10

A Growing School District

The first teacher was Miss A. C. Dallas who taught with only a temporary teaching certificate and was paid $50 a month. She left her position on June 30, 1884. That summer Miss A. S. Howay, the sister of Judge F. W. Howay, was hired as the new permanent teacher of the school. Miss Howay was soon overwhelmed. By 1885 she had only received a $5 raise while the enrolment had gone up over 50% to 39 students in total--22 boys and 17 girls. As more and more students poured into the Port Moody School District, the need was apparent for a larger school that could meet the demands of the growing population.

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First one room school
1900
Port Moody, BC, Canada

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A New One-Room Schoolhouse

The Port Moody Gazette announced on June 9, 1885 that a schoolhouse was to be built on four town lots donated by large landowner Captain James A. Clarke. A one-room schoolhouse was planned: 34 feet x 20 feet with a 12 foot high ceiling.

Captain Clarke's importance goes beyond his involvement with the first schools. He also piloted Governor Douglas' steamboat and today lends his name to several local landmarks.

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Extra! Extra!

"The new Schoolhouse has been fully completed and Mr. Noon, one of the contractors for the building of the same, has formed a copartnership with Mr. E. Kilby for the erection of Mr. John Taylor's house on the corner of Hugh and Murray streets, the work of which has been going on this week.

"On Thursday last, Mr. R. B. Kelly, on behalf of the government, inspected the new school building erected by Messrs. Noon and Fales, and pronounced the job completed in a workmanlike manner, and fully up to the specifications."

This news story of the school's opening was printed on July 4, 1885 by the Port Moody Gazette.

The school's builder Mr. Allen Noon, is the namesake for Noon's Creek, where his homestead was located. Noon also built the St. John's Anglican church in 1899.

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First one room school
1900
Port Moody, BC, Canada

15

The Schoolhouse Opens.

The new one-room schoolhouse was completed on July 20, 1885, just in time for the new autumn semester.

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Teacher evaluation by the school inspector
27 February 1929

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Three Teachers in Two Years

At the end of June in 1886, Miss A.S. Howay, Port Moody's teacher for two years, left the school. She was repaced by Miss D. J. McDonald, who taught for ten months. In April 1887 the school welcomed Gladys M. Dockerill in replacement for Miss McDonald. Gladys only held a temporary teaching certificate and so Miss G. W. McRae was hired in August 1887.

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Port Moody's first Schoolhouse.
1907
Port Moody, BC, Canada

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First one room school. Teacher: William Stott (back row, right).
1900
Port Moody, BC, Canada

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One-room school
1904
Port Moody, BC, Canada

21

Four Rooms and a Principal

By 1906 there were two teachers at the one-room schoolhouse, and 66 students. In response to the ever growing number of students, the one-room schoolhouse was replaced with a new, four-room school house in 1907-1908. The staff had also increased with the addition of a principal. In 1910, student enrollment was at 100.

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Port Moody Central School
1911
Port Moody Central School, Port Moody, BC, Canada

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Port Moody Central School

The new four-room schoolhouse was built at the corner of Moody and St. John's Street. It was now possible to split the children into divisions, with each class having their own teacher. This school is the first recorded (in 1907) as the "Port Moody Central School."