Beamsville High School

Beamsville High School has been part of our community and a landmark in our area since 1917. It was designed by Canadian architect, Walter William LaChance in the Beaux-Arts style. It features a monumental staircase, four smooth columns with lonic capitals, and four cartouches which protrude above the roofline. The school was positioned to create an imposing view and a grand approach from Ontario Street. , The school was constructed by local tradesmen using limestone from the Queenston Quarries and brick transported by horse and wagon from the Beamsville Brick and Tile Company. The high school was originally designed to accommodate 100 students, but by the 1920s, enrollment had almost doubled. At the time, students from Grimsby used the Hamilton, Grimsby Beamsville Electric Radial Trolley to get to school. , After World War I, more men and women were looking for greater educational opportunities, including commercial and vocational programs, and for the first time ever, evening courses! In 1924, in response to these needs, the first of what would become several new additions was built. The first addition included a gymnasium/community hall which could seat 700 people. The school's imposing architecture, diverse course offerings, and community space made it the envy of all the surrounding municipalities.