The 1st Don Log Schoolhouse

I came across this snippet about the 1st Don School today when in the Toronto Historical Society Site:

http://www.torontohistory.net/don-school-i/

I'm posting it because of the information about the 'building bee' lubricated by whisky.  From what I've read no bee would occur without the liberal application of whisky.  But of particular note is the prank played by the students which had to leave the teacher mystified.  Read on.  I hope you'll find it as amusing as I do.  I wish I could find a copy of the Owen Staples painting of the school, but I've had no luck so far.

Boundary History: The school was on part of Farm Lot 9, Concession 3 West of Yonge, and was School Section 9 Don Mills.

Current Use of Property: Apartment buildings.

Historical Description: William Gray owned the Farm Lot and, in 1837, donated a building lot for a school. Construction was described as a “building bee” with local farmers getting together with a jug or two of whisky, cutting the logs, and dragging them to the site to put up the building. The result was a log schoolhouse. An amusing story has surfaced about this building. The children had discovered a loose plank in the floor of the schoolroom. While the teacher was writing on the blackboard, one by one, children would lift the plank and slip under it to hide under the schoolroom. When the teacher turned around, up to half the class might be missing. He would then rush outside to retrieve the miscreants, not one of whom was to be seen. While he was outside, the children would lift the plank and slip back into their seats, ready to greet the teacher when he rushed back inside. How often this prank was played is not known. The log schoolhouse is recorded in a photograph as well as in a painting by Owen Staples. It ended its days as a stock pen on the Hogg Farm on Lot 7, Concession 3. A second school was built in 1853 on the same site and is also recorded on film. After 1825 it was unused because a third school had been built across the road. The second school survived until April 1948. When the third school was opened, among the former students of the first two schools was Thomas Gray, son of William, the donor of the original property. All three schools have vanished.

Relative Importance: The Don School buildings were among the first buildings in the area, and preceded the development of Don Mills as a community.

Planning Implications: A plaque and display are recommended for installation at either Don Mills Collegiate or in front of the apartment building on the site.

Reference Sources: Files of the North York Historical Society; Toronto Reference Library newspaper collection.