WELLAND’S NEW PUBLIC SCHOOL

FIRST STREET SCHOOL

[Welland Telegraph, 13 August 1912]

The new public school now being completed on the site, donated by the Plymouth Cordage Co., is the most modern and up-to-date school in the city. The building measures 65×100 feet and is two storeys high. There are three entrances, one main door and one each for the boys and girls, which are surmounted by large stone arches bearing the year 1911 in a wreath and “Boys and Girls” over the respective doors.* The building is all of brick with stone and concrete foundations and basement. There are two spacious halls and twenty-seven rooms, of which there are eight class rooms, sixteen cloak rooms, a large library and private studies for the teachers and the principal. The large class rooms and the principal’s room on the north side are separated by folding doors and the whole may be made into a large auditorium or assembly hall. In all there are one hundred and twenty-six large windows in the building, which make the rooms bright and cheery. In each of the class rooms and halls there are four electric light fixtures and one light in each of the cloak rooms.

The interior is now being decorated and from what work has been done an idea of the result may be obtained. The woodwork has been painted a light buff, this being the best color for school rooms, and a panel of green burlap circles the rooms about three feet from the floor-the whole presenting a very pleasant appearance. The ceilings are all of fireproof metal and the floors are hardwood throughout the building. Underneath the flooring is laid a mat known as Neponset florian sound deadening felt, which prevents all sounds. In each of the rooms there are three blackboards, one of slate and two made of Keene cement.

The building is ventilated by a hot air ventilating system, thus insuring fresh air and health. Each of the rooms have two doors which would be a great aid in the event of fire.

The Pease steam heating system is used and two large steam radiators are placed in each large room, and one smaller one in the cloak rooms. The boiler is installed in the basement.

It is estimated that each of the class rooms will accommodate forty pupils.

The stone work on the building has been done by G. Homan of Niagara Falls; J.E. Cutler, carpenter work, and J.H. Crow, plumbing. The plans were designed by A.E. Nicholson of St. Catharines.

The building is expected to be completed before the end of the summer holidays.

* Note: There is a photograph, page 231, of a salvaged stone arch in the book “Walking through Welland-celebrating150 years”.