school was needed to serve the west end. In 1951 a 5.5 acre school site was purchased from Mrs. T.B. Read and Mrs. R.F. Grace and in January of 1955 a new five room school opened and named Gracefield. With the opening of Gracefield, the existing Port Dalhousie Public School was renamed McARTHUR Public School.

In 1979, McArthur was closed and sold off by the school board for $58,000. The building for awhile housed an antique and collectibles business. In September of 1988 the school, after sitting empty for some time was demolished to make way for the present condominium apartment complex.

George Alexander McARTHUR

George Alexander McArthur was born on August 14, 1896 in Tiverton, Bruce County, Ontario, a son of Andrew and Anna McArthur. His parents were both born in Ontario, Andrew was of Scottish background and Anne of Irish background. The McArthur family was of Presbyterian faith. George received his early education in Port Elgin Public and High schools and at Kincardine High School after which he went to Saskatchewan.

On June 4, 1918 George enlisted into the Canadian armed forces. His enlistment papers show him as a 21-year old school teacher, standing 5 feet 10.5 inches tall, fair complexion, hazel eyes and light brown hair. His regimental number was 3134285. His brother Harvey was killed overseas in 1917.

With the war over, George returned to teaching for almost twenty years in Saskatchewan. He took his normal course in Saskatoon and then received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1937 from the University of Saskatchewan. In 1927 he married Sadie Kathryn NUTTALL. They had no children.

In August of 1937 he assumed the principals position at the Port Dalhousie Public School, a position he held for eight and a half years until his death. While in Port Dalhousie he lived at 44 Lock Street(1941), on Pine Street (1942), on Dalhousie Avenue, then known as Queen Street (1943), and on Main Street (1945-1947). George was active in the Masonic Lodge, being senior Warden of Seymour Lodge at the time of his passing. He was a member of St. Andrew’s United Church board of managers. He was an ardent lawn bowler and one of the most enthusiastic members of the Port Dalhousie Lawn Bowling Club

George must have been well liked and contributed sufficiently to the local education system of the community, as the school was renamed the McArthur Public School in his honour.

George A. McArthur died suddenly at the age of 51 years on Thursday, February 6, 1947 at his residence on Main Street in Port Dalhousie. He had been in failing health and had been on a leave of absence since the new year. The funeral service was held on Sunday, February 9 at St. Andrew’s Church from the Hulse and English Funeral Home. The funeral took place on February 12 in the McArthur family plot in the Sanctuary Park Cemetery in Port Elgin, Saugeen Township, Bruce County. His wife Sadie survived him and in January 1995 upon her death was interned beside George. He was also survived by a brother Gordon living in Vancouver and a sister Marion (Mrs. L.W. Dowling) living in Lincoln, Illinois.