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The early settlers of Weston - ' I lllllilliliil were concerned about the » Illgllllll education of their children. ’ . I 1 , - Captain John Pirritte, a > - ‘ I' retired army schoolmaster, had several children of his own and turned part of his house on Main Street opposite Rectory Road into the Village's first school. In 1842, when attendance became too large for his little house, the school was moved across the road to larger building. Soon after the move, Major John Paul took over as teacher. It was during Major Pul's tenure, that the Council of the Home District took charge of the Weston Common School. They purchased a piece of land on the corner of Main Street and Rectory Road from Joseph Holley for the sum of five shillings. A frame school was built, and then about 1860. William Tyrrel built a modern brick school. On the stone above the door was the Latin inscription "Pro bono publico". That stone now hangs in the old entrance to C. R. Marchant School. Soon, even more room was needed and a new school was opened on King Street. In 1903, Mr. H. J. Alexander was appointed Principal at a salary of$550. FARMERS' MARKET Kicks OFF SATURDAY JUNE 12th WITH j OPENING DAY il CEREM0lliillliiis AT THE JOHN ST. PARK- MI LOT 8:00 am to 2:00 pm Traditionally, this is a fun-filled day that the whole family can enjoy. Start with a pancake breakfast and leave with bags full of good produce at reasonable prices. E,LhllJiltNIlm1 SCHOOL BEFORE "HOME OF THE BICYCLE" $QSXNESS CO Pp '.' \‘\“ _ _ _ . -.l If-r' _ I y _' Jjt', j:,',' 'ts. _ V ;*’ Jr _. ' ", _ . il?il b I,'/(: 1"; a V . l I 1- C f _ f sl b, " T, i, , , § (i, aw.“ Cs:'"',':"", 2 ‘ Ftlt',fisc2 B', g; sPi'. run yssc1'i, , "yt',)i?i,rsit,S, 3 y. 'h' i _rfi'rt'), 'i2iivs"; H* "iii':'?,"',):??, 2 r:,)'ij':i'j. _, '. V. T _ .23.: »...».v,.s:' “I N 3 ", wv'"i',ii'ri:,?sfc, tis ' _i-SC25 T ‘; 3‘s: . ' .1 w.:jii,iCi'ii iiiii:iiitY C, - f; Trv 'ii . /rrJrfff"ry,1(t,Tii,itrys?t: _ ' x g p'r, I-?' S H. J. Alexander N E Wi’SV l E W S PUBLISHED BY THE BIESmN BUSINESS COMMUNITY EDITION 93 VOLUME 2 by Helen Lawrence Inch "In 1903, Mr. H. J. Alexander was appointed principal at the new King Street school at an annual salary of $550.00" I started to attend King Street School at the age of five and it didn't take long for the older children to pass on to us beginners, their feelings of awe and respect for "THE PRINCIPAL", Mr. H. J. Alexander. Before long, I too, was calling him "HJ", but of course, not to his face. That term was used by pupils and teachers alike until he retired. Mr. Alexander was a strict disciplinarian, but a fair one and ran the schodl well. Mr. Alexander taught the "Entrance Class" as well as supervising school activities and the deportment of the pupils, both indoors and on the playground. His small office was back of his upstairs classroom - a place where no child ever had a desire to be sent. A ritual of the Weston Fair (still being held during the first few years of my school life) was a competition amongst schools for marching to the Fair Grounds, but King Street School was never successful in winning first prize. Mr. Alexander had no time or inclination to have the students practice marching army style, however,l can remember done occasion when the whole school population marched up and down King Street and how much we all enjoyed this break from school work for part of the afternoon. But, alas, our practising was to no avail, for as usual, Memorial School won the Prize, After all, they had an army man - Mr. Lowens, as their principal and it was common knowledge that Memorial School pupils spent hours marching outdoors in preparation for the big day. fconr'donpaze 2) MEMQBEES HE Mr. H. J. ALEXANDER Pearl's mother died when Pearl was two so she was raised in her grandparents' home in at the corner of what is now Highway 27 and Eglinton Avenue. At six, Pearl attended Richview School, a one-room schoolhouse with a wood stove. After passing her entrance exams, Pearl came into Weston to the Grammar School at King and Elm Streets. By then, her uncle had built a new home on Scarlett Road, somewhat closer to Weston. Pearl and her sister Gladys, both went to normal school and Pearl taught at Eatonville School in 1917 for a yearly salary of $600. Pearl also worked in the sales department at Kodak for the sum of$12.50 per a week. In 1921, Pearl married Fred Simpson, who had been overseas in World War I. They had written to each other all the time that he was away. Fred operated a butcher shop on Min Street in Weston - he passed away in 1948. Pearl joined the Weston Historical Society in its beginning and was a great source of information and was always willing to loan her photographs in order that the Society could make copies of them. Pearl shared a memory of "Christmas Past" at one of our Hymn and Carol nights. It was always a pleasure for us to listen to Pearl recall stories of concerts held in the old town hall, threshings on her farm, sleigh parties, box lunches and church socials. Pearl was a member of Central United Church and was very active in the quilting every Wednesday. Pearl was a volunteer for the Red Cross at West Park Hospital and gave her time at the blood donor clinics. Pearls favorite hobby was gardening. Pearl was predeceased by her two sons, Jack and Reg and she leaves her daughter Kay, a sister Vera, eight grandchildren, ll great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. Pearl will be missed by all who knew and worked with her and we are all the richer for having known her. PEARL BANNING SIMPSON passed away on April 14th, 1993 in her 96th year aBlt5 ttW ."’W V. ,, .4 'irr"riat can“ " qt .: g5” / M9? my” ,» . M: V T -tU June 11th ’93 See page 2 inside for more details,! FRIDAY FUN ON