Dryden Evolves From a Continuation School to a High School

Continuation school was informally taught in Dryden as early as 1905. At that time, elementary teachers taught continuation school work to a few students in Grades 9 and 10. A resolution was passed by ratepayers in 1910, authorizing the school board to obtain a continuation school teacher if there was such a need. (George Wice, Carved from the Wilderness, page 82)

In 1912, the Presbyterian Church located on the north-east corner (some people believe it was located on the south-west corner) of Van Horne and Princess Streets was vacated when the Presbyterian Church amalgamated with the Dryden Methodist Church. It was in this building that Continuation school was initiated. The school system now comprised of two buildings, the Van Horne building housed the Elementary students while the church housed both elementary and continuation school students. To meet the increasing need for continuation school, a partition was built in the church in 1919. By this time, there were seven teachers on staff and Mr. W.E. Eade was principal. (George Wice, Carved from the Wilderness, page 83)

Please see pictures of this building located at the bottom of this page

Education continued this way until 1923 with the opening of the Albert Street elementary school. In that year, the continuation school was moved to the Van Horne building.

In 1932, an individual by the initials J.R., undertook the task of writing a history of DCS (Dryden Continuation School). J.R. (Jason Rigbey ?) was probably the secretary or the president of the DCS Literary Society. In the four page history, J.R. writes that previous to 1923, the Continuation School was held in what was "previously a white wooden building at the corner opposite the south-east end of the present school grounds". J.R.'s account further adds that the building has since then "been bricked over and is now used as a residence for two families". J.R. also mentions that over the years there were between thirty-five and forty-five students, with two teachers for the three forms (grades 9, 10 and 11)

This description would confirm George Wice's account that Continuation School teaching first started in the vacant church, and that the building was later remodeled as a duplex. George Wice adds that this dwelling later became the temporary home of Gordon Wood. (Carved from the Wilderness, page 83)

By 1935, Continuation school subjects had been taught by public school teachers for 23 years. That year, a high school inspector met with the board and insisted that a high school district be formed, pointing out that higher grants would be received and better qualified teachers would be attracted. To qualify as a high school, it was necessary that the teachers on staff had obtained their teaching certificates from a degree-granting institution.

Miss Molly Hassard was principal of the newly formed high school. Some alumni believe that she was only qualified as continuation school principal and eventually moved west to Alberta. On page 84 of Carved from the Wilderness, G. Wice states that Miss M. Hassard was principal from 1935-37. In the documented history of the school year 1937-38, it states that in the autumn of 1937 the students welcomed their principal J.D. Smith, who was on leave for the previous year. The other teachers on staff were Mr. Ward Scott, and Miss Copeland and Miss Hassard.

This is the church building that was first used as a continuation school from 1912 to 1923.

After 1923 when the continuation school moved to the main building on Van Horne Avenue, the church was remodeled into a duplex building which became the home of Gordon Wood. The building was torn down during the late 1970s.

This picture is of the church building after it was remodeled as a home. Mr. Gordon wood lived in this hourse

These pictures were provided by Vi Stansfield