1864

By the early 1860s, the school was bursting at the seams with 150 students crammed into 3 rooms. New accomodations had to be found. The new site for the above building, constructed in 1864, was on Dalhousie Street, just north of Gould Street, by present-day Ryerson Polytechnic University.

But why does this building look so primitive and ugly? There must be more to the story behind this picture . . .

TRIVIA -

• The Toronto Grammar School Mental Improvement Society was founded in 1864.

• Girls were graciously allowed to attend the following year in 1865. They had not been allowed in for the previous 58 years. However, it was not a warm welcome they received at first. They were allowed to study nothing but French, and the government gave no grant of money to the school for girls.

• Girls were given a legal right to attend in 1871 by the School Act.