War was looming with the Americans in 1812, so
it was felt that York needed someone young, feisty
and supremely loyal to the Crown to take the leadership
of the church and school. Young John Strachan, a teacher
for nine years in Cornwall and originally from Scotland,
filled the bill. After receiving a first offer then
negotiating a salary increase and additional privileges
with Lieutenant Governor Gore and General Brock, Strachan
arrived in York in August, two months after war was declared.
Whatever his faults, Strachan, like Simcoe, was genuinely
devoted to building a new society in Upper Canada. He placed
the following advertisement in the Upper Canada Gazette
on October 10, 1812:
"EDUCATION -- The Subscriber having been nominated Teacher of
the School of the Home District, informs the Public that his
Seminary is now open for the reception of Pupils.
Rate of Tuition appointed by the Trustees,
Common Education -- 6 pounds per annum
Clerical Education -- 3 pounds per annum
"Anxious to extend the advantages of his School, the
Subscriber will even abate somewhat of the above rates
to the poore Inhabitants, provided they keep their
Children neat and clean and supply them with proper
Books. N. B. Scholars from other Districts are
charged ten pounds per annum."
Strachan believed that education had three aims:
1. To form character with sound moral and
religious principles. "To this end, the greatest
asset of a school is the personality of the teacher."
2. To instill religious conviction.
"For edcuation to be worthwhile, it must be founded on
religion; without knowing God, all knowledge is in vain."
3. To develop a deep affection for the British
Monarchy. "I take every opportunity to inspire
[students] with a love for their country, and loyalty to
our gracious sovereign . . . The first feelings, sentiments
and opinions of Youth should be British."
The coming of John Strachan saw a record enrolment of 50 in
October. This was too many for the root house, so the school
moved temporarily to a rented, reconverted barn at King and
Yonge Streets.
Plans for a new school were delayed by the war.
The war with the Americans--we say we won,
they say they won (we're
right)--preoccupied the British colonies in North America
throughout 1812 and the following several years.
The town of York was invaded by an American fleet
in 1813 and occupied by an army of 1,700 soldiers.
The legislature and the library were put to the torch.
The invaders withdrew after 11 days, but fighting
continued on the Great Lakes into 1814.
More on this to be added later.
During the summer of 1816, construction of a
new school was completed--the two-storey palace
pictured above. Known as "Old Blue" because of its
blue paint job, paid for by public lectures given
by John Strachan when he was headmaster ("a course
of public lectures on natural philosophy at two
guineas the course"), the
building was 55 feet long, 40 feet wide, and faced
onto Church Street from College Square, a six-acre
lot north of St. James' Church.
The first floor was
the schoolroom, with pine desks for about 50 students.
The upstairs was used for meetings, debates and performances.
College Square was located between Richmond and
Adelaide Streets, and Church and Jarvis Streets.
Wood for the new school came from trees chopped down in
the forests north of Richmond Street.
At this time the school contained 40-50 pupils, aged 5-17.
The name of school became the Royal Grammar School in
1825.
In 1829 the school moved to the corner of Jarvis
and Lombard Streets. Lombard at the time was notorious as a street of ill repute.
(Shhhh! We've had complaints about mentioning such things on this Web site.)
The town reverted to its former Indian name of Toronto
in 1834. The population reached 10,000.