Living in Aurora, Town of Aurora, Ontario » Joanne Birch

A Bit Of Museum & History At The Aurora Farmers Market

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Tue, 15 May 2012 02:22:39 +0000

Meeting The Cracklin’ Kettle Corn gang and having popcorn for the first time this year I thought that was enough excitement for us for the day – speaking of last Saturday.

We were heading home. As we passed by A Step In Time booth I had my feet ready to run. David Heard was after me. Okay, what did I do now? All I did I just had popcorn.

A Step In Time, Aurora Farmers Market, Town Park

No worries it was happy ending, he just wanted his picture I took of him and posted on my blog. Wow, almost a year passed, last June, since I actually spoke to him.

David Heard, Aurora Farmers Market 2012, Town Park

We had nice history chat especially about the Aurora pet cemetery. He had some interesting facts and he also mentioned that the builder is going to preserve the site. That is a very good news.

Sawing Machine, A Step In Time Booth

Another good news I have for you is that David is probably the only person in Aurora that sells Aurora postcards. Since he is heavily into Aurora history his postcards are from the past.

Postcards are diminishing because of the digital technology. One day postcards will be rare and the world without postcard will not be the same – just my thought. I actually have small European collection hiding in the closet and holding strong.

A Step In Time Booth, Artifacts, Aurora Farmers Market

Before I move on to something else I have one more comment about David’s booth. In addition to everything else about Aurora, David also has small display of artifacts.

Not sure if we ever will get museum back, so if you are interested in the Aurora history there are few places in town where you can find museum artifacts – at David’s booth of course; at the Aurora Public Library often; at the Hillary House for sure and if I am not mistaken St. Andrew’s College has something on display as well.

The photo above shows display from last Saturday. I wish I was paying more attention to remember anything about the display. Well, it is an old sawing machine for sure.

David Heard, A Step In Time, Aurora Farmers Market 2012, Town Park

I guess after getting to know David more and his friend – they posed for the picture. Now I will have to really hide to get my candid photo shots.

David's Friend, A Step In Time, Aurora Farmers Market 2012, Town Park

Speaking of postcards there is one more postcard available at the Aurora Farmers Market. It is special postcard because photograph used to create this advertising postcard was taken by me and I got a very generous name credit on the front page.

Former Wells Street Public School, View From Town Park, Aurora

If you have not seen it yet you can pick one up at the Aurora Farmers Market, the information booth. The website for Wells Street Schoolhouse Lofts is now published as well and you can register for more information.

Wells Street Public School, A View From Town Park

Lastly, as I was viewing my photos from the market I also found interesting subject to talk about in the future. I will be investigating further because I found connection to my past. Stay tuned.

Wells Street Public School Blackboard Graffiti Left Behind

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 02:44:52 +0000

Blackboards in schools – give some time and they will be a history. White boards, smart boards probably are and will be the next big thing in the future schools.

Blackboard, Welcome To Well St. P.S.

Blackboards, still standing, will be history in the near future at the former Wells Street Public School, now own by the Wells Street Schoolhouse Lofts Inc.

When the school closed for good and students did not return for the 2008 school year, a bit of blackboard history from previous school year was left behind – the blackboard graffiti, that is notes and scribbles probably left by teachers and students.

Antique Chalk Holder, Well Street Public School

When I photographed inside the school anything that was physically attached to the school walls – blackboards, cork boards, lockers and shelving was in its original place.

What was also in its place collecting dust and probably never to be used, was this unique antique five finger chalk holder attached to one of the blackboards in the newer section of the school built in 1952. I searched the Internet to see if there are any out there in other schools. No luck.

Perhaps this one was made especially for this school? Or no body bothered to photograph one yet?

Our Giving Tree, Wells Street Public School

Scribbles, scribbles and more scribbles.

I remember those elementary school days when on the last they of school we left some scribbles on the classroom blackboard and when we came back from summer vacations, our teacher made us erase all.

Sometimes there were teacher’s classroom notes left as well. And some teachers in their designated classrooms kept one blackboard almost permanent – things like the periodic table in my chemistry class, and in the case of Wells Street Public School, Our Giving Tree.

Goals, Wells Street Public School

As time passed, the slate (type of stone the board was made of) blackboards started to become obsolete. Any new classroom would get the green board. For many it was hard to change and everyone continued to call it a blackboard. At some point it was generalized and called a chalkboard.

Green Board, Wells Street Public School

Some speculate that it was price that drove the change in the chalkboard industry, but it was the research in early sixties that suggested that the green background board was easier on the eyes of students – the lower contrast.

Schools Out, Wells Street Public School

To conclude, the school is out again here and hope those blackboards will bring some memories back for those who attended former Wells Street Public School. Never know may be you will also recall the five finger chalk holder you have never paid attention to. The school is now owned by Wells Street Schoolhouse Lofts. Furthermore, the school will be back with some art on the wall.

The Still Pumping Heart Of The Wells Street School

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 04:24:47 +0000

As I walked outside around the school I heard cracking noises in the pipes and walls. There was no one inside, perhaps a ghost. Perhaps not – it was the still pumping heart, the gas fired steam boiler that was rumbling and keeping the school alive.

Gas Fired Steam Boiler. Wells Street Public School

So let me tell you more about the school, this time a bit of technical stuff.

There is a bit of photographic art everywhere and I found some in the basement of the former Wells Street Public School (Wells Street Schoolhouse Lofts), the boiler room. The deterioration probably due to moisture, rusted piping, chipped paint and the architecture of the plumbing system that drew me in. The engineering part of the system is an added bonus.

Piping, Wells Street Public School

Last time I have seen something like that was on a much bigger scale. It was the underground heating system of the University of Toronto when we had the opportunity to see it during our thermodynamics course in the third or fourth year of engineering. And who would thought that years later I would come face to face with the similar boiler unit, but this time for a different purpose.

Piping, Wells Street Public School

So everything has life expectancy and so does the overall mechanical equipment of the school.

The heating heart of the school is still going – the gas fired steam boiler installed back in 1949. However, according to the inspection reports I read the boiler is approaching its theoretical life and as you can see it is strongly showing signs of deterioration.

Gas Fired Steam Boiler. Wells Street Public School

There is currently no air conditioning in the school, and I am assuming that the school was only cooled via the radiators just by passing the cold water.

That boiler will be history once the school is converted to lofts and there will be a new heating system installed. From my observations it looks like the gas fired steam boiler was assembled inside the basement, and as per Ms. Birch, it will be taken out the same way – just disassembled.

Radiators, Wells Street Public School

So it all started with the crack in the wall.

According to the reports the building is in the poor electrical conditions as well. It is working fine, but it has surpassed its anticipated service life. Same as interior lighting fixtures, heating and cooling piping systems, the heating systems radiators and few fin-tube cabinets were problematic over recent years and also have surpassed their useful service life. And then the gas piping system, plumbing piping systems, and the heat recovering ventilation.

Radiators, Wells Street Public School

Renewal was recommended, and did not look cheap either in addition this could have been disruptive process for the students and the teachers.

There were many other things that needed fixing. The report was lengthy and probably boring to write and it made me laugh when I saw that there was ‘water damaged mirror‘ and ‘soup dispensers appear to be in fair conditions‘, in reference to the condition of the washrooms.

I am not sure if it is now as the temperature sky rocked in the past few days, but when I was visiting the school last month the school was heated. I experienced blast of heat coming out the roof entrance when I did my photographic round from the roof of the school.

I guess the school needed to be maintained after was closed and the owners are doing great job in order to reduce chances of further deterioration of the school.

Radiator In The Closet Room, Wells Street Public School

The fix wasn’t cheap and decline in the enrollment were the closing factors: ‘Over the years, Wells Street Public School has experienced a gradual decline in its enrollment but the Board has directed overflow enrolment from other schools in the area to maintain its viability.‘ – Dave Cooke wrote in the Facilitator’s Report for Wells Street Public School.

Water Piping, Wells Street Public School

For those who attended the school it always will be a school, the memories always last forever. Let us not forget that. Let us not forget that everything has life expectancy as well and we must accept the change. After all, I think we are lucky that the building will stand.

‘Action and reaction, ebb and flow, trial and error, change – this is the rhythm of living. Out of our over-confidence, fear; out of our fear, clearer vision, fresh hope. And out of hope, progress.’ ~ Bruce Barton

Wells Street School Neo-Class-ical Architecture, Structurally Sound

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 03:19:59 +0000

In addition to its dominant and class presence in Aurora, former Wells Street School (Wells Street Schoolhouse Lofts) is also an example of the neo-classical architecture.

Wells Street Public School, Neo-Classical Architecture

‘In its purest form it is a style principally derived from the architecture of Classical Greece and the architecture of the Italian architect Andrea Palladio.‘ Source: Wiki

Sounds good to me, I always knew that there was something ‘Greek’ or ‘Italiain’ looking about the exteriors of the school. But then what’s inside the school, that is a different story.

Wells Street Public School, Auditorium

Couple more interior elements of historical value are the auditorium with stage and wood floor (above) and the glazed wood doors with tilting wood transoms (below).

Wells Street Public School, Doors

School was closed because of structural issues and the potential safety issues. As I toured the school inside it wasn’t hard to noticed that detailed structural assessment was performed on the school.

After the assessment it was determined that it would take millions of dollars to fix the school and too make it safe and operational again. Eventually school was closed.

Well Street Public School, Inspection

As of today the building is structurally sound, however, it would not be structurally sound if it continued to be educational institution with a everyday dynamic load of moving children and teachers. Everything has a life and the life of the educational institution is now over.

The idea to convert the school into residential units or lofts is a structurally sound idea. Exterior walls will be reinforced and more internal walls will be added that will add more support points making the building much stronger and probably to last in our community another 200 years or more.

Note, above is a photo of the stripped wall where the structural issue originated. When the wall was taken down for inspection, a window and door that was brick filled was uncovered. It will be interesting to find out what else the school is hiding and what else will be uncovered once the re-construction will take place.

Are you curious like me?

Wells Street Public School, A Closer Look, Yes The Inside

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 03:34:58 +0000

I rolled my sleeves up and started to type an e-mail. If you don’t try then you have a zero chance of getting something, but if you do then at least you have fifty percent of getting yes as the answer. And the worst – no. I believe they teach this in school.

Wells Street Public School, Inside

After few days I did receive a reply to my request from Joanne Birch, President, Wells Street Schoolhouse Lofts. ‘We’d be pleased to allow you to take some posterity photos’ – she wrote.

This is where I got nervous and excited at the same time and knew that something will go wrong. The same day I was going to meet with Ms. Birch my camera flash got jammed. Lucky me it was just the camera flash. Even after little hiccup I was able to take many photos – inside, below, outside and from the top.

Wells Street Public School, A Classroom

It was another great photo journey through our town’s amazing structures, just like the time I had an opportunity to photograph the Petch Log house last summer. One of the things I always keep in mind – something that cannot be preserved as a material can always be preserved in photos.

We are very fortunate that both the Petch Log house and the Wells Street Public School are not going to be demolished this time.

Wells Street Public School, Classroom Wall Lockers

Like many of us I was too skeptical what would be the faith of the school once it was acquired by the developer. A prefect example is the George T. Browning house – there will be no house.

However, after meeting with Ms. Birch I cannot emphasize enough that the Wells Street Public School is in the good hands especially to know that her company do specializes in converting heritage buildings.

Wells Street Public School, Teacher's Rooms

But it was more her passion for that kind of work that I admired. She herself gave me two hour grand tour of the ins and outs of the school and because of her patience I was able to capture many interesting details.

Some of the interesting features to note in this post’s pictures are:

The jade color scheme through out the school; the 3 piece doors (2 doors & 1 window on top) to the auditorium that will be preserved; built-in wall units in the teachers rooms; interesting design of the in-classroom coat lockers with one common link mechanism that opens all the doors at the same time; and probably one of the original squeaky staircase and railing leading up to teacher’s restroom.

Wells Street Public School, Staircase

But that is not all, at least not in this post. And before Schools Out, note that last month the Wells Street Public School received the heritage designation plaque.

Wells Street Public School, Schools Out