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Remember This? King Edward VII Public School

It cost $939,000 to build its replacement, which is no longer a school
King Edward School
A map shows the neighbourhood surrounding King Edward VII Public School. Sault Ste. Marie Public Library archive photo

From the archives of the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library:

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Remember This? King Edward School

Etienne Brule Public School closed its doors two years ago, but how many of you remember the original school?

The school that would eventually become King Edward VII Public School was built in 1896 as a four room school. 

Originally the school was to have been built at the corner of Hudson Street and Queen Street West, as stated by archived Sault Star articles however an option to build a new school on this site fell through when the Hudson’s Bay Company, who owned the property, terminated the option.

The Hudson’s Bay Company then offered an acre of land located on Albert Street (formerly Murray Street) near the Etienne Brule School location but since it was a swampy piece of land with black alder growing on it, this offer was refused by the school board.

King Edward VII Public SchoolKing Edward VII Public School is pictured in this Sault Ste. Marie Public Library archive photo

The school board then approached Mr. Chipman, from the Hudson’s Bay Company, about another acre of land located within this same area. 

The cost of the land started out at $1500 but this was far too expensive so a counter offer of $600 was made and a final offer of $700 was accepted. 

The new school was located on Schrieber Street, a street which no longer exists.

This street ran parallel between Huron and John Streets with Murray (Albert) Street on the north end and Superior (Queen) Street on the south end. 

The street virtually cut in half what we now know as the Etienne Brule school property.

The new school was built by Bryan Brothers of Collingwood and local stone, from some of Clergue’s business enterprises was donated for the building.

The school grounds and the school building itself cost the city $6,000, and according to early City Directories it was called the West Ward School.  

In 1912, four additional rooms were added to the school and it was renamed the King Edward VII Public School following the death of the British monarch in May of 1910. 

The school continued on for 74 years until the deteriorating condition of the school meant that a new building was needed.

Parents pulled 8 pupils out of the school in 1968 claiming that the building was unsafe. 

The company, Vinston Construction was awarded the $939,000 contract for the replacement of the old King Edward VII Public School.

The new school was a two-story building with structural provisions for a future third story.

In 1971, after the Easter holiday the students returned to a new building which was now called Etienne Brule Public School.

Their old school was torn down during the Easter break. The decision had been made to amalgamate the Campbell, King Edward VII and McFadden Public Schools into the new Etienne Brule Public School. 

This new school was named after the young explorer Etienne Brule who (circa 1610) was sent by Samuel de Champlain to explore the interior of Canada.

His route brought him through this area and Brule named this spot "Sault du Gaston" in honour of the brother of the King of France.

By 2014, Etienne Brule Public School, located at 241 Albert Street West, was the last elementary school remaining in the Sault’s downtown core and home to approximately 50 children from JK-3. 

Due to the small number of students, the Algoma District School Board (ADSB) proceeded with a review process, before announcing its decision in May 2014, to close Etienne Brule Public School and transfer the remaining students to Northern Heights, Kiwedin and William Merrifield Public Schools beginning in September 2014. 

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Each week, the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library and its Archives provides SooToday readers with a glimpse of the city’s past.

Find out more of what the Public Library has to offer at www.ssmpl.ca and look for more Remember This? columns here