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Runnymede High School
The building from 1927 to the present.
Runnymede High School was designed by the architect Charles Wellington Smith who was a resident of one of the cottages on the west side of Jane Street just south of Dundas Street. The school was officially opened on Friday Evening November 11, 1927.
The First Building.
The first building consisted of eight class rooms, three science labs, an auditorium, a library, a gymnasium, a cafeteria and a locker area on three floors.
The school had a boys and girls entrance from Jane Street and a boys entrance on the north side of the building and girls entrance on the south side leading to the appropriate boys and girls locker rooms.
The Lower Floor.
The cafeteria, gymnasium and locker area were located on the lower floor or what may be considered the basement.
The cafeteria faced Jane Street just below the main office. Opposite the cafeteria was the gymnasium which had an indoor track and during games this was used as a viewing gallery by students.
There were two entrances to the gymnasium for boys and girls. These entrances were opposite the main entrances to the school from Jane St. but on the lower/basement floor.
The First Floor.
The Office, Four Classrooms and the Auditorium
Mr. Clarke, the school first principal who was hired away from Humberside Collegiate, had his office on the first floor facing Jane Street between the main entrances to the school and opposite the auditorium.
There were four classroom on the first floor, two beside the office and facing Jane Street, and two beside the auditorium.
The north classroom on the first floor facing Jane Street beside the main office was mainly occupied by Ms. Laura Mundy's. Mr. R. Whidden mainly occupied the south classroom beside the main office.
The auditorium was on the first floor, opposite the office, overlooking the football field. The auditorium was build over the gymnasium and had stained glass windows.
The Second Floor.
The three science rooms, two regular size and one smaller, were located on the second floor over the auditorium. They were accessed by stairs since they were on a higher level than the hallway in order to accommodate the height of the auditorium.
On the same floor, opposite the three science rooms and over the main office was the library overlooking Jane Street. Four other classroom were were also on the second floor over the first floor classrooms.
Mr. K Shaver mainly occupied the classroom on the second floor on the north side and Mr. Wilbert Barber mainly occupied had his classroom on the south side facing Jane Street.
The other teachers Ms. Bessie Griffith, Ms. Edna Hildred, Mr. William Kenyon, Mr. Albert Rumble and Mr. Leslie Smith occupied and/or shared the remaining classrooms.
The Teaching Staff.
The first teaching staff consisted of 4 females and 6 males--4 of which had their M.A.s the prerequisite number of Masters degrees for a Collegiate Institute as opposed of High School to offer Grade 13 as a first year of university study.
Mr. Clarke retired in 1949, Mr. Wilbert left in 1947, Ms. Hildred left between 1942 and 1946, Mr. Kenyon, Ms. Mundy, and Mr. Rumble left in 1937. Mr. Smith left in 1933, Ms. Griffith left in 1935, Mr. Shaver and Mr. Whidden left sometime before 1932.
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The Second Addition - 1928
In 1928 twelve more classrooms were added, eight at the north end and four at south end. A second smaller gymnasium was also added on the south side adjacent the main gymnasium. Now both boys and girls had their own gym and the school could be called a Collegiate.
The Third Addition - 1957
A major addition to the school began in 1957 and on October 30, 1958 the third addition to Runnymede Collegiate was officially dedicated. Mr. Dilworth was the chairman of the impressive opening.
The new addition provided a much needed and larger cafeteria on the south of the building. Its modern kitchen enabled Runnymeds's fine cooks to prepare a variety of foods. The teachers could now enjoy a peaceful lunch period in the room provided for them, away from the noise of the cafeteria.
East of the cafeteria a swimming pool was built. Over the cafeteria facing east, a newer and larger auditorium was build with a seating capacity of approximately 500 students. On the opposite side of the auditorium facing Jane Street and over the cafeteria, newer offices were build for the principal, vice principal, office staff and the guidance department.
On the south side and beside the auditorium, the school now had a more spacious and sound proof music room.
The Last Addition - 1966
The much needed large gymnasium was completed in 1966. (The Grade 13 that year wrote the much dreaded Departmental Exams in the still unfinished gymnasium). The last addition also consisted of 5 new commercial rooms on the lower south level, 2 geography rooms and a large group instruction room just above on the first floor, 2 science laboratories, a new art room on the second floor, 4 seminar rooms and 5 regular classrooms. The cafeteria was extended into the area occupied by the small (girls) gym and will have an entrance directly from the locker room area. The boys gymnasium was changed by removing of the balcony and closing the 2 entrances to the balcony from the locker rooms.
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Runnymede's Principals
Mr. Clarke, Bruce 1927-49
Mr. Dilworth, Roy 1949-60
Mr. Cross, Hawley 1960-68
Mr. Barbour, 1968-71
Mr. Hall, Fred 1971-78
Mr. Crepp, Millan 1978-86
Mr. McCullough, Dave 1986-92
Ms. Sheppard, Robin 1978-86
Mrs.Whipp, RuthAnn 1997-98
Ms. Spence, Lynnete 1998-04
Mrs.Farquharson, Lynn 2004-
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Runnymede's Vice Principals
Mr. Jackson, Orm 1953-56
Mr. Cross, Hawley 1956-60
Mr. Elliott, B.L. 1961-63
Mr. Scott, John 1963-74
Mr. W. Ogg 1970-73
Mr. W.J. Pardy -79
Mr. McCullough, Dave 1981-83
Dr. R.G. Fraser 1983-92
Mr. E. Both 1987-88
Mr. D.D. Cameron 1992-97
Mrs. Greenaway, Suzana 1997-98
Mr. E. M Crozier 1992-98
Mr. Knight, Steve 1998-
Mr. Nelson, Ron 1998-04
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