|
Probably the first school in the area was the one-room
school house at Presqu'ile, near Calf Pasture on Lilac Lane.
It provided public school for the farm children in the area.
The building itself was moved in the 1960's to the present
location of the Municipal Office. It was used by the Scouts
and Cubs and was called the Scotty Broughton Youth Centre.
The first known public school in Brighton was built in
1842. It was called the "Little Blue School," located on
Prince Edward Street. As the population increased the Little
Red School House was built in 1858 and was located where
Allen's Insurance Office is today.
A need for a High School soon became evident, and in
1861, a combined public and high school was built. It was
located on Richardson Street and was called by the same
name. Actually, in the early 1960's, at least two rooms were
still used for public school students; the remainder of the
building became a canning factory. Ethel Wright (Craig)
taught in one of those rooms.
As the community and surrounding area became more
populated, a High School was built in 1884, on the property
where the condominiums on Prince Edward Street are located
today.
By 1915, it became evident that the old schools were not
adequate. Therefore the present Brighton Public School was
built. It was both a public and high school until 1954. As a
point of interest, Edna Faulkner was principal of the high
school during the year 1948-49. Also the public school from
1915-1978 had only four principals -- Smith Langdon, Roger
Frise, John Holmes and William Pettingill. They were
followed by Jim Harrison, Dick Cameron, Bill Bridge and Russ
Kinch.
In 1954, East Northumberland Secondary School was
erected. Prior to that, the school was so overcrowded that
some high school classes were held in the stairways. The
first principal was Austin Fulton, followed by Harry Ewing,
Brian Todd, Marty O'Halloran, Donald Dawson, Charles Clarke
and Maureen Moloney.
Through the years, these schools have graduated many
outstanding business and professional leaders, including Ben
Thompson -- lawyer, M.P. and judge.
Compiled from notes and
quotes from Ethel Wright, Edru Lindsay, Edna Faulkner and
Luguarda Quick
|
