History of Jarvis Collegiate in Pictures:
The First Century, 1807 - 1907
1807: It all started here.
- The main building pictured here was not the school; such accommodations were too sumptuous for a school. They served as the residence of the principal. The school, Toronto's first, designated the "Home District Grammar School," was stashed in the ratty little one-room shed attached to the main house, sometimes referred to as "the root-house."
- This stone pile, consisting of rough boulders from a nearby quarry, was considered so ugly - even by the owners - that they had the walls covered with wooden boards, as a matter of compassion for the passersby.
- The drawing above shows the building in later years, when it served as George Duggan's home and place of business.
- The first principal was less than a resounding success. The Rev. George O'Kill Stuart, D.D., had graduated from Harvard seven years earlier. In 1807 he was employed as minister of King James Cathedral and ran a private school. When a law was passed to establish a "grammar school" for each of the eight districts of Upper Canada, the Rev. George O'Kill Stuart, D.D. was put in charge of the school in York, the Home District. He was extremely unsuited to the work of teaching. Some students were lost because of his lack of discipline; others fled because of his peculiar mannerisms, which included a voice which rose and fell for no particular reason and his habit of speaking for a long while with his eyes closed, then suddenly opening them.
- The new grammar school served only the wealthy families of the district. The government provided a grant to pay the principal, but all other expenses were covered by fees, which amounted to $16 per year plus 6 "York shillings" for firewood.
- On opening day, June 1, 1807, five students - all boys - were enrolled. By the end of the year there were 37 students, including some girls. The Jarvis family was well represented, with William Jr., young Eliza Ann (age 6) and the grown-up Maria (age 19) joining the school before the end of the year. But the enrolment record clearly shows Rev. Stuart's failings as a teacher:
1808 - 20 students
1809 - 20 "
1810 - 13 "
1811 - 4 "
In 1812 Stuart resigned and moved to Kingston, where he worked as a clergyman.
- One of the original five boys made history. He was killed in Toronto's last duel. Toronto's last duel. The name of his killer was Samuel Jarvis, after whom Jarvis Street was named.
- At this time the town was named York, the name given to it by Governor John Graves Simcoe whe he selected the tiny existing settlement of Toronto. The population in 1807 was about 500. Settlers were still clearing land to the north in Yorkville.
- "Grammar school" was the term used until 1871 for a secondary school.
- The "Home District" covered a wide area around Toronto, including what is now York and Peel.
- It was the unstoppable John Strachan, still new in Upper Canada , who was the driving force behind the legislation establishing the first government schools. His started his own school in Cornwall, where he built an excellent reputation for himself, later moving to York to become principal of the Home District Grammar School.
- This building was demolished in 1873.
- King Street and George Street, south-east corner
- just east of present-day King James Cathedral
The Era of John Strachan
1816
Old Blue
- War was looming with the Americans in 1812, so it was felt that York needed someone young, feisty and supremely loyal to the Crown to take the leadership of the church and school. Young John Strachan, a teacher for nine years in Cornwall and originally from Scotland, filled the bill. After receiving a first offer then negotiating a salary increase and additional privileges with Lieutenant Governor Gore and General Brock, Strachan arrived in York in August, two months after war was declared.
- Whatever his faults, Strachan, like Simcoe, was genuinely devoted to building a new society in Upper Canada. He placed the following advertisement in the Upper Canada Gazette on October 10, 1812:
"EDUCATION -- The Subscriber having been nominated Teacher of the School of the Home District, informs the Public that his Seminary is now open for the reception of Pupils.
Rate of Tuition appointed by the Trustees,
Common Education -- 6 pounds per annum
Clerical Education -- 3 pounds per annum
"Anxious to extend the advantages of his School, the Subscriber will even abate somewhat of the above rates to the poore Inhabitants, provided they keep their Children neat and clean and supply them with proper Books. N. B. Scholars from other Districts are charged ten pounds per annum."
- Strachan believed that education had three aims:
1. To form character with sound moral and religious principles. "To this end, the greatest asset of a school is the personality of the teacher."
2. To instill religious conviction. "For education to be worthwhile, it must be founded on religion; without knowing God, all knowledge is in vain."
3. To develop a deep affection for the British Monarchy. "I take every opportunity to inspire [students] with a love for their country, and loyalty to our gracious sovereign . . . The first feelings, sentiments and opinions of Youth should be British."
- The coming of John Strachan saw a record enrolment of 50 in October. This was too many for the root house, so the school moved temporarily to a rented, reconverted barn at King and Yonge Streets.
- Plans for a new school were delayed by the war.
The war with the Americans—we say we won, they say they won—preoccupied the British colonies in North America throughout 1812 and the following several years. The town of York was invaded by an American fleet in 1813 and occupied by an army of 1,700 soldiers. The legislature and the library were put to the torch. The invaders withdrew after 11 days, but fighting continued on the Great Lakes into 1814.
Old Blue
- War was looming with the Americans in 1812, so it was felt that York needed someone young, feisty and supremely loyal to the Crown to take the leadership of the church and school. Young John Strachan, a teacher for nine years in Cornwall and originally from Scotland, filled the bill. After receiving a first offer then negotiating a salary increase and additional privileges with Lieutenant Governor Gore and General Brock, Strachan arrived in York in August, two months after war was declared.
- Whatever his faults, Strachan, like Simcoe, was genuinely devoted to building a new society in Upper Canada. He placed the following advertisement in the Upper Canada Gazette on October 10, 1812:
"EDUCATION -- The Subscriber having been nominated Teacher of the School of the Home District, informs the Public that his Seminary is now open for the reception of Pupils.
Rate of Tuition appointed by the Trustees,
Common Education -- 6 pounds per annum
Clerical Education -- 3 pounds per annum
"Anxious to extend the advantages of his School, the Subscriber will even abate somewhat of the above rates to the poore Inhabitants, provided they keep their Children neat and clean and supply them with proper Books. N. B. Scholars from other Districts are charged ten pounds per annum." - Strachan believed that education had three aims:
1. To form character with sound moral and religious principles. "To this end, the greatest asset of a school is the personality of the teacher."
2. To instill religious conviction. "For education to be worthwhile, it must be founded on religion; without knowing God, all knowledge is in vain."
3. To develop a deep affection for the British Monarchy. "I take every opportunity to inspire [students] with a love for their country, and loyalty to our gracious sovereign . . . The first feelings, sentiments and opinions of Youth should be British."
- The coming of John Strachan saw a record enrolment of 50 in October. This was too many for the root house, so the school moved temporarily to a rented, reconverted barn at King and Yonge Streets.
- Plans for a new school were delayed by the war.The war with the Americans—we say we won, they say they won—preoccupied the British colonies in North America throughout 1812 and the following several years. The town of York was invaded by an American fleet in 1813 and occupied by an army of 1,700 soldiers. The legislature and the library were put to the torch. The invaders withdrew after 11 days, but fighting continued on the Great Lakes into 1814.
- During the summer of 1816, construction of a new school was completed--the two-storey palace pictured above. Known as "Old Blue" because of its blue paint job, paid for by public lectures given by John Strachan when he was headmaster ("a course of public lectures on natural philosophy at two guineas the course"), the building was 55 feet long, 40 feet wide, and faced onto Church Street from College Square, a six-acre lot north of St. James' Church.The first floor was the schoolroom, with pine desks for about 50 students. The upstairs was used for meetings, debates and performances.
College Square was located between Richmond and Adelaide Streets, and Church and Jarvis Streets.
Wood for the new school came from trees chopped down in the forests north of Richmond Street.
- At this time the school contained 40-50 pupils, aged 5-17.
- The name of school became the Royal Grammar School in 1825.
- In 1829 the school moved to the corner of Jarvis and Lombard Streets. Lombard at the time was notorious as a street of ill repute.
- The town reverted to its former name of Toronto in 1834. The population reached 10,000.
1829
1864
By the early 1860s, the school was bursting at the seams with 150 students crammed into 3 rooms. New accommodations had to be found. The new site for the above building, constructed in 1864, was on Dalhousie Street, just north of Gould Street, by present-day Ryerson Polytechnic University.
But why does this building look so primitive and ugly? There must be more to the story behind this picture . . .
TRIVIA -
- The Toronto Grammar School Mental Improvement Society was founded in 1864.
- Girls were graciously allowed to attend the following year in 1865. They had not been allowed in for the previous 58 years. However, it was not a warm welcome they received at first. They were allowed to study nothing but French, and the government gave no grant of money to the school for girls.
- Girls were given a legal right to attend in 1871 by the School Act.
1870
By 1870 the expanding school required larger quarters once again. As its new premises were under construction, classes moved to a temporary residence, from 1870 to 1871, in a vacant old asylum for the insane, located at Queen's Park.
Today the east wing of the legislative buildings are located on this site.
The building pictured above was originally part of King's College, the first university in Upper Canada, and later to become the University of Toronto. Although the college received its charter from the British government in 1827, it did not open until 1843. This building, one of three King's College buildings, was intended to serve as a student residence, but it was used for classes when it opened in 1845.
In 1849 the government decided to secularize the university , taking it out of the hands of the Anglican Church. King's College was converted to the University Lunatic Asylum. Soon afterward a new asylum was constructed at 999 Queen Street West (a famous piece of local architecture in its own right) and the old King's College building was left vacant. The last tenant it ever had was Jarvis Collegiate, temporarily, in 1870-1871.
When the new Ontario Parliament Buildings were built, this building was demolished. But some of its white stone was used in the construction of the Parliament Buildings.
- During the summer of 1816, construction of a new school was completed--the two-storey palace pictured above. Known as "Old Blue" because of its blue paint job, paid for by public lectures given by John Strachan when he was headmaster ("a course of public lectures on natural philosophy at two guineas the course"), the building was 55 feet long, 40 feet wide, and faced onto Church Street from College Square, a six-acre lot north of St. James' Church.The first floor was the schoolroom, with pine desks for about 50 students. The upstairs was used for meetings, debates and performances.
College Square was located between Richmond and Adelaide Streets, and Church and Jarvis Streets.
Wood for the new school came from trees chopped down in the forests north of Richmond Street.
- At this time the school contained 40-50 pupils, aged 5-17.
- The name of school became the Royal Grammar School in 1825.
- In 1829 the school moved to the corner of Jarvis and Lombard Streets. Lombard at the time was notorious as a street of ill repute.
- The town reverted to its former name of Toronto in 1834. The population reached 10,000.
1829
1864
By the early 1860s, the school was bursting at the seams with 150 students crammed into 3 rooms. New accommodations had to be found. The new site for the above building, constructed in 1864, was on Dalhousie Street, just north of Gould Street, by present-day Ryerson Polytechnic University.
But why does this building look so primitive and ugly? There must be more to the story behind this picture . . .
TRIVIA -
- The Toronto Grammar School Mental Improvement Society was founded in 1864.
- Girls were graciously allowed to attend the following year in 1865. They had not been allowed in for the previous 58 years. However, it was not a warm welcome they received at first. They were allowed to study nothing but French, and the government gave no grant of money to the school for girls.
- Girls were given a legal right to attend in 1871 by the School Act.
1870
By 1870 the expanding school required larger quarters once again. As its new premises were under construction, classes moved to a temporary residence, from 1870 to 1871, in a vacant old asylum for the insane, located at Queen's Park.
Today the east wing of the legislative buildings are located on this site.
The building pictured above was originally part of King's College, the first university in Upper Canada, and later to become the University of Toronto. Although the college received its charter from the British government in 1827, it did not open until 1843. This building, one of three King's College buildings, was intended to serve as a student residence, but it was used for classes when it opened in 1845.
In 1849 the government decided to secularize the university , taking it out of the hands of the Anglican Church. King's College was converted to the University Lunatic Asylum. Soon afterward a new asylum was constructed at 999 Queen Street West (a famous piece of local architecture in its own right) and the old King's College building was left vacant. The last tenant it ever had was Jarvis Collegiate, temporarily, in 1870-1871.
The building pictured above was originally part of King's College, the first university in Upper Canada, and later to become the University of Toronto. Although the college received its charter from the British government in 1827, it did not open until 1843. This building, one of three King's College buildings, was intended to serve as a student residence, but it was used for classes when it opened in 1845.
In 1849 the government decided to secularize the university , taking it out of the hands of the Anglican Church. King's College was converted to the University Lunatic Asylum. Soon afterward a new asylum was constructed at 999 Queen Street West (a famous piece of local architecture in its own right) and the old King's College building was left vacant. The last tenant it ever had was Jarvis Collegiate, temporarily, in 1870-1871.
When the new Ontario Parliament Buildings were built, this building was demolished. But some of its white stone was used in the construction of the Parliament Buildings.
1871
The name Jarvis Collegiate at last!
In 1871 a new building was constructed at 361 Jarvis Street, just south of College Street, directly in front of the Allan Gardens greenhouse, which is still a local landmark and an ornament to the city.
The land was bought from Sheriff Jarvis, a relative of William and Samuel Peters Jarvis, about whom much information has been given on this Web site. It was located at 361 Jarvis Street, at the corner of College Street, in front of the pretty Victorian greenhouse which still stands in Allan Gardens.
When it opened the school was still known as the Toronto High School. However, two years later, in 1873, a few years later the city's second high school was built (Parkdale), making the name 'Toronto High School' no longer appropriate. Thus a new name came into being --- Jarvis Street High School.
At this time a new provincial School Act was passed. One of its provisions obliged all Grammar Schools to accept girls as well as boys. The authorities at Jarvis Street High School were strict the morals of their students. Males and females were rigorously segregated. Women were confined to a single classroom in the basement--for their safety, of course. Their room was guarded by thick double doors. Outside, in the schoolyard, a high fence protected students from their horrid interest in each other.
1881
Toronto Collegiate Institute
A charming building!
Two new wings were added to the school, perhaps no in order to add beauty.
However, the design and construction of the building became a scandal. There were suggestions that money was handled dishonestly and, even worse, serious concern that parts of the building would collapse.
TRIVIA --
- The first scientific apparatus arrived in the school in 1881.
1889
In 1889 the building was again expanded, with a third floor Assembly Hall being added.
In 1890 the name of the school became Jarvis Street Collegiate Institute. The old name, Toronto High School, could no longer be used, as the city's second high school, Parkdale Collegiate, had opened.
1890s
Teatime behind the school.
1890s
The land was bought from Sheriff Jarvis, a relative of William and Samuel Peters Jarvis, about whom much information has been given on this Web site. It was located at 361 Jarvis Street, at the corner of College Street, in front of the pretty Victorian greenhouse which still stands in Allan Gardens.
When it opened the school was still known as the Toronto High School. However, two years later, in 1873, a few years later the city's second high school was built (Parkdale), making the name 'Toronto High School' no longer appropriate. Thus a new name came into being --- Jarvis Street High School.
At this time a new provincial School Act was passed. One of its provisions obliged all Grammar Schools to accept girls as well as boys. The authorities at Jarvis Street High School were strict the morals of their students. Males and females were rigorously segregated. Women were confined to a single classroom in the basement--for their safety, of course. Their room was guarded by thick double doors. Outside, in the schoolyard, a high fence protected students from their horrid interest in each other.
1881
Toronto Collegiate Institute
A charming building!
A charming building!
Two new wings were added to the school, perhaps no in order to add beauty.
However, the design and construction of the building became a scandal. There were suggestions that money was handled dishonestly and, even worse, serious concern that parts of the building would collapse.
TRIVIA --
- The first scientific apparatus arrived in the school in 1881.
1889
In 1889 the building was again expanded, with a third floor Assembly Hall being added.
In 1890 the name of the school became Jarvis Street Collegiate Institute. The old name, Toronto High School, could no longer be used, as the city's second high school, Parkdale Collegiate, had opened.
1890s
| Teatime behind the school. |
1890s
The school moves into Allan Gardens
View into the schoolyard at Jarvis & College Streets, overlooking Allan Gardens
Before the present building was constructed on Jarvis Street at Wellesley in the early 1920s, the school was located on Jarvis Street just south of Carleton.
Behind the school fence, you can see the greenhouse of Allan Gardens, which still stands today.
Every boy on that field (baseball game?) is properly attired, complete with cap.
Turn of the Century c. 1900
| View into the schoolyard at Jarvis & College Streets, overlooking Allan Gardens |
Before the present building was constructed on Jarvis Street at Wellesley in the early 1920s, the school was located on Jarvis Street just south of Carleton.
Behind the school fence, you can see the greenhouse of Allan Gardens, which still stands today.
Every boy on that field (baseball game?) is properly attired, complete with cap.
Turn of the Century c. 1900
