Page 8 - 1953

COLLINGWOOD COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE
The earliest settlers of this district pondered ' the question of a grammar school. Rev. Dr. John Langtry was the leader and guide of those who set out to inaugurate a grammar school. The first grammar school was set up in a room of the International Hotel, which was on the present site of the Bank of Montreal. Another room was later obtained in the True Blue House, which stood where the Gayety Theatre now stands. Attendance increased, so the school was moved to a frame building on Pine Street, and from there to Rockcourt, the home of Doc- tor Langtry. The grammar school was then moved to the Town Hal~ which at that time stood on the north west corner of the present railway ground. Another move was necessary, so in the early 1870's the school moved across the road to a
house opposite the present Soldiers' Memorial.
In 1874, a school was built where the present collegiate stands. The school was ready for classes in 1879. This building had a tower upon it and it was in this tower that the fire started that de&troyed it in 1923. As a result, classes were moved to the rooms over Gilpin's hardware and Topp's store. The physical Education classes were held in the market square, where the arena now stands. Home economics and shop classes were taken in a building on Third Street near The Baptist Church. In 1925 the corner stone of the present school was laid and it was opened to teachers and students on January 1, 1926.
From the 1860's to 1926 there was an increase in the attendance from 15 to ~pproximately 300. Students came from all over the province. In one term there was a student from Ottawa, on the east, and Windsor, on the west. The Colling- wood Collegiate Institute was known all over the province for its high educa- tional standards.
The grammar school became a high school in 1876, then was given .the rank of a collegiate in 1884. It was the first collegiate in Simcoe County.
Now the school that was opened in 1926 has become overcrowded. For this reason, a new ultra-modern building is being constructed on the south side of the town. The schools of Stayner, Creemore, Collingwood and vicinity are being combined into one Collegiate institute. The new Collingwood District Collegiate will be ready for classes by January 1, 1954.
The building of this collegiate makes possible the continued high standards that have been set up in Collingwood. Many graduates have become leaders in their fields and many scholarships have come to the school.
The history of Collingwood Collegiate Institute spans almo~t one hundred years. Through those years it has constantly grown, and is at present one of the finest collegiates in the province.
~oan Martin. Grade XIII
PROGRESS IN BUILDING NEW COL~GIATE TO APRIL 2 3 , 1 9 5 3 6