Stanley Bridge School - PEI
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member T0SHEA
N 46° 27.623 W 063° 27.233
20T E 465147 N 5145301
The second school to be built in Stanley Bridge, this one was built shortly after the first one burned.
Waymark Code: WMRQ7N
Location: Prince Edward Island, Canada
Date Posted: 07/22/2016
Published By:Groundspeak Regular Member MountainWoods
Views: 2

Though early school records for Stanley Bridge are sketchy, it seems that the first school in the community was erected about 1840. Alongside the brook running past to the southeast of the village, the school was imminently due for replacement when it burned in April of 1911. A ratepayers meeting was called for April 15, 1911, the minutes of which include the following:

The matter of site for the new school was then considered. The Secretary then read a letter from Dr. Anderson, School Supervisor, who strongly advocated a more suitable site to erect a new school on and after talk on the subject by a number of the ratepayers, it was moved by John Wedlock seconded by James Cole that the new school be built on the same site. It was also moved in amendment by D.R. Bell, seconded by Dr. J.E. Fleming that a new site be obtained and on vote being taken, the original motion was carried almost unanimous.

Ultimately, though, the new school was built on the same site by the brook. Opening in January, 1912, the school remained there until 1947 when, after several attempts, the women of the community succeeded in getting the school moved, at a total cost of $1139.11, with the Department of Education paying 40% to 50% of this total. The remainder was paid through a ratepayers' assessment of $10.00 each. It was moved to a site in front of the present site of the building, immediately southwest of Highway 224.

One of the few two storey schoolhouses built on the Island, the school held classes on both levels. School consolidation in June of 1976 forced the closure of the Stanley Bridge School and ultimately its sale. For a while it was used as a crafts shop and today it is part of The Gables of PEI Resort, housing the Schoolhouse Café. The old school has again been moved, this time about 50 metres back from Highway 224.
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Stanley Bridge School


DESCRIPTION OF HISTORIC PLACE
The Stanley Bridge School is a wood shingle clad, two storey vernacular former school house, located in the rural community of Stanley Bridge, Prince Edward Island.

HERITAGE VALUE
The historic value of the Stanley Bridge School lies in its association with the educational history of its community. The school was built in 1911 by Charles Ramsay of Malpeque and opened its doors for classes in January 1912. Few schools in Prince Edward Island were built with a second floor. Classes were held on each level.

The Stanley Bridge School house was built at a cost of $1,000.00 and replaced the previous school for the area which was lost to fire in 1911. The school house served the community of Stanley Bridge from 1912 until 1976 when it closed due to the consolidation of small rural schools. In approximately 1947-1948 the school house was relocated close to its current location on a one acre lot next to the Masonic Hall, now the Stanley Bridge Hall, operated by the local Sterling Women's Institute group.

Some notable Prince Edward Islanders are associated with this school. Cardinal James C. McGuigan (1894-1974) from Hunter River, PEI was a teacher and principal at Stanley Bridge School in 1912. Marion L. Reid of North Rustico, Prince Edward Island's 37th Lieutenant Governor, and the first women to hold this position in the province, taught at Stanley Bridge School in the 1950s.

In June of 1976 following the closure of the school, it was purchased and used as a gift and craft store for many years. In 2011, the school became part of The Gables of PEI Resort. The building was relocated 500 metres from the road to its current location, and renovations were undertaken including some replacement windows and interior updates. The former Stanley Bridge School now operates as the School House Cafe, and continues to be a landmark in its community as a reminder of its past educational history.

CHARACTER-DEFINING ELEMENTS
- the overall massing of the building
- the wood frame construction
- the wood shingle cladding
- the simple gabled roof with dormers on the east and west side of building
- the eight-over-eight sash windows in each of the dormers
- the four-over-four paned windows on either side of the front door
- the row of six six-over-six paned windows on the north elevation
- the stringcourse on the front elevation under the eave and roof line
- the wide eaves
From Historic Places Canada
Address:
4889 St. Mary's Road
Highway 224
Stanley Bridge, PEI Canada
C0A 1E0


Web Site: [Web Link]

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