HWDSB Educational Archives Helps Tell the Story of Hamilton’s 175th Anniversary
Hamilton recently turned 175! Hamilton Civic Museums is celebrating this milestone with the launch of Hamilton’s History Timeline. The timeline is an interactive way to learn more about Hamilton’s history, including the history of schools and education in the city.
Ben Dyment, Archives Technician at HWDSB’s Educational Archives, contributed to the project and shares with us three of his most interesting historical facts about education in Hamilton.
Bennetto Elementary School named after Hamilton’s first female principal
Picton Street School, at the corner of Picton St. and Catharine St. in Hamilton’s North End, was renamed to Bennetto Elementary school in 1920 in honour of Susan Elizabeth Bennetto.
An accomplished and respected teacher, Bennetto became Hamilton’s first female principal when she was named Head Teacher at Picton Street School in 1888. Bennetto served as Principal for 30 years, before passing away in 1919.
The original Picton building burned down in 1965 and its replacement closed in 2002. The Bennetto name lives on at Bennetto Elementary School on Simcoe St. E., now over 100 years since the initial dedication. The City of Hamilton also presents the Susan E. Bennetto Award to history students each year.
Central Collegiate Institute destroyed by fire, five years after being struck by lightning
Opened in 1896, Central Collegiate Institute stood at the corner of Victoria Ave. and Hunter St. The school was known for its educational excellence and Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson is among its graduates. The school building featured a large clock tower, which was struck by lightning and partially burnt down in 1941. The clock tower was rebuilt a year later, only to be destroyed by fire along with a large amount of the school in 1946.
The fire could be seen from kilometers away and attracted thousands of on-lookers. Despite efforts by the fire department to save the school, most of the building was burnt to the ground. The gymnasium was saved from the flames and stands today as Central Memorial Recreation Centre.
Westdale Secondary School opens, becoming the largest secondary school in the British Empire
Westdale Secondary School on Main St. W., opened in January 1931. The school was built at a cost of just over $1 million and was said to be the largest secondary school in the British Empire at the time. The opening of Westdale meant that students in Hamilton’s west end could now stay within their own neighbourhood through high school.
Westdale was home to many notable graduates, including actors Martin Short and Eugene Levy.
To learn more about Hamilton’s 175-year history, visit Hamilton’s History Timeline by clicking here.
Updated on Wednesday, December 15, 2021.