Photo Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2005.1.202 |
Object Name |
Photograph |
Place |
Lisgar/Mississauga/Ontario/Canada |
Date |
06/17/1896 |
Description |
A black-and-white school photograph featuring 30 children and their teacher, Miss Amy Bull, is set against a window and brick wall backdrop. In the front row, a boy holds a chalkboard sign that reads, "S.S. No. 17 Toronto Township Miss Amy Bull, Lisgar. June 17th, 1896." Leaves are scattered on the ground around them, and various sports items like lacrosse sticks and bowling pins are held by the children. The back of the photograph identifies the students as follows: "Front Row - 1. Will Arnott 2. - - - 3. Wilmer Hamilton 4. Garnet Hamilton 5. - - - 6. Wilbert Leslie 7. Edgar Switzer 8. Elmer Leslie / 2nd Row - 1. Ella Arnott 2. Pearl Hamilton 3. Myrtle Eakins 4. George Rutledge 5. Wellington Rutledge 6. Teacher: Miss Amy Bull 7. Herb Cantelon 8. Colin Smith 9. - - - 10. - - - 11. - - - Johnson / 3rd Row - 1. Annie Eakins 2. - - - 3. - - - Johnson 4. - - - 5. Lillian Switzer 6. Ethel Burton 7. Clarice Switzer 8. Ethel Hamilton / Back Row - 1. Samuel Tisdale 2. William Switzer 3. Tom Leslie 4. Gordon Burton" |
History |
This is a class photo of children from S.S. #17 in Toronto Township, historic Mississauga, also known as Eden School, named after a nearby Methodist Church of the same name. Located near Derry and Argentia, it served the communities of Meadowvale, Lisgar (Switzer's Corners), and Harris Corners. The school originated as a log building in 1823 on Lot 11, Concession 5 WHS, initially serving as a prayer hall for Methodists and later as a schoolhouse on John Switzer's property. By 1835, the log building had been replaced with a hewn log structure. In 1847, a 30x26-foot red-brick schoolhouse was constructed. The school featured double desks, two blackboards, and was heated by a central stove. In 1887, a new red-brick school was built nearby, likely the one pictured in this photograph. Memoirs from the time recall that by mid-January 1896, the school at Harris Corners was in "full blast," with "Miss Bull again wielding the rod." In December 1896, the newspaper praised the trustees for giving Miss Bull a high recommendation, noting that she fully deserved it. Teachers earned around $250 annually by 1885, and attendance varied with farm work seasons. The school closed in 1960, and students transferred to Meadowvale Public School. The school was demolished in 1993. This photograph represents a cross-section of some of the most well-known and respected farming families in northwestern Mississauga. Students would likely have been the grandchildren of early settlers who founded many of the early hamlet communities in historic Mississauga. For example, the Arnott children were from Whaley’s Corners; the Cantelons, Eakins, and Rutledges all lived in and around Streetsville; the Leslies and Burtons were from Harris’ Corners; and the Hamiltons and Switzers were from Switzer’s Corners (Lisgar). The Leslie family is credited with building Leslie Log House (now home to the Streetsville Historical Society), which Wilbert Leslie purchased in 1924, while Edgar Switzer was one of many Switzer children who attended Eden School on the property originally owned by his own grandfather, John Switzer. Although Miss Amelia "Amy" Bull lived in Chinguacousy (Brampton), it is perhaps the Bull name that is most recognizable in the historic record as she was the younger sister of noted Peel historian William Perkins Bull who, during the 1930s, interviewed and recorded information on nearly all of the residents of Peel. Many of the students also went on to serve their communities in various capacities. For example, Myrtle Eakins was a local librarian, George Rutledge served as a postmaster in Cooksville, while Thomas Leslie and William Switzer both became census enumerators. Others found love, such as Garnet Hamilton, who married fellow classmate Mary Helena Cook. Unfortunately, there are other stories of loss within the community such as that of Samuel Tisdale who was orphaned at a young age and was, at the time of this photograph, being cared for by his mother’s family, the Burtons who are also photographed. For the students of S.S. no. 17, Eden School was a place to not only learn but also make lasting connections within their communities. |
People |
Arnott, Mary Ellen Arnott, William James Bull, Amelia Rebecca Burton, Ethel Gertrude Burton, George Allison Cantelon, Samuel Herbert Jr. Eakins, Annie Violet Eakins, Myrtle Olive Hamilton, Ethel Irene Hamilton, Garnet Charles William Cecil Hamilton, Pearl Ivy Louvilla Hamilton, Wilmer Ansel Leslie, George Elmer Mackay Leslie, Thomas Andrew Leslie, Wilbert Rutledge, George Christopher Thompson Rutledge, Robert Wellington Smith, Colin Switzer, Clarice Switzer, Edgar Mason Switzer, Florence Mabel Lillian Switzer, William Frederick Bonner Tisdale, Samuel Burton |
Site |
S.S. #17 Eden School |
Search Terms |
Harris' Corner Lisgar Meadowvale |
Relation |
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