Jim Thomas
Columns
June 07, 2007 09:29 PM
Jim Thomas
The official opening of Stouffville District High School occurred Nov. 26, 1954.
I was there.
The official closing of Stouffville District Secondary School occurred June 1, 2007.
I was there.
Time bridging these two important events spans 53 years.
Total cost of the building, then addressed as Edward Street, was $400,000. The student enrollment was 211. There were nine teachers on staff.
For a few nostalgic hours Friday, the hands of time around in reverse as millions of memories flooded back. For some, it was a celebration. For others, an appreciation. For still others, a violation. Whatever the reaction, one thing was certain: time and tide had taken its toll.
A new SDSS will open its doors in September on Weldon Road, south of Main Street.
While the future remains unwritten and the past is all but history, let it be known the original structure, soon to be discarded, was the result of an unwavering stand by a board that demanded Stouffville have its own secondary school rather than share a larger, more centrally located edifice with Markham. Local trustees, to their credit, eventually proved their point.
Previously, the upper floor of Summitview School had served this purpose.
Friday evening’s experience was filled with mixed emotions – joys and sorrows; happiness and heartache.
Like Lynne (Duxbury) Smith of Barrie, daughter of long-serving principal Bill Duxbury, a name spoken with reverential quality by many in attendance.
“I’m sorry,” said Lynne, a special education teacher 25 years, “but the very mention of my dad brings a lump to my throat.”
On the lighter side, Lloyd Graves, now of Lindsay, recalled how physical education instructor Jim Rehill would regularly drive his Volkswagen ‘bug’ all the way to Vivan to pick him up so he wouldn’t miss volleyball practises.
John Marshall, a cross-over teacher from Summitview, was surrounded by well-wishers, as was wife Kay, also a member of the SHS staff. Other former teachers noticeable by their presence included Carol Stamatiou, Sue Kauffman, Janet Sherman, Bob Hammond, Lin Jones, Jim Rehill, Dave Connell, John Lindop, Wally Currie, Al Piette, Robert Scorrer and Jim Fletcher .
Former principal Allan Dickson and vice-principal Jay Hooper were there.
Efy Marinos, a relative newcomer to Stouffville High, said she appreciates the nostalgia associated with a school that had served the area so well more than a half a century.
“It’s nice to see how far we’ve come,” she said, admitting she’s looking forward to the new site.
“I hope it’s air-conditioned,” she added.
The passage of time was noted by the fact Carol (Skinner) Watson was a student in Grade 9 when the present high school opened. Fifty-three years later, her granddaughter, Madison Bartley, is a Grade 9 student as the same school closes.
Carol, a graduate nurse, served in hospitals at St. Catharines, Uxbridge, Bloorview and Parkview Home in Stouffville.
Other SDSS grads also made their mark.
Elizabeth (Rae) McAteer, now of Thornhill, class of ’59, holds an RN degree from Toronto East General Hospital. She served both there and at Toronto’s Wellesley.
Isobel (Hoover) Coleman of Stouffville, was also a ’59 grad. Following completion of a course at Shaw’s Business School, she was employed on the staff of Universal Films, Toronto.
Ted Jones, formerly of Gormley and now Thornhill, attended grade 9 at Summitview and grade 10 at SDHS. He remembers travelling to Stouffville in an Albert Hisey bus, then hitch-hiking home. John Marshall was his football coach. Quarterbacks were Don Haynes and Graham Frisby. He also sang in the school choir, directed by Ron Mercer. Following graduation in 1956, he was employed for 33 years at Mitchell Books, Scarborough.
Ann Barkey enrolled at Emmanuel Bible College, Kitchener following graduation in 1963. She then attended teacher’s college in Stratford and has since held positions in Kitchener, Cambridge and Fairbanks, Alaska.
“Mr. Marshall gave me the only detention I ever received,” she remembers with a faint smile, “he caught me talking in the hall. I missed my bus to Mongolia and had to walk home”.Apart from this, she recalls Mr. Marshall as “a wonderful teacher”, and clearly forgives him for his disciplinary act.
Shirley (Middleton) Irwin of Stouffville graduated as a mature student in 1982. This achievement was so unusual at the time, it warranted a headline story in The Tribune, a photo copy of which was emblazoned on the wall of the school’s front lobby.
Husband Al had a band called ‘The Blue Bops’. This group, including Al’s brother Lloyd; Fred Abraham, Moe Loveless and Hans de Heus, played for many SDSS dances.
Michael Bridges, now a professional music promoter, attributes the excellence of the SDSS music program with establishing his career.
“Mr. Rehill was a very special teacher,” he says.
Michael, a graduate in 1969, lives in Scarborough.
Audrey Brumell, class of ’89, is an officer with York Regional Police, working out of No. 5 division, Markham.
Alan Lee, a graduate in ’67, is now retired after several years in the tourist industry. One of his fondest memories is the student production of The Pirates of Penzance. He also served as a student council vice-president and year book editor.
Anne (Duxbury) Morrison, now of Markham, graduated in 1970. Her father was principal during all of her five years at SDSS.
Ann (Redshaw) Orr of Newmarket attended the Ontario College of Art following graduation in ’78. “John Roberts was exceptional,” she said, “Mrs. Stamatiou also.” Ann’s currently enrolled in a gerontology course at George Brown College.
Jennifer (Pritzker) LeBlanc was involved in almost every activity available during her five years at Stouffville High, including the choir, the band, variety shows and student council. She graduated in 1990.
What goes around comes around for Jacquie (Chong) Carew. Following graduation in 1984, Jacquie resided in Brampton and Arizona before moving back to Stouffville. A son, Richard, is a student in Grade 9.
Shaunessy Joyce is currently a fourth year student in radio-television broadcasting at Ryerson University, Toronto. She graduated in 2004. While attending SDSS, she was president of the student council, editor of the year book, a cheerleader and member of the rugby team.
These are only a few Stouffville District Secondary School success stories. Engraved plaques and banners indicate many more. With more still to come as one education era concludes and another’s about to begin.