Weston Grammar School

Details of Site Location: The southeast corner of King and Elm Streets in Weston, half-way between Jane Street and Weston Road north of Lawrence.

Boundary History: The lot was irregular in shape, coming to a sharp angle at the northeast corner; it amounted to 2 acres.

Current Use of Property: A row of bungalows stands on the site today.

Historical Description: The Weston Grammar School was the third to be built in York County and serviced the surrounding area. At the time it was built, the only other grammar schools in the county were in Richmond Hill and Newmarket. Built in 1857 as the result of vigorous activity by William Tyrrell, who organized $200 from the County Council, $500 and the 2 acres from public subscriptions, and $3,100 of his own funds, which he raised by mortgaging property he owned in Etobicoke and offered as a loan to the Board of Trustees. Rowland Burr, Tyrrell’s father-in-law, was hired to do the construction, which included a residence for the teacher. Classes began in the basement of the Methodist Church, then moved to a house while construction of the school was under way. In 1858, the school opened. It was a two-room, two-storey building: one large room was the schoolroom and had a large teacher’s desk, a stove, and small desks and seats. The smaller room was used by the teacher, his family, and pupil boarders. The loan from Tyrrell was finally paid off in 1879. The fees for pupils were charged by the term, with larger amounts for educating older students. The highest rate for one term was $4.25. The students educated there, including Tyrrell’s own son, who became one of Canada’s greatest scientist/explorers, reads like a Who’s Who of the 19th century. The grammar school had to prepare students for entrance to the University of Toronto. This was Weston’s only school until 1913, when a high school was built.

Relative Importance: As the first educational facility in the Weston area, this school occupies a special place. In her history book of educational development at secondary level, Doris Wattie devotes an entire chapter to it. Its graduates more than justify a commemoration.

Planning Implications: It is recommended that a plaque honouring the school, its founders, its early teachers, and some of its graduates be mounted at the intersection of King and Elm.

Reference Sources: Miles’ Atlas (1878); Doris Wattie, One Hundred Years: A Retrospect 1857-1957 (1957); F.D. Cruikshank and J. Nason, History of Weston; Community History Project, Tyrrell Collection.

Acknowledgements: Weston Historical Society; York LACAC.