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Princess Street School - 1824

The first public school in the city of Chatham that allowed Black children to attend was the Princess Street School. The original school was a log cabin built on one acre of land that was granted to the Board of Education by the Crown in 1824. The early records of the school are not available, but research indicates that Israel Williams, an early black settler, had a great deal of input into formation of this school. Mr. Williams, a butcher in Chatham, had a strong desire to see his children receive a proper education. After they were refused admittance to the Central School, he became quite vocal about the lack of education opportunties extended to his and other families of color. The results of his and the vocalizations of others was the Princess Street School. It is interesting to note that some historians brand Mr. Williams as a troublemaker while others see him as a quiet properous and outspoken leader.

The school was open for many years, and by 1856, the enrolment at the school was 80 students with 55 attending regularly. Conditions at the school were most uncomfortable and, upon seeing this, Mary Ann Shadd Cary was prompted to write, "...Seperate schools and churches are nuisances that should be abated as soon as possible, they are dark and hateful relics of Yankee Negrophobias ... Negro students are forced to go to a one horse school because of exclusionary policy of government schools."(1) In 1857, the school received a new stove which improved the previous conditions immensely. In 1858 the school received a globe and maps of the world and also plans were being formulated for a new school building.

Meanwhile, in 1854, Mr. James T. Harris, a teacher, resigned his post and was replaced by Mr. Aaron Highgate. Mr. Highgate was required to produce the proper teaching certification for the job and by not doing so was replaced in January of 1856 by Mr. Alfred Whipper. Mr. Whipper also was unable to produce the proper certification and was soon replaced was Mr. Peter Nichol. Many parents were disgruntled by this replacement and felt that a Black teacher would be more appropriate. However, despite several petitions indicating this preference and a plea for the reinstatement of Mr. Whipper, Mr. Nichol was hired and contracts were being accepted to build the new school.

J. Tilt and Craddock were awarded the contract for the tendered price of $290.00. The Easter vacation was moved to a time convenient for the contractors and a new frame building was built to replace the log structure. This new frame structure was used until 1873 when it was replaced by a brick structure at a cost of $800.00. The first principal in the new brick building was James Park and it should also be noted that at this point white children also were attending the school.

Source:
(1) Article in the Provicial Freeman

Notes: The early Board of Education minutes at the Chatham Museum.

(A) The first log building sold to John Smith for $2.00 and was removed from the grounds.
(B) Some of the other teachers at the King Street School were: Mr. Duncan Sinclair, Miss McKenzie, Miss Mary Cooper, Mrs. Sarah Shadd Armsrong, Mr. Thomas A. Moore, Mrs. M. Wright, Mr. Abel Cockfield, Mr. Alfred Shadd was the last teacher at the school when the schools were desegregated.
(C) Public School Board rejects Mr. Cooper's proposal to close King Street School - Chatham Daily Planet - Feb. 28, 1894
(D) Letters re: King Street School, Chatham, Tri-Weekly Planet - Nov. 21, 1888