HISTORY OF PELHAM SECONDARY SCHOOL

[Compiled by "S"]

In 1922, the trustees of S.S.#9, , Mr. George Kapplar, Mr. Merelle Stirtzinger felt provisions for Secondary School education should be made for Fenwick. Prior to this, students had to travel to Smithville or Welland by train. It was decided to establish a Continuation School.

On November 19, 1922, a room in the Public School was opened with Miss Margaret Bonis teaching Lower School subjects to seven students. Attendance rapidly grew to nineteen and in  1924, a room was made available in the I.O.O.F. Hall, Miss Mildred Metler was hired and Middle school subjects were taught. In 1926, Mr. F.M. Hicks was engaged as principal.

There was a steady increase in student enrollment and on Set. 15, 1926 the cornerstone for a new school was laid, with the Hon. Richard Harcourt former minister of Education officiating.

The schools, consisting of four classrooms (two on each side of the  gymnasium, with a balcony at one end of the gym and a stage at the opposite end) was opened Sept. 1927, the formal opening being Dec. 16, 1927.

Miss J.M. Bell, Miss M. Fe La Mater and Miss Metler were assistants to Mr. Hicks and Upper school subjects were taught. Student enrollment was ninety and the school trustees were  Wm. Julian, Norman Swayze, George Kappler, W.E. Boyes (sec.-Treas.)

In September 1929, W.G. Spencer became principal. The balcony was utilized as classrooms and Miss B. Jousse was hired to teach commercial subjects. Agriculture subjects commenced in 1930 In 1931, Miss Culp was hired as a  fifth teacher permitting the teaching of complete Upper school subjects and Walter La Rose became the first of many Pelham students to win University  Scholarship.

With the resignation of Mr. Spencer, Mr. E.L. Crossley was engaged as principal in September 1932. The student body numbered one hundred and  twenty-five. Mr, Leppert joined the school board.

Pelham gained fame in the sports’ field when in 1934, the junior girls’ Basketball Team won the Province of Ontario Championship. It was considered to be a real victory for a school of Pelham’s size.

The school building served the community adequately until 1943 wen increased enrollment necessitated the addition of a second storey. This resulted in four new classrooms, complete Commercial department, model office with two way communication between office and classrooms.

In 1945, under the guidance of the school board, W.E, Boyes, W. Julian, H.J. Alsop, F. Morgan (Sec.-Treas.), Pelham launched out on a large extensive building program which resulted in the addition of a two-storey block and basement at the back of the school, providing accommodation for Home Economics, Shop, Farm Mechanics and Agriculture departments. The teaching staff was increased to ten and the student population was one hundred and sixty.

In 1948, Miss De La Mater, one of  Pelham;s original teachers retired after twenty-one years of service.

In 1949, the High School Area  was formed and as a  result Pelham  Continuation School became Pelham District High School. This school area covered the Township of Pelham, Wainfleet, Gainsboro, part of Thorold and the Village of Fonthill. Five large and a various number of all busses were transporting the pupils. The school population increased to three hundred and was climbing steadily. The teaching staff now numbered fourteen and Mr. R.V. Howard was the Vice-Principal. School board members at the time were; H.J. Alsop, R. Best, W.A. Hansler, H.E. Stark, J. Stirtzinger,A.L. Deab, J. Lampman N.D. Milne(Dec.-Treas.) F. Barrick, L.W. Emerson,H. Rigg

The years 1950-51 saw greater expansion in school building. New classrooms, washrooms, cafeteria and lockers were included in the addition.

By 1943, enrollment had increased by one hundred and fifty, the  teaching staff by eight and plans were forming for a new high school in Fonthill. One of Pelham’s students, Ronald Dowd was chosen to represent Ontario as delegate to the International Red Cross Camp in Sweden.

The fall of 1956 saw the final addition of the school’s extensive building program fully in use. At a cost of $200,000.00, it included 7 classrooms, 3 shops, gymnasium, various auxiliary rooms and a cafeteria serving 800 meals a day. The school  now consisted of 26 regular classrooms in addition to labratories and shops. The student population was now 850 and there was a teaching staff of 37.

The board members were:
R.F. Barrick, L. Book, D.S. Little, J.L> Stirtzinger, J.A, Barron, A,L, Dean, G. Minor, M. Berry, W.A. Hansler, H.E. Rigg

Thorold-Fonthill High School opened in 1958 and two former Pelham teachers were put in charge. Mr. J.A. Noble was named principal and Mr. A.E, Bridgeman was Vice-Principal. Mr. Crossley became supervising Principal of both schools with Mr. T.D. Wallace as Vice-Principal and Mr. A.E. Ker as Assistant in Pelham.

The opening of E.L. Crossley School in 1963 resulted  in the end of Pelham as a composite school. The Commercial and Technical departments were moved to the new school, cutting Pelham’s school population nearly in half, bringing relief to the overcrowded conditions. The school was now srictly academic, offering a 5 year programme in Arts and Science.

Mr. Crossley was named Superintendenr of  Secondary Schools, Mr. T.D. Wallace, Principal of Pelham with Mr. A.E. Ker as Assistant.

IN 1965, Mr. E.A. Ker was appointed Principal and Mr. R. Ball was named Vice-Principal in 1966. Student enrollment was 400 and the  teaching  staff was 24.

The year 1968 brought many changes. The years of being under the small school board were ended. The area schools were brought under the jurisdiction of the Welland County Board of Education as of Jan 1, 1969. The name of this board was subsequently changed to Niagara South Board of Education
Dr. El.Crossley retired as Pelham’s Principal and Superintendent after thirty-six years.

Mr. R. Peart was appointed 2nd Vice Principal at Pelham
In December 1968, fire destroyed a chemistry lab, and  the home economics room above it—these rooms were rebuilt immediate

The year 1970, brought the closing of Thorold-Fobthill High School and with it an increase of 130 students for Pelham, bringing the  school population to 513 with a teaching staff of 30. This was also the year for another change of name for the school. It is  known as Pelham Secondary School.

Pelham Continuation, District High, Secondary School has produced a long line of scholarship winners and the many trophies to be found on display there are evidence of its record of  Championships won in  the field of sports.

(The information for the record of the school’s  48 years of history was found in the copies of the year book, “The Pynx” from the first edition in 1933 to the latest in 1970)