05/29/2026
For the past two and a half years, Fridays have been dedicated to highlight one-room schools across Frontenac County. However, starting today School Spotlights will now cover early city schools in Kingston!
Central School was built in 1886-87 on Sydenham Street, north of Colborne by John Power & Son. The building committee purchased the site for $2005, with building costs amounting to $15,000. The school had three floors and a basement, with the gymnasium located on the top floor. The school was constructed to counter the “central congestion” occurring in the north side of the city, as there was a population increase between 1881 and 1891. That led to that area of the city to become “neglected” and the lack of a school became a source of agitation for families and community members. At the time of the school’s opening there were 56 students in attendance. In 1887 the Model School was transferred from Wellington St. School to Central School. Central School also housed the first Kindergarten class in the City of Kingston in 1889. Augusta (Gussie) Bowman earned a salary of $400 for her role as Kindergarten teacher, and her role was praised heavily by Inspector W.G. Kidd. In March of 1918 a large fire caused $7,000 worth of damage to the second storey of the building. After the fire, students temporarily attended classes at Macdonald and Louise Schools. Renovations on the school occurred in 1937 for approximately $4,000 by Colin Drever, a Kingston architect. During the renovations classes were held in the basement and assembly halls of the school. The renovations produced an auditorium, new washrooms, a boiler and heating system, as well as new lighting and windows. There was a minor fire in the boiler room in 1938 but the school and students sustained no damage. The original building was demolished in 1963 and was rebuilt on the same site and reopened in 1964.
