History
of Gracefield Public School
by Bill Stevens
Gracefield
Public School is located on Bayview Drive (formerly Albert Street)
at the corner of Robert Street.
On Saturday, May 29, 1954 an official sod turning ceremony took place
for the new Gracefield Public School. The five room school was estimated
to cost $105,000.00 and be ready for kindergarten to grade 4 classes
in Januray 1955. Mr. Robert Douglas, who with 35 years of continuous
service held the record as the longest service as a school trustee
in Canada at the time of the sod turning.
The approximate 5.5 acres of school lands upon which the school are
constructed were purchased from Mrs. T. B. Read and Mrs. (R. F.) Ella
Mildred Grace in 1951. The residence of Mrs. Grace still stands at
199 Dalhousie Avenue.
On Sunday, April 24, 1955 an official ribbon cutting ceremony took
place to open Gracefield. The first principal was Miss. Alice Gilleland,
who continued as principal until 1972. Mayor Robert M. Johnston raised
the flag on the new flag pole donated by Mrs. Grace. Rev. T. A. Carmichael
offered the prayer of dedication after which J. C. Walker, inspector
for Lincoln, as representative of the Ontario department of education
spoke. He paid tribute to the architect T. A. Wiley and the contractor
J. R. Stork and to the teaching staff for their fine work under difficult
conditions while the construction work was completed. Warren Laskey,
chairman of the board, cut the ribbon. A tour of the new school followed.
On the same day (April 24, 1955), a plaque donted by Mrs. G. McArthur
was unveiled to officially name Port Dalhousie Public School on Main
Street McArthur Public School in honour of Mr. George A. McArthur
who was the principal there between 1938 and 1947. Rev. J. S. Bole
of Smithville in his address of dedication recalled the qualities
of character in the late Mr. McArthur which we remember and honour
in the naming of the school.
A choir of 60 boys under the direction of Mrs. H. Cooke participated
at both ceremonies. After the unveiling, a reception was held in McArthur
school for over 100 guests, including Inspector J. L. Runnalls, Mr.
and Mrs. T. A. Wiley, J. R. Stork, former principals W. G. Crandon
and W. Speake, former school Trustees and several members of the class
of 1888.
The Port Dalhousie School Board Trustees named in the official opening
and plaque unveiling were: Warren Laskey (Chairman), Robert Douglas
(Senior Trustee), Robert Barron, Mrs. C. Wallis, Dr. George Sparrow,
Mrs. J. H. Furness, Jack Critchley (principal of McArthur) and Dr.
Charles Down.
In 1965 an addition with two classrooms and a staff room were added.
The second principal of Gracefield was Wayne MacMillan (September
1978 to June 1985).
In 1979 McArthur School, which opened in 1877, was closed. Gracefield
had two portables installed and now offered grades Junior kindergarten
to grade 6, while grade 7 and 8 students were bused to Woodland School
on Seventh Street Louth. McArthur school was shortly thereafter sold
off and became an antique market. In early September 1988, the building
was demolished and Bayside Village a 24-unit condominium was built
on the site.
In July 1981 the Ontario Ministry of Education announced an addition
to Gracefiled and construction of the addition started in April 1982
for a gymnasium, four classrooms and a library. The new classrooms
opened for classes in September 1982, while the gymnasium work continued
until the end of September. The official opening ceremony took place
May 9, 1983.
On September 1985 George Sinnicks became principal and held that post
until June 1989 when Ted Fretz took over until June 1991.
Growth of student population saw the placement of 4 portables by 1990.
The next principals were:
Doug Ransom - September 1991 through June 1998
Sue McEwen - September 1998 through June 2001
Sue Lawrence - September 2001 through June 2004
Jane Brown - September 2004
On Tuesday, May 3, 2005 the students and community celebrated the
50th Anniversary of Gracefield with an assembly and open house and
many former students fondly remembered their days at Gracefield.
Did you know that Neil Peart of the band Rush fame received his grades
1 through 5 education there; there was a small wooded area known as
Little Woods next door, which in 1993 became the site of St. Ann School;
Cole's orchard at the rear of the school grounds, is now Cole Farm
Subdivision.
