Nipigon in Thunder Bay District, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

First School

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 9, 2022

1. First School Marker

Inscription.
In the early 1890's, a meeting was called to organize school for the local children. Businessman William McKirdy was elected the chairman of the board. By 1893, the first school in Nipigon was built on a double plot purchased for $250 from the Governor and Company of Adventurers of England trading into Hudson's Bay. Constructed from logs, it cost the village $298.50 to build the one-room school house. The teacher, Mr. J.J. Robbinson of Collingwood was hired at a salary of $300 per annum. An extra room was added in 1898, and another in 1909. This was also the year that the school purchased its first belfry and bell. The school-age population increased and trustees rented the Presbyterian Church in 1920 to accommodate the overflow.

In 1923, all the children moved to the new Consolidated School. The school house was removed and the land was turned over to the municipality.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Education • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1893.

Location. 49° 0.692′ N, 88° 15.758′ W. Marker is in Nipigon, Ontario, in Thunder Bay District. Marker is on 2nd Street just west of Newton Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 25 2nd Street, Nipigon ON P0T 2J0, Canada. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within

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walking distance of this marker. Hydro Building / United Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Hudson's Bay Company (within shouting distance of this marker); Revillon Brothers (within shouting distance of this marker); Skandia House (within shouting distance of this marker); Fraser House (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); The Nipigon Inn (about 90 meters away); The Ovilio Hotel (about 90 meters away); Municipal Office and Jail (about 90 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nipigon.

Marker detail: Lot Where the School Once Stood image. Click for full size.

Courtesy Nipigon Historical Museum

2. Marker detail: Lot Where the School Once Stood

This photo shows the empty lot where the school once stood. On the left is the house of the Hudson's Bay manager. That house was destroyed by the same fire that razed the Hudson's Bay store in 1925. The concrete stairs to the house survived, and appear in 2002 to lead nowhere. Bob Fraser’s blacksmith shop and the old post office where Alice Barker was the postmistress is visible in the background. Down the street is Granny Thompson’s home and the Skandia House.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 9, 2022

3. First School Marker

Looking northeast from 2nd Street; the building on this site today appears to be a township hall from 1953.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 8, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 8, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 43 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 8, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.