When Birch Cliff Public School celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1966, an unknown author wrote a fascinating school history that later went missing.
It wasn’t a problem at first because the document was transcribed and posted on the first school website back in the 1990’s.
But at some point, the TDSB standardized school websites and the history of Birch Cliff Public School was inexplicably deleted.
I’m happy to report that a photocopy has finally been located.
It’s much too long to post as a single story, so we’re going to serialize the history of Birch Cliff Public School starting today.
As you will see, it’s not just a history of the school, but in many ways the entire community.
The story begins with a journal that was presented to the school in 1917 — a journal that still sits in “the vault” at Birch Cliff.
The History of Birch Cliff Public School © 1966 (Part One)
Birch Cliff Journal
There is a huge leather-bound book in the safe at Birch Cliff School, of the type known commonly fifty years ago as a Journal. Inside, the heavy covers are lined with brightly-patterned paper and the wavy design is stamped on the edges of its 501 pages. There is an inscription the first page and it reads:
Birch Cliff, December 31, 1917
This book was presented to School section number fifteen (15) Township of Scarborough at the annual meeting of ratepayers, by Henry S. Redman, Township Solicitor.
In making the presentation Mr. Redman referred to the fact that but comparatively little record of the intimate life of the “pioneer days” in the Township had been preserved and it seemed unfortunate that the available histories furnish scarcely any account of the “human side – and they must have been very “human” – of our predecessors.
The first entry in the Birch Cliff Public School History
No country, locality nor even family can live up to its best without the possession of some creditable historical record, and it is this that makes it seem an advisable thing to institute a “School History”, of which this book it is hoped may be the first volume, so that matters of interest in connection with the school and its associations may be recorded from time to time, sometimes by the teachers, sometimes by the scholars, and perhaps occasionally by Trustees, Inspectors or visitors.
Entries need not be confined to names and records but should include details and impressions of events which are outstanding and of general interest to the scholars and teachers and the neighbourhood.
H.E. Redman
The Early Years
Birch Cliff Public School. Courtesy Scarborough Archives
Situated on the north-west corner of Birch Cliff Avenue and Kingston Road, early pictures of Birch Cliff School present a high, square building with a stately front entrance, surrounded by an iron fence with brick posts on either side of a front walk.
Playground was an apple orchard
Behind the school, beyond today’s parking lot, was a yard for Township work trucks, the offices of the Township being in the next block.
To the west of the school was an apple orchard, “Morley’s Field”. The children had no formal schoolyard, but had their games of hop-scotch and “catch” on the cinder pavement immediately surrounding the building.
One day Morley’s Field would be used by the pupils for exhibition entry gardens. Later still it became the schoolyard, containing volleyball and basketball courts, baseball diamonds and soccer field.
The principal and only teacher in 1916 was Mrs. E.E. Reece, seen on the far right of this photo
From the Journal
The Journal tells us: “September, 1916: On the fifth day of September, 1916, the new school at Birch Cliff was opened, and pupils and teachers met for the first time in the building of which we are all so justly proud.”
“The faces of the pupils expressed evident pleasure at being in their own school at last; there were also many searching, questioning glances at their new teacher, and above all a very apparent desire to acquit themselves worthily in their new school. The teacher, on her part, met these children with fear and trembling, yet with high hopes and aspirations that she might be able to influence these young lives entrusted to her care.” ~Mrs. E.E. Reece
The district named Birch Cliff, in 1916, was enclosed within the area east of Victoria Park Avenue to Birchmount Road, and south of the tracks to the lake.
Birch Cliff cottage. Courtesy of Scarborough Archives.
Birch Cliff cottage
Still known as the Birch Cliff district of Scarborough today, it was so named by an early settler who called his home “Birch Cliff” in honour of the many trees that stood majestically along the edges of the bluffs.
Arthur H. Mitchell store. Courtesy Scarborough Archives
When the first post office was opened in Arthur Mitchell’s store at Kingston Road and Birchmount in 1907, it too was named “Birch Cliff”.
Although many of these birch trees still stand, other stately specimens have been lost in the constant transformation of the bluffs due to erosion, and the face of the cliff was changing steadily at the frightening rate of 1 1/4 feet per year.
~~~~~
Next time….memories of a pupil who attended Birch Cliff Public School on the day it opened in 1916.
Wow that picture brings back memories. I went to Birch Cliff PS in the early 60s and I’m pretty sure that same iron fence was there, because I vividly recall getting my tongue stuck to it one cold winter morning! I’ll never forget how scared I was, watching all the kids go back inside after recess, while I was stuck to the pole. A teacher soon rescued me with a cup of warm water, but those few minutes alone felt like a lifetime! I think I was 6.
Your story reminds me of that scene in “A Christmas Story”!
Thank you for providing these wonderful photos and history of our community. Wonderful!
Birch Cliff News is a great addition to our community.
Very interesting. Birchcliff is a gem.
I went to Birch Cliff from Sept. 1945 until June 1953. Kindergarten to grade 8. Your article mentions Henry Redman,Township Solicitor. I went to school with Howard Redman and his aunt Miss Redman was a sunday school teacher at St. Nicks. Their property was called the Redman estate on Harding south.
In Birch Cliff Village, the more things change, the more they remain the same
I love hearing from people with a perspective on the past! From everything I’ve read, Henry Redman was quite an influential figure in the early days. Do you still live in Birch Cliff Judy? Do you have any photos of our neighbourhood from the 1940s or 1950s?
After living on Dunington for 30 years and Queensgrove for 42 years, my husband and I moved to Oshawa this past July. I have school class pictures but none of the community. People don’t move from there so if you can find the right people, You can find out a lot of history. There is a lady on The lower end of Kildonan that has lived in B.C, all of her life, but I don;t know her name.
Wow – 72 years in Birch Cliff total? I don’t imagine by any chance that you have a scanner and could scan your class photos? Don’t mean to be a pest…. 🙂
we moved here 4 months ago. I may never find them. Will look though.
I love that photo of the teachers.
The classrooms still looked like that in the early 1960s.
They even had the same light fittings still.
Hi
Was a student in Mrs McGuire’s class in 1962…went thru Miss Mc
gill’s grade 3 class then Mrs Sine’s grade 4 class. I look back and remember the best years of my early education at Birchcliff…especially that library in the basement with the green paint and the heavy screened windows. Read lots of good books out of there. And yes…I remember those light 1962 light fixtures.
Hello:
I checked the site to show my son. Very many happy memories, 1964.
Mrs. MgGuire was so strict!!
I remember collecting and filling that green painted basement with Apple baskets and going to the gym first thing in the morning before school started to sing Christmas carols.I also had Mrs. sine in grade four and was in Mrs. Robertson’s class when Kennedy was shot.Audrey Brown and I who lived on Harding Blvd are still friends since 1961. Are they going to have a100 yr celebration for BCPS in 2016?
Hi!
We are going to have 100th celebrations at the school.
Can you please send your email and contact information to bc100thanniversary@gmail.com.
We are coming up with a plan for an Opening Ceremony September 2016, an Alumni Dinner, and Spirit Days held throughout the school year.
We would love to hear from Alumni’s – we need their contact information. It would help us to know what years they attended and who the principal was during those years.
Also any suggestions about what they would like to see / be a part of during the 100th celebrations.
Thank you
Isabella c Favaro
I love the old pic of my great grand fathers store.
I miss the old neighborhood.
Vincent Mitchell
Hi Vincent,
Glad you liked the photo. Your great grandfather played a very big role in the history of Birch Cliff.
By any chance do you have old photographs or some more family history to share?
I too am a graduate of Birch Cliff P.S. 1956. I lived on birchcliff ave south
of kingston rd. I recall playing with a Ted Redman who lived on Harding Ave. I have three class pictures from 1949,1951,& 1952. I also have a picture of the
junior boys soccer team from 1954. I believe we were the champions of Scarboro
that year.I joined the cub scouts and the meetings were held in the basement
of the school.
Our principal was Lorne Wideman. He took a great interest in all of the students and knew them all by their first names.He was very strict but also very fair. Birch Cliff P.S. was the best
Hi Bob,
I remember a Ted Redman too. I graduated from Birchcliff PS. I was so scared of Mr. Wideman! I lived on Springbank Ave., down at the end ofthe Birchmount hill. What a small world! I wonder if we have any other old friends in common. Would love to hear from you.
I went all through Public School at Birch Cliff. A vivid memory was singing Christmas carols in the gym with Mr. Hose conducting us. It’s great to see the pictures from the past.
I too, am a Birch Cliff PS graduate, along with my father and his six siblings. The eldest (Doris Shepheard started at BCPS in 1917,followed by Bruce, Merle, Mary, Etta, Ruth and finally Jim Shepheard). Amazingly, we all had Miss Sloan as a teacher. She retired during my kindergarden year! We lived in the family homestead on Haig Ave. until Jim’s death in 2001 and the home remains in the Shepheard family still. Along with my Dad, and two of his sisters, we attended the 75th Birch Cliff reunuion. It’s been a terrific walk down memory lane connecting with old school friends and looking at all the old photos. I know my Dad and his siblings would thoroughly enjoy reading all of the postings about a great community, Birch Cliff!
Would love to hear from class mates from Birchcliff I kept in touch with only one person over the years Larry Parks his Father opened Roy’s Sporting Good, s.would like to hear from more people
David,
In case you’re not aware of it, there’s a great Facebook group of former Birch Cliff students. Search in Facebook for “BIRCH CLIFF PUBLIC SCHOOL 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s”.
I’m a Birchcliff P S grad. Attended from 1950 – 1954. I’d love to attend the reunion! Please keep me posted. Thanks!
I remember Jean Anne Tustin from grade 6, 1952/3 and I have the beautiful, autographed, class photo. If you are interested, I can email. Let me know don(underscore)hill(at) sympatico(dot)ca.
I started Birchcliff in 1929. I still remember the strap, free milk in the morning and marching into school
Wow Walter – 1929! Do you still live in Birch Cliff? Do you have any photos of those days?
Hi Walter,
I’m working with a team from Birch Cliff public school to co-ordinate our 100th year anniversary.
My daughter currently goes to Birch Cliff and is in grade 5.
It was amazing to read that you were in 1929. I would love it if you could write me a note about school back then..and maybe I could include it in our upcoming Centennial cookbook. Hope to hear from you…icfavaro@rogers.com Isabella
I went to Birch Cliff from 1961 to 1968.Mr. Wideman was the Principal. Mrs. Roland, Miss Mcguire, Miss Hainstock, Mrs. Sine, Mrs. Robertson, Mr. DeBrower, Mr. Ludwig, Miss I. Dafoe(Harding) in order of grades.
I went to Birch Cliff PS from 49 to 56. Miss Sloan, Miss Libby, Miss Vernon, Miss Hainstock, Miss Caldwell, Mr Waters and Mr Dyer. We lived at 8 Birch Cliff so walked up and down Birch Cliff twice a day. I tell my own children that I probably walked Birch Cliff more than anyone else. Went to King after BPS and did the same walk to get the bus. Plus our parents daily sent us up the street to Taylor’s Drugs and Eastwood Confectionary. Our father built 8 Birch Cliff in 1944 and he and our mother were there until 1980. Yes Bob above is my brother.
Hi Steve. We lived at the bottom of the hill too. Springbank (#1) You probably knew my brother Ralph Stephenson. I had Miss Sloan, Miss Vernon, Miss Hainstock and maybe Mr. Dyer too. Memory’s kinda dim now. See you at the reunion.
My Dad, Walter Collingwood attended Birch Cliff School in 1921. If you wish, I can send you a couple of school pictures.