Essex District High School
Encyclopedia
Essex District High School is a public secondary school in Essex
, in the centre of Essex County
. The school was founded in 1885 and is the oldest operating publicly funded high school in Ontario
. The school has a student population of 940 and 78 faculty members.
Classes started August 31st in the old church behind the railroad station on Medora Avenue, which had been used by the Methodist Episcopal Church. There were 18 students and 2 teachers the first year.
Captain Albert Jones offered part of Lot 284 consisting of 3 1/4 acres of his land for the building site for the new school which cost $10,000.00. It was a two storey red brick structure 64' x 67', 3 classrooms on both floors, a basement and an attic all heated with wood stoves. Essex High School officially opened in 1888, accommodating 200 students.
In 1889, the Lyceum, a Literary Society was organized and the Argus (the first school magazine) began. Since attendance reached 59 students, a 3rd teacher was hired. High School Cadets were first organized in 1898. By 1904, Essex High School was highly acclaimed for its well equipped gym. In 1920 an addition to the school costing $5,000.00 was built and there were 6 teachers on staff
A fire on Tuesday, February 14th 1921 destroyed the school. All that was saved were the guns and uniforms of the cadets. All records, science and chemistry apparatus and books were burned.
Essex Free Press article February 18, 1921
The building was only a brick veneer. The practice at that time was to oil the wood floors, and so the fire that started in the furnace room spread quickly. The school was destroyed in only an hours time.
People came from all over the county to see the remains of the school. In fact, the Electric railway ran a car from Kingsville to Essex so Kingsville Students could see the ruins. Since Essex High School had been the first school built outside of Windsor, many came from as far away as Leamington.
The Monday following the fire, Orange Hall (the basement of the Library), and one classroom at the public school were used to continue classes for its 160 students. Orange hall also served as the Presbyterian Sunday School. Despite inconveniences, education continued in this state until the new school was built. The new school was built at a cost of $85,000.00. It was formally opened by the Warden of the County on September 5th 1922.
Fine Arts - 16
Business Studies - 10
Canadian and World Studies - 16
Computer and Information Science - 8
English - 12
French - 5
Health and Physical Education - 19
Mathematics - 15
Native Studies - 1
Science - 15
Social Sciences and Humanities - 10
Technological Education - 16
The Red Raiders boys hockey team were OFSAA champions in 2002 and 2003.
Essex, Ontario
Essex is a town with a population of 20,032 in Essex County in southwestern Ontario, Canada, whose municipal borders extend to Lake Erie. Essex is also the name of the largest community within the municipality. The present mayor is Ron McDermott...
, in the centre of Essex County
Essex County, Ontario
Essex County is a county and census division located in Southwestern Ontario and covers an area at the southernmost tip of Canada. The administrative seat is Essex...
. The school was founded in 1885 and is the oldest operating publicly funded high school in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. The school has a student population of 940 and 78 faculty members.
History
In 1885, Dr. James Brien proposed and received strong support for the establishment of a new High School in Essex Centre. On March 14th 1885 the first meeting of the School Board took place at Peck's Hall led by James Naylor as Chairman; and J.S. Laird, S.G. Thomas, C.E. Jones, John Milne and W.H. Russell.Classes started August 31st in the old church behind the railroad station on Medora Avenue, which had been used by the Methodist Episcopal Church. There were 18 students and 2 teachers the first year.
Captain Albert Jones offered part of Lot 284 consisting of 3 1/4 acres of his land for the building site for the new school which cost $10,000.00. It was a two storey red brick structure 64' x 67', 3 classrooms on both floors, a basement and an attic all heated with wood stoves. Essex High School officially opened in 1888, accommodating 200 students.
In 1889, the Lyceum, a Literary Society was organized and the Argus (the first school magazine) began. Since attendance reached 59 students, a 3rd teacher was hired. High School Cadets were first organized in 1898. By 1904, Essex High School was highly acclaimed for its well equipped gym. In 1920 an addition to the school costing $5,000.00 was built and there were 6 teachers on staff
A fire on Tuesday, February 14th 1921 destroyed the school. All that was saved were the guns and uniforms of the cadets. All records, science and chemistry apparatus and books were burned.
Essex Free Press article February 18, 1921
"The fire had started about 7:45 in the old furnace room. The Janitor had reported that he had gone to the school and filled the furnace with coal, banking it up well and leaving about 7:15 p.m. About 7:45 p.m. his wife called his attention to a light in the school building and he hurried over to same. On opening the furnace room door, the smoke poured out so dense he could not enter, whereupon he ran to the front door, intending to use the phone and turn in a fire alarm. The smoke was also so thick in that section that he feared to go in so went over to J. Baldwin and phoned the waterworks. The alarm was given and in a few minutes the fire brigade were on the scene, but the fire had gained such headway that their efforts were of no avail."
The building was only a brick veneer. The practice at that time was to oil the wood floors, and so the fire that started in the furnace room spread quickly. The school was destroyed in only an hours time.
People came from all over the county to see the remains of the school. In fact, the Electric railway ran a car from Kingsville to Essex so Kingsville Students could see the ruins. Since Essex High School had been the first school built outside of Windsor, many came from as far away as Leamington.
The Monday following the fire, Orange Hall (the basement of the Library), and one classroom at the public school were used to continue classes for its 160 students. Orange hall also served as the Presbyterian Sunday School. Despite inconveniences, education continued in this state until the new school was built. The new school was built at a cost of $85,000.00. It was formally opened by the Warden of the County on September 5th 1922.
Academics
Essex District High School offers the following number of courses in these categories:Fine Arts - 16
Business Studies - 10
Canadian and World Studies - 16
Computer and Information Science - 8
English - 12
French - 5
Health and Physical Education - 19
Mathematics - 15
Native Studies - 1
Science - 15
Social Sciences and Humanities - 10
Technological Education - 16
Athletics
Essex District High School has 26 sports teams. They all share the same name: The "Essex Red Raiders." The school mascots are Raider Man and Raider Woman. The Red Raiders compete in the AA category of the South Western Ontario Secondary Schools Athletic Association (SWOSSAA) which is a division of the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA).The Red Raiders boys hockey team were OFSAA champions in 2002 and 2003.
Notable alumni
- Nate BinderNate BinderNate Binder is a professional Canadian football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He most recently attended training camp with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted 24th overall by the Lions in the 2010 CFL Draft and signed a contract with the team on May 25, 2010...
, CFLCanadian Football LeagueThe Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
player of the Edmonton EskimosEdmonton EskimosThe Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895... - Colin Daynes, Olympic Wrestler
- Kelsey BalkwillKelsey BalkwillKelsey Ellen Balkwill is a Canadian athlete. She is a silver medallist from the Pan American Junior Championships and a finalist from the 2010 World Junior Championships in Athletics.- Personal :...
, Silver medallist Pan American Junior Athletics ChampionshipsPan American Junior Athletics ChampionshipsThe Pan American Junior Athletics Championships are a biennial sports event for track and field athletes from the Americas. They were first held in 1980. The IAAF defines Junior as athletes who are 19 years of age or under.-Summary of Championships:...