Historical Facts
Facs from the Tapleytown School Centennial book, 1881-1981) summarized by Marianne Mandris, School Council 2005-06
By the Treaty of Paris, this area become a possession of Britain, in 1763. The American Revolution drove settlers over the Niagara River, to settle in this area. Mr Ebenezer Jones originally owned lots 16-21 in Concession 7, Saltfleet, where Tapleytown now stands. The land for the school was bought from Mr. William Gage, and ¼ acre from the Condon Estate, and ½ acre from the C. Hildreth property.
The 1881 structure was built entirely from stone, and measured 32 x 40 feet. There may also have been a frame school building close to the current one at one point – perhaps in the 1840-1850 time frame. Mud Street likely earned its name as a result of being an earthen road for 40 years. It became a main route for farmers, likely heading to the Mount Albion mill.
Neighbours of the school in 1875: M. Clark, Henry Williams, Thomas Condon, John Soules, John Colville, G. Cheyne, John Burkholder, Charles Marshall, N. Penfold, J. Jamieson, John Norten, George Dewitt, John Penfold, Walter Soules, John Webb, Nathaniel Norris.
- 1882 – $21 for the bell for the belfry
- 1884 – 21 cents each for blackboard brushes
- 1888 – a new chimney was built for $12.98
- 1892-1893 – school expenditures totaled $394.64
- February 1902 – school closed for a week due to an epidemic of small pox
- 1905 – Stanley Smith began duties as a teacher for $350 yr.
- 1907 – additional land was purchased (1/2 acre from Charles Hildreth for $60) Hildreth family – different members were caretakers, trustees over many years
- 1913-1914 – Miss Wilkins taught for $550 yr.
- 1919 – boys washroom repainted to cover graffiti
- 1921 – cost of operating the school was now $1504.88
- March 1930 – electric lights installed in the school
- October 1931 – the school board found the school to be over-crowded
- September 1937 – a music program was started in the school. Mr. George Merritt hired at $6 wk (itinerant basis)
- 1938 – added home economics class (itinerant basis)
- Tapleytown continued as a one-teacher school until 1952
- Attendance in 1915 was 20 students, rising to 58 in 1934
- Curriculum in 1876 – mainly reading, writing, arithmetic. The Bible used extensively for reading. Supplemented by algebra, chemistry, geography and natural history.
- 1937 – set up maps purchased for $56.00
- 1945 – the new Area One Board decided to buy all supplies for students, with the exception of textbooks. Previously, students purchased their own supplies.
- January 22, 1948 – a fire did significant damage to the interior of the school
- 1952 – School Area One Board of Saltfleet decided to add 2 classrooms, a boiler room and a washroom to the school. A corridor was put in, with new rooms added on south side of the corridor (making the school an L shape). The addition of classrooms at Tapleytown led to the closing of original schools Lees, Tweedside and Vinemount.
- 1956 – added a new office, 2 more classrooms at the front, on the east side, and one classroom on the southeast.
- 1958 – 2 rooms were added on the southwest, plus a new staff room.
- Stoney Creek dairy delivered milk to the school
- Clough’s fuel supplied coal in 1954
- 1955 – a telephone was installed
- June 10 1964 – school population quoted at 315
- 1964 – gymnasium + stage, three more classrooms on the south side, one room on the north side, plus more washrooms and a custodian’s room.
- 1963 – Kindergarten class opened up in the old stone school.
- 1964 -1972- principal was Mr. Robert Coulter, superintendent was John Pell
- 1962-1980 – Mr. Jim Muir was the caretaker
- 1961 – Assumption school opened, which took some of the school population out of Tapleytown
- 1955 & 1964 – additional land purchased to increase playground
- 1966 – final addition was made, of 2 classrooms on the north side, and 2 classrooms on the south side, out to the west
- 2006 JK-8 classes 225 students
- 2012 – JK – 8 with 197 students. Starting in September 2012 JK and SK will be on a full time basis with students attending all day, everyday.
Caution: Dates for additions are also listed as: 1881, 1952, 1954, 1956, 1964 and 1966 – hence, dates identified previously may be start/end dates for additions to the school
Updated on Monday, December 09, 2024.