Niagara Falls Review e-edition

J.C. Bald Public School was tied to one of Welland’s oldest families

MARK ALLENOV CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST

Despite being in existence for only 33 years, a former Welland school once had ties to one of the city’s oldest families: the Balds.

Thomas Bald was born in 1746 in Blackhouse, Selkirkshire, Scotland and came to Canada circa 1794 after he became unhappy with the political situation at home. When Bald, with his two-year-old son Thomas Bald Jr., arrived and settled in Thorold he had a lot of money due to sale of his assets, and almost immediately bought land to establish his homestead.

As the family grew, many members became involved in the community. Thomas Jr. fought in the War of 1812, and Thomas’s son William became Welland County reeve, coroner and town council member both pre- and post-incorporation. William’s daughter, May B. Bald, was the first woman in Ontario to receive a bachelor of arts university degree.

James Cook Bald, the man after whom the school was named, was born in 1873, and was son of David Bald, the son of Thomas Bald Jr. and Catherine. James’ mother, Hannah Estelle Cook, is thought to be the first female teacher in Welland County, and James would join the ranks of the teaching profession alongside others in the family.

In total, eight members of the family were involved in teaching.

J.C. later joined Welland’s school board, serving as secretary-treasurer of Union School Section No. 2 for 20 years, and as a trustee for 30.

The building at 269 Thorold Rd. was constructed to replace two rural schools: the junior school, also known as the Green School due to its exterior colour, on the corner of Prince Charles Drive and Thorold Road, and the brick school on Fitch Street.

With steady growth and an influx of new students, the schools experienced overcrowding. By 1943, it was necessary to build a new structure, but due to the ongoing war, plans were shelved until 1945.

On Nov. 14 of that year, ratepayers authorized construction of the school. Local architect Arthur B. Scott was engaged to design it, with R. Timms Construction Ltd. hired as general contractor.

Contracts were let June 12, 1947, and construction began the same month.

Designed to be one of the most modern rural schools in the province, the single-storey building featured radiant heating, mechanical ventilation, bilateral lighting and separate washrooms for classrooms, and canted chalkboards of green “nucite,” among other features.

Initially, the school consisted of five classrooms, with additional areas such as a large playroom, an all-purpose room, a domestic science room, a principal’s office, teachers and nurses room, and an agricultural room with greenhouse facilities.

A Grade 1 classroom featured a specially constructed bay window that took up the entire wall, designed to brighten the room and give it an almost circular appearance.

The school’s overall cost was

$125,000.

In 1950, the City of Welland annexed the area between Welland River and Thorold Road, and the school was renamed in honour of J.C. Bald.

Over the years, the school remained largely the same as when constructed. In 1981, with enrolment declining, the then Niagara South Board of Education decided to close the location and transfer students to other schools.

On June 6, 1982, an open house was held by former and current students to celebrate the end of the school’s 33-year history.

The building lasted until 1986 as James C. Bald Centre and the Reach & Gifted Program home, until being replaced in 1989 by the a YMCA Day Care and Early Childhood Centre.

The location is now owned by Niagara Catholic District School Board and is home to the Father Patrick H. Fogarty Adult and Continuing Education Centre.

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2023-05-27T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-05-27T07:00:00.0000000Z

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