Westview School
The location of the first school in Westview is a matter of some controversy among local residents. Some maintain that a structure on upper Nootka Street in an area called Fidler’s field was the original. There is circulating a photo of the remnants of a log cabin – like building, which is supposed to be the genuine building. This is sometimes referred to as the Cherry Hill school.
Setting aside that reference, what is known for sure is that a school was built on property owned by a Mr. A. Waldron at the intersection of Old Westview Rd. (Westview Ave.) and Nootka St. in 1916. With no schoolboard and no government assistance, a group of parents banded together, donating $10.00 each and built a one room, unpainted school house. The first teacher was Miss Florence Evans. The school was used until 1927, when a new two-room school was built on the site of the current city hall (2020) at the intersection of Duncan St. and Michigan Ave. This school, much added to, lasted until April 1950, when it was destroyed by fire. By this time J.P. Dallos School had just opened and, with a few rushed alterations, took in the students displaced by the fire.
J.P. Dallos School for many years was the largest elementary school in the district. This changed in 1996, when it became a middle school. The school name ceased to exist in 2000 when it became a French school. In 2001 a Christian school took over the former primary wing in a long term lease.
Setting aside that reference, what is known for sure is that a school was built on property owned by a Mr. A. Waldron at the intersection of Old Westview Rd. (Westview Ave.) and Nootka St. in 1916. With no schoolboard and no government assistance, a group of parents banded together, donating $10.00 each and built a one room, unpainted school house. The first teacher was Miss Florence Evans. The school was used until 1927, when a new two-room school was built on the site of the current city hall (2020) at the intersection of Duncan St. and Michigan Ave. This school, much added to, lasted until April 1950, when it was destroyed by fire. By this time J.P. Dallos School had just opened and, with a few rushed alterations, took in the students displaced by the fire.
J.P. Dallos School for many years was the largest elementary school in the district. This changed in 1996, when it became a middle school. The school name ceased to exist in 2000 when it became a French school. In 2001 a Christian school took over the former primary wing in a long term lease.
