Led by students with decorated bicycles, the Central School Coronation Parade was photographed leaving Central School (King Street at Church Street). Students from the school dressed up in costumes representing the various realms in which the new George VI was King. The students joined others from across downtown schools including the Robertson School and St. George’s Ward School at a celebration held in the auditorium at St. Paul Street (Silver Spire) United Church.

About Central School

Central School was built in 1853. Central School, was in its early days, a separate school housing white and black students. The condition under which black students and teachers taught at the school was a common subject in the interviews with Freedom Seekers conducted by Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe and the Freedman’s Inquiry Commission. Learn more about Dr. Howe’s interviews here.

Central School was closed 100 years after opening when an engineering inspection during the winter holiday break deemed the building unsafe. Students were reassigned to other nearby schools and the building was demolished.

There’s More to the Story

Check out the entire History InSite installation across Merritton, downtown St. Catharines and in Port Dalhousie.

About History InSite

A permanent, site specific installation, History InSite juxtaposes historical photographs with modern streetscapes by presenting the photo in, or close to, the place which it was taken.

St. Catharines has a rich photographic history and when compared to the changing streetscapes around the City, that history becomes much more meaningful, poignant, and relevant to our modern eyes.

The Downtown series was installed in July 2021. The Port Dalhousie series was installed in May 2022. The Merritton series was installed in May 2023.

History InSite is presented by the St. Catharines Museum & Welland Canals Centre.

Graffiti Report

If you spot any graffiti on our purple History InSite signs, please send us a message.