Modern Facilities Included In New School Dedicated At Iron Bridge
Iron Bridge's Modern Public School was visited by more than 325 people for the official opening of the new addition at a cost of $210,000. on Monday April 14th.
This modern well equipped school has class rooms, new office, library and auditorium.
Reeve James Brown welcomed everyone to the ceremony. Brent Gilbertson praised the people of the community for their part in supporting the project. Mr. Gilbertson congratulated the architects, and the builders of this modern construction.
Bruce Smith, director of education said this is a night to be proud of. There is no reason why pupils here can't get as good an education as in any other part of Ontario. Mr. Smith remarked, he wished Ontario's Minister of Education were here to witness this ceremony.
June Brock, pupils representatives, thanked the people concerned for the new addition. The gymnasium has helped us become more involved, said Miss Brock, and the library resource centre will also benefit us when we do class projects.
Principle Ted Linley, said he was both happy and proud to work with his staff in such a pleasant surroundings, we now have three opened area class rooms said Mr. Linley, a library, resource centre with carpeted floors, a gymnasium, stage and staff room.
The school enrolls more than 250 pupils, coming from the village and surrounding area. The addition has been in use since January.
The history of Iron Bridge public school dates back to 1884 when a one room log school was built.
The school was known as S.S. No 1 Gladstone. This took care of children till 1906 when a frame school was built, and Mrs. William Boville (nee Annie Morrison) of Rydal Bank was its first teacher. Another village resident, a one time trustee, now a member of the North Shore Board of Education, taught there for a few years. In 1941 a junior room was added.
S.S. No. 1 Patton closed its doors in 1947 and six years before that Ely School was closed and the pupils were brought to Iron Bridge.
In 1954, the three room brick school was built on the present sight, and by 1958 this school had 7 rooms as children from near by Thompson came to the village school. It has been a continuous increase over the years. Then Parkinson, and Kynoch's 1 room schools closed, and the pupils transferred to the village. Hence a better school was needed. September of this year the pupils of Day and Bright will attend classes here.
The opening of this addition was largest of the three additions built to the building. Principle Linley has been in the village five years.
Mr. Linley would like to see the High School students making use of the reference library in the evening.
The library is a place of know ledge and the more you use know ledge the better it will be. To put something up and look at it i.s fine, but when it is truly being used you are getting its full value, was Mr. Linley's closing remarks.