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Anxious to have a séhool built, the town officials spoke to thomas Mercer Jones, a representative of the Caiizida'Cbm'pany'who was visiting the village. Hearing their plea, his Around the year 1645, the town telt the growing pains of a substantial population increase. A post office was built and the settlers started thinking about a school for their children. Previously a private school had been operated by an itinerant teacher but only the well-to-do could afford his services. In a short four years, the spot had attracted a population' of 100 souls. With three small water falls on the Thames nearby, it was natural that these first hardy settlers chose the name "Little Falls" for their fledgling community. . t The mill was located on the was side of Water Street near Trout CreekCi directly behind the Royal Edwar Hotel. The first permanent resident of the area was Thomas Ingersoll, son of the founder of the town, of Ingersoll some miles to the south. On September 1, 1841 he felled the first tree to provide lumber for a cabin, sawmill and grist- ml . Part of alarge tract of land obtained by the Canada Company, the pic- turesque valley at the point where Trout Creek joined the Thames River was soon to catch the eye of the enterprising settler. _ . P _. The people of St. Marys are proud of their heritage. Although not an- cient by some standards, the history of St. Marys dates back one hundred andthirty'years or more: . . . . Our Heritage WATER TOWER wife Mary offered ten pounds towards the"erection of a school if the settlers would change the name of the community using her Christian name for its new title. Hence the name.5t. Marys was chosen. Page 2 OUR POLICY IS OLD FASHIONED CARE WITH PRICES ANYONE CAN AFFORD (Lhames , - OPEN "'""---- SEVEN DAYS A WEEK ENJOY DINING IN OUR WARM FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE 284-2991 . Com wet:asssa-suh7 After the school had been com- pleted at a total cost of about 100 pounds, the trustees petitioned the "Canada Company for a grant of ten percent of the cost as was promised in the compiiny's agreement with the settlers. A reply came back stating that Mr. Jones had already paid ten pounds himself and had been reimbursed by the Canada Company. . .. _ The first teach'er at the new public school was Gordon Meighen, irand- father of the Hon. Arthur Meighen, former prime minister of Canada. A grdwing soma/ii) -aara" fine opportunity for the founding of a EEYEPEPEE Tye, Str. Marys Jogrn_a| . . __. """l" 's"'"'"'""" published its first edition in 1853. in 1855, the original town hall w built and in 1857, the town's citizeghad a . second newspaper available to them. The St. Marys Weekly Argus gained an upper hand in the competition as the Journal faltered briefly, missing several publication dates. But the Journal changed hands and became more competitive making St. Marys a two newspaper town "until 1920 when the Journal and the Argus were P amalgamated by J. W. Eedy. (vt, The paper is now published _ r" y by J. w. Eedy Publications, ' 28 /, named in honour of the "iijii(iii.,'ii, great-grandfather of ft gag?" the firm's president. Dowmown " MARYS RESTAURANT 'iiiijl]Ijiijiifllljii'j There are many, many more in- teresting events in the chronicles of the town's history. The Blanshard Township Agricultural Society was holding fairs in St. Marys as early as 1846. The Triumph No. 1 Volunteer Fire Company was formed in 1863. The Victoria Bridge spanning the Thames River was built of solid stone, 120 years ago at a cost of $13,00.0. For the historically inclined, St. Marys has a wealth of fascinating events to research, starting way back in 1841. The town has recently taken steps to ensure that its historically and architecturally unique buildings are preserved wherever possible. An Architectural Conservation Com- mittee has been appointed by the town under the Heritage Act of On- tario to designate the buildings in the czmmunity which should be preserv- e . Our Water Tower The water tower was built in 1899 when the town's first water system was installed. In 1977, the St. Marys Public Utilities Commission spent many thousands of dollars on the water tower; .ry.apir1tin.g the stonework, refurbishing the interior metal tank and painting the exterior shield complete with the now familiar words, "St. Marys - The Town Worth Living In". Along with the town hall and the opera house, the fine old St. Marys stone water tower has become a land mark arid symbol of the town. The illust'ration ofghe water tower on page two is by C lin McQuirk of Thes, Perth Country Gallery, 7 "The Store where the Red Pencil helps save you more." 588 QUEEN STREET EAST, ST. MARYS FOOD MARKETS LTD. West ward School Although now officially known as the St. Marys, Day Car and Arts Cen- tre, this buildin‘i will always affec- tionately be kno n as the West Ward School. - . . _ Originally an elementary school, it was iscarded in receEt years and purchased from the Bo rd of Educa- tiqn but“? toms? SEMETXS- in 1928 and 1979 a $210,000 restora- tion was carried out with a unique combination of rovincial gra nts from the Ministr of axial Services and the Ministry 0?, Culture and Recreation. Now it serves as a day care centre and nursery school durin the day while evenings and on weeiends it is used by a host of local groups such as dan- Page 3 cing classes, little theatre, pre-natal classes, camera club and Heritage St. Marys. _. . . l " . ""iihrrestoration included reoppnjn: the windows facing south which har been filled in_r_na_ny years,ag.?r., , This beautiful stone inlding was built in 1865, two years prior to con- federation. To "build the school, masons were paid $631 "vhile carpenters w.ere paid 5.5%". . .1 Lul CIIlCIJ nuns. ran“. v-_-,V '/tl school was used for its intend- ed purpose until the 1960's when it was closed dpwn.. . I‘ , L, was Closeo Gown. . West Ward School had many tiis- tinguished teachers but perhaps, its moist prominent student was Rt. Hon. Arthur Meighen who went on to become Prime Minister of Canada. He attended West Ward for one year before entering St. Marys Collegiate. * Fr'om Victoria Day Weekend through to Thanksgiving Weekend We're open for your convenience ( with lots of free parking J Dally , lo , Sol. , " 6 Sun 10M gi'