This ongoing series from Barrie Historical Archive curator Deb Exel shows old photos from the collection and one from the present day, as well as the story behind them.
“The temperature was from 80 to 90 degrees around their heads and from 30 to 40 degrees at the feet.”
That’s how principal Edward Shear described the conditions at the South Ward School on Burton Avenue.
Between 1900 and 1905, the population of Allandale had grown by 32 per cent, mostly due to development related to railway expansion. There was no question that a new school was required, but there was much debate over how big it should be.
When tenders for construction were called for in the spring of 1906, the community suffered an extreme case of sticker price shock at the estimated cost of $22,500, as building elementary schools in Barrie had never exceeded $8,500 in the past.
In spite of heated arguments over the budget, ratepayers voted in favour of the project. The school board quickly awarded the contract to the Ball Planing Mill and the new school opened on Jan. 3, 1907. The final cost of the new school was $24,275.
By late 1920, following the Prince of Wales' visit to Barrie the previous year, all four elementary public schools had been given the ‘royal’ treatment: Central School became Victoria School, West Ward was now Prince of Wales, the East Ward School was renamed King George School and the South Ward, sometimes referred to as the Allandale or Burton Avenue School… King Edward.
Principal Shear, who lived just a couple doors down from the school at 15 Burton Ave., was not only an educator. He was extremely active in his community and beyond. Mr. Shear held positions within his church, Essa Road Presbyterian, was elected 25 times as secretary of the North Simcoe Teacher’s Institute, was secretary of the Men Teachers’ Federation and was prominent in Masonic circles.
Shear was also an accomplished athlete and lacrosse player. In 1925, he was president of the Allandale Softball Association and was an active member of the Allandale Lawn Bowling Club. In the early 1920s, this dedicated citizen advocated for a playground and public park in Allandale.
Edward Shear, who was principal of King Edward School for 34 years, died Dec. 24, 1926 following an operation in Toronto on Dec. 21.
On July 5, 1933, Allandale Park was renamed the Ed Shear Memorial Park in honour of the popular school principal and sportsman.
King Edward School continued to grow with the community, and in January 1953, a six-room addition to the school officially opened (not sure if this is when the super cool fire escape was removed).
The King Edward Choir, a group of 13 women, founded the year before by Jean Dobson who also lived on Burton Avenue, performed at the school’s opening ceremony. The school did not have an auditorium, but it did have a very wide staircase which the choir stood on while listeners were seated in the large hall on the main floor.
As the choir grew in size and popularity, their concerts were held at Collier Street United Church and at Central Collegiate auditorium.
The King Edward Choir celebrated 50 years in 2002 and were still making music in 2020.
If you’re interested in some more recent history of the King Edward school, check out this article by BarrieToday’s Ian McInroy.
