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Thomas, Alexander and Morgan, children of Terry and Nancy Sylvester get a closeup view of the contents removed from a time capsule that had been buried in the walls of the old Central Public School for 75 years. The youngsters are students at Central Public School and are part of a group of more than 500 students who have moved to the new school that is now open. The contents of the capsule were revealed at the temporary Central Public School that was located at the corner of McConnell and Ninth Streets in Cornwall while waiting for the new school to open. |
Some of the key players involved in organizing the official opening of the time capsule that was buried in the walls of Cornwall's old Central Public School for 75 years were all smiles when the capsule was finally opened. The contents consisted of several extremely valuable documents from the very early days of the school and the Town of Cornwall. Included in the find were old newspapers, a picture of the members of an early school cadet corp and Alexander Mckenzie, the man who was the second Primer Minister of Canada and a document outlining the early history of the school. FROM LEFT: Mark Calder, from the communications department of the Upper Canada District School Board; Sue Harrington and Jane foster, daughters of the late Fred McMillian, who was the principal of the school when the capsule was buried; historian Lyal Manson; Upper Canada District School Board engineer, Dave Petepiece; Kevin Cooper who was the principal of the new Central Public School when this photo was taken; Dave Hickey, a former teacher and principal of the earlier school and Debbie Ledoux, a member of Heritage Cornwall and author of a book detailing all the history of the school. -30- |
Historian Lyal Manson got the complete attention of the school students during two special assemblies held to reveal the capsule contents. |
The red markings show where the time capsule was placed by school officials in 1931. |
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Was Central's History Back in 1931, when the capsule was buried in the wall it contained priceless history that was meant to be opened when the school was replaced to make room for a newer building. The remodelled Central Public School is now open. The site has had a school on the property, as early as 1816. In 1853-54 trustees obtained 740 pounds from town council to construct a new School. A brick house was constructed, two stories with two rooms on each floor. In the cornerstone, was placed a parchment containing a brief resume of the history of the school, the principals, the staff at the school at the time, school board members and others involved with the school’s operation. The parchment reads,“On such an occasion as this, it is only fitting that some record be made of the progress of Cornwall Public School and of the various principals, staff and board." The inscription on the cornerstone
1884-1931 This stone donated by Charles J. Hamilton,
M.D., ex-M.P., to perpetuate records of educational progress, of the Cornwall
Public School, dedicates this building to the youth of Cornwall.
The central portion of the building as it stood when the parchment was installed was erected in 1884. It consisted of 12 classrooms. Previous to that a smaller school stood on the same location. -30- |