A short history of Victoria School

School Section #8, Ameliasburgh

by Nellie Montgomery

Victoria was known as Bush’s in the 1800s and the school as Bush’s School. It was 1897 before a church was built; as that year was the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, it was named Victoria Church. Soon, the neighbourhood too became known by that name.

The first school was built in 1836; it was a frame building. The location is thought to have been on the Weese Sideroad. When it ceased to serve as a school the building was moved dto the foot of the McIntyre Hill where it was used as a drive-house for many years.

The 1855 report of the Superintendent of Schools gives the following information: Teacher in 1855 – Peter Stoneburgh; Number of pupils – 57 (30 boys and 27 girls); school was open for six months and one day in 1855.

From 1867 to 1870 the teacher was Henry Jason Parliament. He organized a Sunday School in 1867 in the school house. Church was also held in the school building. The first year he taught school at Bush’s, Mr. Parliament recalled that a wagon drove up to the school house one morning with four men in it, all armed with guns; several dogs followed the wagon. The men asked him to go with them to kill a bear which was over in the woods about a half mile away. Mr Parliament told them he would be delighted to go, but his contract with the trustees did not include bear hunting. They went on without him, but were back about an hour later with a large bear, dead, in the wagon.

Mr. Parliament boarded around, one week in one home then on to another. He said it was a first-class picnic for him, eating the bountiful meals provided for him by the kind-hearted mothers in the homes of this section. He received a salary of $300 per year and paid $1.50 per week to board.

In April of 1879, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Sager donated one half-acre of land on the northeast corner of Lot 88, Concession 2, Ameliasburgh on which a brick school was erected. It was the same size as the present structure and very similar as to windows and front door, but the ceiling was lower.

It as heated by a large wood-burning box stove. Scholars sat in iron-frame double desks. some of these desks are now in the Ameliasburgh Museum. this school was used until 1904 when it became unsafe and torn down.

Mrs. Morton Weese in 1894 received $275; out of her salary she was expected to pay the janitor, who was one of the older boys at school. He built the fires for about $1.50 per month. Mrs. Weese recalled giving the school a good cleaning every Friday in preparation for church in the school on Sunday.

In 1904 the present frame school building was erected. Water always had to be carried from a nearby home. In 1927 a well was drilled but the water was salty. In 1930 the school was painted inside and out, reroofed, had the foundation plastered, new toilets and cement sidewalks built. Hydro was not installed until 1945.

When Victoria School was closed in 1966, it was purchased by Harmon Montgomery.

Victoria School building in later years (likely 1990s)

Ed. note: Victoria School still stands at the corner of Gore Road and Weese Road a few miles north of Ameliasburgh. It appears the building is presently used to house livestock.

Cover photograph taken in 1922.
Back row: Joe Foley, clarence Vanclief, Orval Taft, Roy Brickman, Harry Knox, Haviland Hubbs, Harold Wannamaker, Gerald Brickman, Gerald Pope, Clayton Wannamaker, Harmon Montgomery, John Badgley, Teacher Jim Grimmon, Geraldine Weese, alice Hubbs, Gladys Knox, Evelyn Montgomery, Irma Wannamaker, and vivian Green.
Front row: Bill Knox, Ernie Butchie, Ralph Henessey, Leslie Pope, Jack Delong, Madeline Butchie, Margaret Knox, Evelyn Calnan, Kathleen Montgomery and Florence Hubbs.

This article was originally published in the June 2000 edition of Quinte KIN.

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