LAW’S SCHOOL S.S. #1, PELHAM

2502 Effingham Road, Lot 6, Concession 2

[Peham Historical Calendar 1985]

Nestled among some tall trees, on what was once called the Pelham Stone Road, sits a fine brick structure. A remnant of the education of the past, it is now a private home. It was used first as a township school, then for part of a township school area, and was finally closed in June 1965, with the advent of the Niagara South Board of Education, Mrs. Elaine Cuffe was the last teacher principal. Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Roland (Patricia) purchased this property in 1966, and have put in many improvements, but they have kept the exterior facade virtually intact

A record book, the property of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Roland, yields much information about the first school. On the first page, D.D’Everardo signs his name, adding “T. Supt., C.S.” This stands for “Township Superintendent, Common School.”

The land for the school was donated by Nicholas Oille, and the log schoolhouse was erected in 1832, twenty-four feet square. As the old photo shows, it was to the west of the Oille-Sanderson house, now the home of Mr.and Mrs. John Gilmore. The second school, made of brick, was built to the east of the log school, but it burned down, and was cleared away. A third school, also of brick, was built in 1906, and burned down in 1913 or 1914. The foundation of the fourth school was built around the foundation of the third one. While it was being constructed in 1916 and 1917, a house on the  Sanderson property was used as a school. When the  house was no longer needed, it was moved to Sixteen Road. At one time, there was a double cistern at the back of the school, which was called a “water font.” The water was purified as it passed from one cistern to the other.

Judging from the description of their schools written by pupils in a scrapbook, we glean the idea that they were indeed spartan by modern standards. The equipment consisted partly of a dunce cap and a birch rod. Only the fourth and final school was decorated in warmer tones. Electricity was installed around 1939. The  school yard was well landscaped, and awards in the  Welland County Beautification Contest were won four times between 1926 and 1930, as depicted on a wooden shield left in the school building.

The earliest mention of trustees was made on January 14, 1845, when George Oille (Chairman), James Disher (Secretary), and Joseph Disher, John H. Oille, and John Snure (trustees) were in office. The first teacher in these records was Mary A, Hershey engaged on May 1 1845. Later on, another teacher was Edward Michener who met Mary Roland in the district and married her. Eventually, they became the parents of Rt. Hon. Roland Michener, our former Governor-General.

Several teachers were hired before one was listed as having “qualifications.” When dollars and cents replaced the pound sterling, the cost of board along with the salary was first mentioned. At times, teachers were hired for one or two months, and then dismissed. Another item of interest was that male teachers were paid double the salary of female teachers. So much for equal pay for equal work!

The school funds for 1844 were thirteen pounds, nine shillings and ten pence, but by 1851, they had risen to eighty-four pounds, seven shillings and nine pence. On January 10, 1855, the teacher’s salary was raised a certain amount per “schollar” and henceforth only those who sent children to school were to be taxed. In addition, each “schollar” was to furnish one-quarter cord of good wood which was to be measured by the teacher and a receipt issued, and all this to be done by February 11, 1855. The first mention of the Clergy Reserve Fund was made on May 3, 1881. This was for twelve dollars and sixteen cents. By January 28, 1864, the amount had risen to thirty-three dollars and sixty one cents, which was paid in two instalments.

Former prices are interesting. Can you recall the time when you paid three dollars and fifty cents for a cord of wood, or forty cents for a broom and a stovepipe, or one dollar and fifteen cents for glass, nails, putty and repairs? This was the situation in 1867, the year of Confederation.

In the early days, Law’s School accommodated scholars between the ages of five and sixteen. The average attendance between the years 1845 and 1857 was forty-four, the highest enrolment being fifty in 1849. Early in its history a design for a corporate seal was devised and accepted, its description reads as follows: “brass, round, one inch in diameter; Number One on the centre; PELHAM in the semi-circle above; S.S. In the semi-circle below.”

The highways and byways of Pelham make for interesting exploring. Next time you travel the Effingham Road, watch for the place where Roland Road meets it. There is the area where many of our early settlers were introduced to “Education.”
Marjorie L. Jenter

CITY’S EARLY HISTORY HIGHLIGHTED AT MEET

HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Photograph “Price Cemetery”

[Welland Tribune, 1 October 1985]

A highlight of the Welland Historical Society meeting held recently at the Museum was the celebration of the birthday of an honorary member, Mrs. Mabel Brown, with a decorated cake and candles.

President George Chipman thanked everyone who participated in the arrangements for the Fenian Raid Tour and picnic; the Rose Festival Quilt raffle and the Celebrity dinner at Julio’s.

A donation to the Museum for hygrometers and dehumidifiers was approved by the Society, as well as brochures in French and English for a walking tour of downtown Welland.

In researching the name of Denistoun Street, Cecil Dyson came up with origin of three other streets as well, all named after members of the Bald Family. He obtained his information at the Welland Public Library in Rice’s History of Welland County and Thorold Township Cenennial year book, he presented a short outline of the Bald family.

A Scotsman, Thomas Bald immigrated to this country in 1784 and settled on the Bald homestead on the Welland River across from the old County Hospital, now Riverside Terrace Apartments.

His son David married Hannah E. Cook of Cook’s Mills who was the first woman teacher in Welland County.

The Balds had a farm in the vicinity of Bald Street and Willliam Bald lived in and possibly built the Presbyterian Manse on Bald Street which gave Bald Street its name.

David Bald had three children, James who J.C. Bald School on Thorold Road named after him; Catherine was remembered by Catherine Street and David Denistoun whose name was given to Denistoun Street.

Denistoun has played an important part in Welland’s history.

In the very early years, there was a dock at the north end of Denistoun on the Welland River and the Bald family owned scows on the River.

It was the home of the Welland County Fairgrounds from 1857 to 1974. The Methodist Episcopal Church and burial grounds was established in 1865 across from the Welland High School and the high school was built in 1879. Also the Electric Steel and metals was built in 1913 with two original Heroult’s electric steel melting furnaces and which produced many thousands of 16 and 18 pound shrapnel shells for the Allies during the First World War.

Harold Fox spoke on the life of David Price who is recorded as being the first white settler in Welland and that an Indian settlement was located at the corner of Jane Street (Now Maple Avenue) and Fraser Street at that time.

He quoted from a copy of the Remanences of John Price and his father David of Welland, written for the Buffalo Express by B.B. Babcock and published in the The Tribune May 14, 1897.

David was born about 1750 in the valley of the Mohawk River near Wellsville, New York.

During an Indian uprising he was taken prisoner by a tribe of Seneca Indians and held seven years.

After his release he was an employee of the Commandant of the military post at Oswego until the close of the war. He then moved to Niagara in New York State and later to Fort George where he worked as interpreter, clerk and storekeeper in the department of Indian Affairs, August 20, 1800 at St. Mark’s Church at Niagara-on-the Lake, he married Margaret Gonder. In 1812 David moved his family to 200 acres of land along the Chippewa Creek, a place known only as Seven Mile Stake.

David’s son John tells of being born in a log house on the south bank of Chippewa Creek, the same location that the Niagara Regional Youth Home is situated on West Main Street. His death occurred Feb. 26, 1841 and his remains were buried in the Methodist Episcopal Church cemetery on Denistoun Street. Hazel Sauer and Emily Laing were in charge of social arrangements for the meeting.