An inside look at Hamilton’s first and oldest public school

Elizabeth Hall took a tour of Hamilton’s first and oldest public school with some former students who say a lot has changed.

Built in 1853, Central Public Elementary School was the first public school in Hamilton.

I was remodeled in 1890 to include a steeply pitched roof and a heightened central tower. And then again in 1934 when the clock was installed. But since then the outside building has remained the same except for an addition built in the 60’s.

Allan Todd attended Central Public School in 1952 and was one of a few former students who visited the grade five class today to congratulate them on their graduation.

“There used to be a bell on the side of the building that they rang to end recess, and during the war they did three dots and a dash and that was morse code for V. The V was code for victory because we were at war.

History buff Ken Shoesmith was the principal of the school from 1977 – 1981. He says concept of graded classes was new to the area when the school first opened.

“Before the kids were going to school in small groups often in somebody’s home. ”

The concept took off.

“It wasn’t long before people wanted their children to go there. They were coming from everywhere. They ended up with 75 children in some class rooms.”

What’s really changed over the years is the diversity. Today 70% percent of the student population are newcomers to Canada coming from all over the world.

“It’s amazing we get to meet lots of different people and ask what it’s like in their country.”

The school almost was closed in the early 1980’s because of low enrollment but an insurance company rented out the second floor for office space and all the classes moved downstairs. It stayed that way for 10 years and the school was saved.