Downtown in St. Catharines in Niagara Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Grantham Academy 1829

Our Heritage

Photographed by Kevin Westell, June 11, 2025

1. Grantham Academy 1829 Marker

Inscription. Grantham Academy was the first high school established in the Niagara Peninsula, with the exception of district grammar schools which were under government control. It was the second non-denominational secondary school built in all of Upper Canada, now known as Ontario. The Academy opened as a private boys school in 1829, and closed as a public school in 1977. Oliver Phelps, a local businessperson and contractor on the first Welland Canal, donated the bell located in the frontispiece, and used it to call his canal employees to work.

This building was continually used as a school for almost 150 years, first as Grantham Academy, then St. Catharines District Grammar School (1846), St. Catharines District Grammar School(1845), St. Catharines Collegiate Institute (1872) and finally W.J. Robertson Public School (1924). Many of St. Catharines' most influential residents attended Robertson's School before it closed. The building has since been home to the Folk Arts Council of St. Catharines Multicultural Centre.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1829.

Location. 43° 9.7′ N,

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79° 14.736′ W. Marker is in St. Catharines, Ontario, in Niagara Region. It is in Downtown. It can be reached from Church Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 85 Church Street, St Catharines ON L2R 3C7, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe

and in Niagara Canada.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Grantham Academy (a few steps from this marker); What's In A Name: "A" not "E" (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Mills-YWCA Building, 1868 (about 150 meters away); St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral (about 150 meters away); Former Grantham Town Hall, 1950 (about 180 meters away); St. Catharines - The "Modern" Automobile City (about

Grantham Academy 1829 - Marker in context image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin Westell, June 11, 2025

2. Grantham Academy 1829 - Marker in context

At this point, Church has a low sidewalk adjacent to the road; and a high sidewalk back from the road. The marker is adjacent to the high sidewalk.

180 meters away); Amalgamation (about 180 meters away); The Founding of St. Catharines (approx. 0.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Catharines.

Another marker is no longer nearby. St. Catharines (was about 180 meters away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

More about this marker. The marker is very faded! Some inks fade in the sun.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 14, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 12, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. This page has been viewed 173 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 12, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.