EDUCATION IN CHARLOTTETOWN

By {MAJOR T. E. .MacNUTT, M.B.E. (Secretary, City School Board)

1855 — 1955

In 1778 Alexander Richardson, a School Master, purchased a lot on the corner of Queen and Dorchester Streets, and erected a building, which was known as the Cross Keys Inn or Tavern. In a portion of this building he opened a private school. Private schools looked after Education in the Town until after the formation of the Board of Education for the Island. The first meeting of which took place in July 1830. By 1833 one teacher at the Grammar School in Charlottetown, as well as five other teachers in the Town were licensed by the Board, but in addition several small private schools continued — some of them until about the opening of the present century.

In 1868 the Roman Catholic Bishop of Charlottetown commenced the erection of St. Patrick’s Hall, which was opened in part by the Christian Brothers in September 1870 for the education of boys of that faith. Likewise Notre Dame Convent was opened on 5th September by Sisters of that Order for the education of girls of the same faith, and is still in operation.

About 1841 a Church day school was opened in St. Paul’s (Anglican) Parish Hall which continued with a good enrolment until the early 1890’s. Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard from England were the first teachers.

On the 11th of April 1848 a school, largely under the direction of St. Paul’s Church was opened on Bochford Street, but it became too small and was sold in 1868, and a new building erected on corner of Rochford and Kent Streets, where the school was continued until the middle 1890’s. Miss Harvie was the teacher and over a long period of years carried on a splendid work on behalf of her pupils —— mostly coloured. It was known as the Bog School. ‘

About 1870 a two room school was opened in connection with St. Peters Anglican Cathedral with a large enrolment of boys and girls. The clergy with lay help were the teachers. The senior class room closed shortly after 1900 and the junior class room in 1938.

The Report of Education issued 28th February 1870, shows there was a total of ten public schools in the City. A total rent of £169 was paid for the first nine schools with 407 pupils, while the tenth school was held

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