Thornhill Public School & Quilt exhibit

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Thornhill Public School & Quilt

The First School

The New School

Quilt

T.P.S. Today

Sources

The New School

In 1917 the Thornhill School Board purchased 1 1/2 acres of land on the west side of Yonge St. opposite Elgin Ave. Their plan was to build a four room brick school with a projected cost of about $10,000. In 1922, the school board, administered by Dr. Charles P. Johns, chairman, Dr. John R. Campbell V.S., secretary, and John Breakey, commissioned the architectural firm of James, Proctor and Redfern to design the new school which would be built by local builder and general contractor William Riddell. When the school was completed in the spring of 1923, the final bill had reached $42,000.	"Thornhill School Opened by Premier Ferguson" [Nov. 7th, 1923] Source unknown Larger image

An invitation to the formal opening on the new school Wednesday November 7, 1923. Alan and Betty Sumner fonds Thornhill Archives 2002.15.9 Larger image	Article about the formal opening of the new school. October 29, 1923. Weaver Collection, Series 3 Larger image

At the formal opening of the new school, held on Wednesday November 7, 1923, several gifts were presented. Mrs. Johns Sr. (mother of Dr. Charles P. Johns) presented a flag, artist Fred S. Haines presented one of his oil paintings, and the Thornhill District Horticultural Society landscaped the grounds.

School Photos

Thornhill Public School 1923. Findlay Papers (2004.1)

Thornhill Public School Room 2, 1923
Findlay fonds
Thornhill Archives 2004.1
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Thornhill Public School c.1925
Thornhill Photograph Collection
Thornhill Archives
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Inside Thornhill Public School c.1927. Findlay Papers (2004.1).

Thornhill Public School c.1927
Findlay fonds
Thornhill Archives 2004.1
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Thornhill Public School 1943. Thornhill Photograph Collection.

Thornhill Public School Grades 6, 7 and 8, 1943
Dorothy Sholdice fonds
Thornhill Archives
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Thornhill Public School 1949. Findlay Papers (2004.1).

Thornhill Public School Grades 2 and 3, 1949
Findlay fonds
Thornhill Archives 2004.1
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School Report

Thornhill Public School Monthly Report for Nelson Findlay, 1927. Findlay Papers (2004.1).

Thornhill Public School
Monthly Report for Nelson Findlay, 1927.
Findlay fonds 2004.1
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The School Building
When the new school first opened in 1923, only the two rooms on the first floor were required for classes. Eventually one of the two rooms on the second floor was used for classes. The three class rooms were able to handle the level of student enrollment until 1944.

The second floor of the school was home to other activities other than classes in the early years. Local meetings, including the local Red Cross society made use of the fourth room, and from 1935 to 1950 the Thornhill Library shared the middle upstairs room with the school office.

Thornhill Public School Lighting Plan [1945]. Jackson Papers (2004.8).

Thornhill Public School lighting plan, 1945
Jackson fonds
Thornhill Archives 2004.8
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Thornhill Public School Lighting Plan, 1945. (First floor detail). Jackson Papers (2004.8).

Thornhill Public School lighting plan, 1945
(First floor detail)
Jackson fonds, Thornhill Archives 2004.8
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Thornhill Public School Lighting Plan, 1945. (Second floor detail). Jackson Papers (2004.8).

Thornhill Public School lighting plan, 1945
(Second floor detail)
Jackson fonds, Thornhill Archives 2004.8
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Following the Second World War the population of Thornhill grew rapidly and new classrooms were opened in the basement to accommodate increasing enrollment. In 1953 a large addition was built creating four new classrooms, a new office and teacher's sitting room. At this time the rest of the school was re-decorated.

Thornhill Public School, 1965. Weaver Collection. Thornhill Archives (2003.81).

Thornhill Public School, 1965.
Weaver Collection, Series 3
Thornhill Archives 2003.81
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Percy Simpkins [n.d.]. Weaver Collection. Thornhill Archives 2003.81

Percy Simpkins,
Thornhill Public School caretaker from 1923-1959.
Weaver Collection
Thornhill Archives 2003.81
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No history of Thornhill Public School would be complete without mention of Mr. Percy Simpkins, who was caretaker of the school from its opening in 1923 until his retirement in 1959. Mr. Simpkins acted as gardener, cleaner, painter and decorator, plumber, Yonge St. crossing guard and furnace man. Until an oil furnace was installed in 1953, he had to shovel 58 tons of coal into the furnace each year.

Having been a pupil in the old school himself, Percy Simpkins witnessed the many changes to the school building as the number of students increased over the years. He also saw the increase in the number of educational opportunities available to students during 36 years of service at the school.

In the early 1990's, Thornhill Public School was expanded once again. This time the existing building was more than doubled in size. Students were accommodated in another nearby school for the duration of the construction. When the school was reopened in 1994, students returned to a building greatly expanded in size and amenities, while still retaining the character of the old building.

Thornhill Public School, 1992.
Weaver Collection
Thornhill Archives 2003.81
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