dundas district innovation group: Overwhelming Support!!

Friday, July 13, 2007

Overwhelming Support!!

Over 750 letters supporting a city purchase of the Dundas District School play field were presented to Dundas city councillor Russ Powers on behalf of the Dundas District Innovation Group at the field Tuesday, July 3rd.

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...A Chinkapin Oak Tree stands at the Northern edge of the adjacent greenspace. This tree, estimated to be at least 200 years old is listed on the Ontario Honour Roll of Trees because of its age and rarity.
...Dundas District School was build in 1929. It is one of the three historic and civic landmarks in Dundas, along with the Dundas Town Hall and the Post Office. The building is an example of "Collegial Gothic" similar to other schools built in Hamilton in the 1920's and 1930's, such as George R. Allan and Westdale High School. The need to build a large high school at the time was a testament to the demands of the growing local population, a need that was echoed in the 1980's when the school was revived for use after a period of several years of 'mothballing' by the-then Wentworth Board of Education.
...Heritage Staff at the City of Hamilton have confirmed that the school is listed as "of Architectural and Historical Interest" but the building is not designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.

HISTORICAL CHRONOLOGY OF DUNDAS DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL

1849 Private grammar school, the Dundas Select Academy, was established on Ogilvie Street by professor James Pegan.

1856 Academy taken over by the Dundas Town Council and renamed the Dundas County Grammar School; remained private until the Town completed its own school building; trustees of both the Common School and the Grammar School formed a joint Board of Education.

1857 Construction of the Dundas Union School on Melville Street; DCGS moved into the top two rooms.

1864 Female students first admitted to the High School.

1871 Tuition fees abolished; female students recognized by the Province in the granting formula.

1908 New 4-classroom building erected for the High School on the same site as Union School (north-east of existing building).

1915 Shift system adopted as a solution to overcrowding caused by increased enrollment; outbreak of First World War impeded plans to construct a new larger building with a gymnasium.

1926 By-law proposed by the Board of Education to borrow $8,900 to purchase a lot on the south side of Cayley Street beside the Driving Park was defeated by voters.

1927 Overcrowding reached a critical stage and two rooms of the Public School were taken over and rooms rented in other buildings; high school inspector reported that D.H.S. was the only school in Wentworth County lacking “modern and up to date” facilities; joint meeting of the Board and Town Council held to determine cost of new school and its affect on the mill rate.

1928 Search for a suitable site; Board approached Robert and Frank Fisher for an option on the two acre lot across from the Gore Paper Mills but was advised that this property was not for sale; negotiations ensued with the result that the Fisher brothers agreed to donate the mill property plus the vacant lot on the opposite side of King Street with a stipulation placed on the deed that the property must be kept in perpetuity for educational and public playground use. “The magnificently generous gift of Robert and Frank Fisher comes as a most welcome surprise to the people of the Town for it has decided the High School site question which has always been a contentious one and the cause of much trouble”. (Council Minutes? Sept. 20, 1928; secondary source of quote: Stephen Swan’s manuscript)

High-School By-law subsequently passed and architect William J. Walsh was selected by the building committee to design the new structure (see Architectural Chronology below for details). “If Dundas is to maintain its reputation as an ideal residential town it can no longer postpone providing up-to-date High School facilities”. (Sept. 27, 1928)

1929 Construction began in May 1929 after the Gore Paper Mills building complex was demolished; cornerstone laid in June and construction was completed by the end of the year.

1930 Official opening took place on January 9th. Total cost, including equipment: $140, 583.

1930s and 40s Distinct identity of school reinforced by emergence of school colours (blue and white), a crest and a year book called “Challenger”

1950s Burst of growth after the war resulted in the construction of two additions (see Architectural Chronology below for details).

1953 Inaugural meeting of the High School Board held in January.

1956 Formation of a larger Dundas District High School Board with corresponding name change for the former Dundas High School.

1959 Enrolment of 812 resulted in the school operating on shifts until Parkside High School opened.

1960s Overcrowding and heavy enrollment at D.D.H.S. resulted in the construction of two new high schools to serve the District: Parkside, completed in 1960 and Highland completed in 1966; third addition to D.D.H.S. completed in 1968.

1970s Falling enrollment and its age, size and limited facilities threatened closure of the school.

1982 Dundas District High School was finally closed in June 1982.

1991 Former high school re-opened as a senior elementary school, known as Dundas District Public School.

ARCHITECTURAL CHRONOLOGY

1928 Architect W.J. selected by the building committee of the Board.

1929 Original plans comprised three floors of 13 classrooms including science rooms, a commercial room and an adjoining typing room, a gymnasium, assembly room, domestic science room, dressmaking room, principal’s room, two teacher’s rooms, a library, a kitchen, and a cafeteria; separate entrances for boys and girls provided on the end facades with a main entrance on the front façade. (see architect’s perspective rendering published in The Dundas Star/ Hamilton Spectator?, Jan. 3, 1929 (newspaper clipping, D.D.H.S. clipping file, Hamilton Public Library, Dundas Branch Archives).

Original design proved to be too costly: costs reduced by eliminating three classrooms, shrinking the width, eliminating some of the stone Gothic ornamentation, and reducing the number of entrances to two (Boys and Girls) located on the front façade; revised plans approved by the Board and construction completed the same year.

1930 Dundas High School officially opened on January 30.

1948 New addition designed by the Hamilton firm of McDonald and Lenz was approved and construction completed; included Home Economics and Shopwork facilities, a principal’s office, coal storage and new washrooms.

1953 Plans prepared by McDonald and Lenz for a two classroom addition above the Home Economics Room.

1954 Board sought approval to add four instead of two more classrooms (presumably completed that year).

1956 Cafeteria and six classrooms added (presumably according to plans by McDonnell and Lenz, with whom discussions were held in February.

1963 Architects Kyles and Kyles appeared before the Board to discuss plans for another addition; this necessitated the acquisition of more property: decision made in June to purchase the Mansfield Property at 16 Bond Street.

1965 Kyles and Kyles requested to draw up plans for a new gymnasium; Board decided to proceed with the construction of three new classrooms and a gymnasium.

1968 Additions and alterations completed: included a new gymnasium and three classrooms, an office for the vice-principal and guidance officer, teachers’ workroom, and renovations to two classrooms and two laboratories.

Construction of Original Building: fireproof construction (reinforced concrete?) with rug brick cladding and carved stone trim and ornamentation (according to 1929 newspaper description of proposed building).

Style: Collegiate Gothic, term coined for early 20th century scholastic buildings designed in the Neo-Gothic style.

Architect: William J. Walsh was a prominent Hamilton architect, who began practice as a draftsman for Stewart Witton in 1910, becoming a full partner in 1921 under the name Witton & Walsh, and finally establishing his own practice in 1927.

While at Witton & Walsh (1921-1927), Walsh worked on several school commissions, including the Hamilton Technical and Art School, Academic Wing (1921), McIllwraith School (1923-1925), and George R. Allan School (1923) in Hamilton.

Other notable ecclesiastical and school commissions undertaken by William J. Walsh in practice alone include: Hamilton Central School (1930), an addition to St. Mary’s School (1930), and St. Paul’s United Church in Dundas (1932).

dundas district innovation group

Friday, July 13, 2007

Overwhelming Support!!

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