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GOING…GOING…GONE!
[Evening Tribune, 11 March 1968]
A LANDMARK in downtown Welland since its construction in 1900, Central School has now completed its disappearing act.
This was accomplished through the efforts of Al-Tone Construction Company of Lowbanks who were awarded the demolition project contract by city council in a winter works project.
While the school may have passed from the local scene-at least physically-its memory will long linger with the thousands of Wellanders who learned their three R’s in that building.
Material remembrance of the school will remain with Merritt Masonic Lodge and in the city’s public library. Because the Grand Master of the Masonic Lodge officiated at colorful opening ceremonies there, the cornerstone will be kept by the lodge for posterity. And the local papers and coins of the realm that were placed with the cornerstone have been turned over to the library for safe-keeping.
The school was purchased two years ago by city council from the board of education when the latter body decided to abandon the structure which had become too antiquated for further use. Demolition was postponed until after Centennial year, however, as the school was used by the Welland committee in charge of 1967 celebrations, as a headquarters.
The school grounds will be used for gate-controlled parking lot. But its future as a parking lot is somewhat cloudy. City council had, a few years ago, rejected an offer for the Central School and market square site for a large apartment development. And only a few weeks ago, council rejected an offer for the same property as the site of a luxury motor hotel and apartment tower. In rejecting an “inadequate” offer, it was indicated the door was not closed to consideration of further development proposals.