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(Richmond Hill High School eventually replaced the new building in 1924 at a cost of $95,000. It still stands at Wright and Hall Streets and has received three additions since then, making it capable to instruct Grades 9-13). The following is a short ac- count of the dilemma the board of education found itself in until it decided where the new building would go, how much it should cost and who should do the con- struction. Take, for example, the old high school of Richmond Hill which stood behind what is now Mc- Conaghy School. It burned down on December 23, 1896. It took more than nine months to erect another building at the corner of Wright and Yonge Street, now a part of the municipal offices. One aspect of the school system at the turn of the century that compares with the current administration, is productivity. Back in the late 1890’s school spending was marginal compared with today’s standards. In 1897. total assessment for Richmond Hill and area amounted to $160,000 and nowhere near that amount was spent on education. Figures for Richmond Hill and the whole of the Region easily surpass that by more than a hundredfold and this year’s education budget hit $78 million. Ratepayers, reflecting on the past‘ often wonder if there was ever a time in the history of education and its administration when the proficiency was high and the spending was low. Richmond Hill High was not simple decision THE LIBERAL‘S HUNDREDTH â€" l4 Richmond Hill High - In the beginning K .\. February 11: At a public meeting of ratepayers called by the No vote was taken but it ap peared the majority of the mem- bers favoured the Village Park location. One was the old site, the Village Park was another and the final one under consideration was the Richardson estate at the north end of town. February 4. 1897: An education committee met at the Village Council and discussed the possibilities of three alternative sites for the new high school. “It is simply intolerable that any school should now exist in this country without being fully provided with the necessary ac- commodation in the way of school grounds . . . It is beyond question that communities are to a large extent judged by the mere ap pearance of their churches and schools . . . The school grounds are quite as necessary in the production of satisfactory educational results as a classroom or any other part of the school property. " January 21 1897: The first letter to the editor of The Liberal T F McMahon, voicing concern over the location and style of the new high school. December 31, 1896: The board of education was commended for its zeal in setting up a makeshift school until a new one could be built. Temperance Hall was used and 60 desks and seats at $2.95 each were ordered from Newmarket Novelty Works. The hall was rented at a cost of $6 per month. March 25: Messrs. Newton and Naughton were appointed as a committee to determine the cost of March 4: The board voted to rescind all motions concerning the high school, including the $3,000 acquisition from the Village. They approved the new location for the school on the former site, asked for $1,500 for the costs and planned to await preliminary designs from John Harris. February 25: Another meeting of the board failed to break the deadlock in the school location decision. The board refused to sanction the purchase of the Powell property and a delegation ex- pressed support of the land owned by the Richardson’s north of town. It appeared the Powell property would not be used. February 18: After two meetings of the board, a site still had not been confirmed. A com- mittee was struck to study the purchase of the half acre from the Powell property for $800. It was also moved and carried to buy the Hopkins property. The board decided to apply to village council for $3,000 for the school. A decision was postponed until the board of education could meet the following day. reeve, it was decided the con- struction of a high school should be completed with as little delay as possible. Mr. Harrison and Mr. McNair spoke in favor of building on the Hopkins property, Mr». Storey liked the Park and Messrs. Pugsley, Nicholls, McConaghy and McMahon thought the original site was the best location. The workings of the board of education were truly amazing. Construction finally started on the school in June, 1897, but its location was a topic of con- versation for months to come. lot. That was carried and the one- and-a-quarter acre site would be sold to the board for $1,000, less the materials on the land and in- cidental costs, which amounted to $415. Mr. Harrison movea that the chairman and the secretary act as a cogimittee and buy the Hopkins Further, he was not even allowed to vote on the question. Mr. McConaghy pointed out to the board that chapter 57 of Section 46 of the High School Act precluded Mr. McNair from selling the Hopkins property to the board since he was the executor. May 6: The board met and considered a halfâ€"dozen different locations. It was again suggested that the Hopkins property at Yonge and Wright Streets be purchased. Plans were approved to make adjustments for a threeâ€"master school. It should be noted that during these months of debate on the new school site, education was being carried on in the temporary school most satisfactorily, in the opinion of the trustees and the Inspector. April 29: In a report, the minister recommended the Hopkins property over the old site. In its discussion, the board rescinded a decision to build on the old school property and that a final selection would be made by the next meeting. April 22: The board decided to take its plans to the Minister of Education. Approval was given to buy materials and the Hopkins petition was disallowed. If the site was approved, the old grammar school was to be torn down. April 15: The Liberal learned a petition was being circulated claiming the board made a mistake in its selection of the site; those named in the petition favored the Hopkins property site. Some wrote in with a full list of the shenanigans of the board from the time the school first burned down. April 8: Several letters were received by The ,Liberal from readers distraught over length of time the board was taking to get construction of the high school started. The editor realized there was enough interest in the subject remaining, to warrant a regular column from readers allowing them to voice their dissatisfaction. Several plans were studiedat this meeting but others were ex- pected to be submitted. ordinary and pressed bricks; Messrs. Lynett and Boyle the price of sand and Messrs. McNair and Storey. the price for foundation stone. 1878-1978 Psychologically, it was not always wise to send a child to school under these conditions â€" ignorant pupils would insult and malign the unfortunate child. If you were a widow your children could be educated for free, as long as endorsement frOm trustees was obtained. Few parents were able to send all their children at once while many could not or would not send any. Pupils were required to bring 25 cents at the first of the month to ensure they got a seat in the classroom. For many families, it meant the eldest child went to school until he could be put to work and then his spot would be taken by a younger brother or sister. Mr. Harrison recalled that at the time of Confederation, the old rate bill system of paying for education was still being used. When the school population increased again some classes were held at the “Old Grammar School". The public was in an uproar over what they felt was the trustees’ extravagance in building the one-room school. It slowly grew short of space, however, and another one of equal dimensions was built at the west end of it. BRICK SCHOOL In 1849, the first brick schoolhouse was built and its predecessor was sold to a Mr. Dalby. He was the owner of a tavern called The Lass of Richâ€" mond Hill, later renamed the Dominion Hotel and eventually converted into a piggery. Mr. Barnard would stay with families in the area for three weeks at a time. For a salary of $50 per year (federations take note), he would teach all day, look after the boys who played hockey and 'act as “moral guardian” during evening hours. It was located less than 100 feet from where McConaghy Public School is today. The schobl’s teacher (they were called schoolmasters then) was Benjamin Barnard. The first actual school building was made from hewn logs and measured about 20’ x 40' and was 10‘ high. The logs were sealed with mud and the building had two or three windows. From 1810 to 1820, the first school in Richmond Hill was held in Settlement House on Yonge Street. There weren’t many students. William Harrison, a local historian and Richmond Hill’s second reeve, took a candid look at the history of education in the town at the opening of the third high school in the area in December, 1897. Education, with its cost, is not something that is limited to the concern of today’s parents and taxpayers. Although the York School Board brought down a budget of more than $78 million this year, residents of early Richmond Hill were just as uneasy about the burden to the public. By 1866, the outcry for free Not many students at classes in 1810 MICHELANGELO of Service to the Community from CONGRATULATION§ to El]: ll‘ihtrul on its 100th YEAR 18 Levendale Rd. Richmond Hill 8845127 Our schools FURNITURE The condition of the father was considered the more serious, but the latest report indicated he would recover. Both men were rushed to the Western Hospital. David M. Boyle and his son, Herbert, of Langstaff, were seriously injured on Monday, when their motor, while crossing the track opposite their gate, was struck by a southbound Metropolitan car. The other schools derive their names from the districts in which they are located. M. L. McConaghy Public School was named in honor of Mary Lillian McConaghy, a descendant of Abner Miles, who was born in Richmond Hill and taught in the town for 40 years. Walter Scott public School was named for the man who served as principal for many years prior to his retirement. The town size was always increasing and in a short space of time, 0. M. MacKillop, Walter Scott, Beverley Acres, Crosby Heights and Pleasantville Schools were built. An addition was made to Crosby in 1966. 0. M. MacKfllop was named after the school inspector who died while it was under construction. As the number of students increased the municipal buildings were again used for extra classes and some were also held at the Orange Home, north of town. In 1948 an ac classrooms, a kin gymnasium was former high school For several years two rooms in what are now part of the municipal offices, were used for public school pupils Rad/a/ mishap The new, two-storey building cost $30,000 and had a capacity of 300 students. That year, there wer 200 on the roll. ' Architect for the new structure was John Innes and the principal was T.E. Lehman. William Harrison. the only surviving pupil from the first log cabin school, was honored at the opening ceremonies. opened on March 5, {915. Forrner pupils of the older schools were called together for a reunion to the place where they spent their childhood. education hit Richmond Hill. It was a daily topic of conversation. Those who opposed the idea said it was unjust since all properties would be mortgaged for all time to come, for the sake of educating other people‘s children. ONE OF THE FIRST In 1867, the town of Richmond Hill was among the first to approve free education. Four years later. all schools in Ontario were declared free. â€" The Liberal Sept. 18, 1919 an addition of four a kindergarten and was made to the McConaghy School