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ST. JOHN’S SCHOOL
The early school stood on the property of the late Louis Blake Duff (presently owned by Mr. A.B. Scott). The building had been used as a blacksmith shop and is now an historical landmark. One of the first teachers was Mr. Dexter D’Everardo “The Father of Fonthill”.
Another building was erected later but there appears to be no information about it, except that it was converted to a blacksmith shop owned by Stewarts.
A third brick building was begun in 1879, at a location north of the second building and it was used until around 1956-57 when the St John’s pupils were taken to the Fonthill schools. Around 1898, a teacher received about $17.59 per month, their food and lodging being supplied by the parents and guardians of the pupils.
When enrolment in the Fonthill Schools became acute, the ratepayers of St. John’s decided to build a two-room school. This was done in 1958 at a cost of $39,400.00. The school was located on Hollow Road, opposite the St. John Firehall and at the present time is part of the Niagara South Board of Education System and is used as a Conservation School.
The four schools at St. John’s were used by pupils from both Pelham and Thorold Townships (Union S.S. #4). Records show that the first school was known as Darling or Street’s School and that in 1804, Mr. Sam Birdsall was the teacher. (John Darling was an early pioneer in the St John’s area).
(Material derived from “Pelham Women’s Institute Tweedsmuir Village History, Jan. 1951” and “The Township of Thorold 1793-1967”. Published 1967.)
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