Capital Projects Manager Craig Elliot and Trustee Janice Hutchison were on hand at a recent City of Barrie council meeting to receive an award from Barrie's Heritage Committee. Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board (SMCDSB) was recognized for preserving and repurposing an old school house that was originally built in 1899.
Many would find it easier to tear down and build anew, and yet the team in the Facilities Service Department understood the importance of preserving and repurposing this historic gem.
The school house is a typical late-Victorian design, featuring three windows on each side of the building. Many schoolhouses started out as frame buildings, then were later bricked. About 40 teachers taught at the little schoolhouse from the time it opened until it was closed in 1963 and still today there are many students who look fondly on their years in the little country school.
Fittingly, the building is now being used as office space for the staff who plan and oversee the construction and maintenance of school buildings for SMCDSB. The preservation and repurposing of this building reminds the staff of the architectural charm and rich history of Catholic education in our region.
For more information
46 Alliance Blvd
Barrie Ontario
Canada L4M 5K3
www.smcdsb.on.ca
