Public School Has Long History
By EVELYN BELL Star Bureau Staff Writer BLIND RIVER — 
November. 23. 1954, marked official opening of the new Iron Bridge
School, one of the most modern and best-equipped of Northern Ontario's smaller schools. 

Built to serve the ever -growing village of Iron Bridge, which has doubled its population within the last few years, and the surrounding rural district, the three-room structure is located on five acres of land on Highway 17 near the eastern entrance to the community.

Competely modern in every respect, the new building was furnished and supplied with new equipment throughout. The only exception being the old school bell — an important link with past years.

Large, modern windows occupy the greater porton of the school's east, south and west walls, and up  to - date fluorescent lighting is installed in the building with added convenience of special blackboard lights.

The exterior of the structure and front is designed on simple windowless architectural lines and finished in buff colored brick veneer. The surrounding grounds have been landscaped making the school one of the village beauty spots.

Although not a member of the Iron Bridge School Board, one of those highly instrumental in starting and seeing through the rapid progress of the building of the new . school was Clarence Eaket, Chairman of the Blind River arid District High School Board.

Mr. Eaket was engaged as advisor and assistant to the secretary and in these capacities gave unsparingly of his time, both in making the required trips to Toronto relative to preliminary arrangements for the building and in attending to numerous other duties involved in completing the school.

The village's school history dates back to 1884 when meetings were held by the residents and a decision reached to build a school This building was constructed of logs in that year.

By 1906 the log building was too small and consequently a frame school was built by the late James Forrest. The bell was installed in 1910 and Miss Annie Morrison, now Mrs. William Boville and still a resident of Iron Bridge, was first teacher of the new school.

During years previous to 1940, the enrolment continued to increase until there were over 60 students in attendance. As this situation necessitated some action. preparations were made and during the summer vacation of 1941 the Junior Room was built and equipped.

The addition was constructed by Robert Nicholson and a wood furnace was also installed at the time. C. J. Byrell. principal, and Miss Isabel McLarty assistant, made up the teaching staff at the opening of the remodelled school.

During the 1941-1942 term the school at S.S. No. 4 Bright (Eley). was closed and pupils transferred to Iron Bridge. Patton pupils also began attending the school in Sept. of 1947.

During these years the school sections of S. S. No. 4 Bright (Eley). S. S. No. 1 Patton and S. S. No 2, Parkinson united with S. S. No. 1, Gladstone (Iron Bridge) into a school area, under the management of one School Area Board.
The old original double desks were, replaced by new single ones. In the autumn of 1950 electric lights were installed by the Iron Bridge Lions Club and the school board installed two additional septic tanks in 1951.

Due to increased enrolment in 1952 and 1953 a third teacher was hired to assist in the two-room school. Considerable, thought was given to increasing the number of rooms or building a new school, but by March of 1954. nothing concrete had been done.

Realizing the urgent need for more room, every effort was made to have a new structure for occupancy as soon as possible and a Toronto construction company was awarded the contract to erect a new school.