Sackville Street Public School

Photos by Alan L Brown - Posted September, 2006

This school used to be Sackville Street Public School. Located at 19 Sackville Street, a 1977 Toronto Historical Board plaque attached to the school says:

Plaque coordinates: 43.653769 -79.359425

This school was designed in 1887 in a plain Victorian style by the eminent Toronto architect, W.G. Storm. It was the third school in the area, replacing the nearby Palace Street School, 1859, and the Enoch Turner School, 1848. Sackville's initial enrolment of 49 pupils increased to 269 by 1888. Mrs. Georgina Stanley Riches was first Head Mistress and served until 1912 when she ended a 37 year teaching career. She was formerly principal of Palace Street School. This building, Toronto's oldest school having continuous use, has substantially retained its original architectural character.

Related Toronto plaque
Enoch Turner School

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Posted May 16, 2012
I used to live at 12A Eastern Avenue. Went to sackville 1960-64. Then moved to Regent Park and went to Park School. Now it is called Nelson Mandella. I dont know why,did he visit the school. Anyway my name was Sharon Krieger. A little wimpy girl with,buck teeth and glasses. I have school pictures from back then. I had won little bronze medals for attendance. Do you remember that. Well currently I live in Mexico,along ways from the life style of poverty for sure. I design Jewelery for around the world. Maybe someone out there remembers me from those days. Email me annie_banannie@live.com I have gone by the name of Annie for 40 years. Thanks and hope to hear from you all. ANNIE

Posted April 1, 2012
would like to contact kathy Ingram formerly wilson. I believe I chummed with you back in the early 1950's. My sister Bernice dated a Billy Wilson who had many brothers and sisters. Did you at any time live in or near the Malton airport before going to Sackville St Public school. I at one time lived on Sackville St with a family, the Mcginn's. the house was torn down tho when the city built that highway or whatever it was. Im also looking for photos of the theatre that was just around the corner on Queens st and a record shop was just afew doors up. that was before Sam the record man of course lol.. contact me if you like at lisajar@hotmail.com

Posted April 3, 2011
My father Frank Riley, worked as a janitor at Sackville St. School during the late 1960's. I remember as a child going with him one time to the school basement to inspect the boiler room. All I remember was this this huge boiler in what seemed to be a very high ceilinged boiler room. I just recently (april 2011) went to the school to take pictures of the exterior. I encourage others to do the same, just go and check out the small carving graffiti on the school walls from long past students. Regards, Mike Riley

Posted March 18, 2011
Hi My name is Mila Micevski. I went to this school from 1961 to 1967 I would love to have some class pictures of that time as I lost all of mine. please if anyone has some contact me at My e-mail is ponchitca@hotmail.com
Thanks

Posted January 18, 2011
Hello. My name is Julie Terranova. I attended Sackville School from 1960-1967. I have 2 sisters , Louise and Jean Terranova, and 1 brother Basil. We lived on Power Street. I can remember some of the teacher's name. Mr. Gibson (gr. 6) Miss Hutchinson(gr.2&3) Mrs.Minsterer (gr.3&4)Mrs. Skinner (opportunity class)Mrs. Baptie (KG) Mr. Butterwick (gr. 4&5). Mr. MC Caul was one of the principles. (Spelling may be wrong of the names.) Many fond memories and the best years of my childhood were spent there. In grade 5 and 6, I was in charge of setting-up and cleaning the teacher's lunchroom and got paid $1.00 a month to do it. Please feel free to contact me if you have amy questions or even remember me.

Posted November 28, 2010
Hi Annie. I went to Sackville 1954-1956, Grade 4 Teacher I believe her name was Ms Froud, and the grade 5 teacher was Mr Oi (Great teacher)and there was a Mrs Skinner. We lived on Funston Ave off Sumach. I had a chance to go into the school last year not much has changed inside,! i don't believe it's part of the Public School system now.
Sorry Kathy, I can't recall the principal's name.

Posted September 25, 2010
Several years ago, I visited the school, but no one seemed to have any information/history of the school at that time. I did leave my e-mail, but no one contacted me. I attended Sackville School from 1952-1953 and would like to know who the principal was at that time, I know it was a woman. I used to live on Parliament Street and my name was Kathy Wilson and I had 8 brothers and sisters and their names were Olive, Richard, Billy, Jack, Bob, Donald and Patrick. My mother and father were Marjorie and Bill Wilson. My e-mail is kathyingram6@aol.com

Posted January 30, 2010
Hi. I am trying to locate a elem -school in Regent park Toronto.I remember it being called Park/ school at the time in 1957-1962.Is it still running and located in south-Regent park.?Joan

Posted December 12, 2009
hello. I lived on eastern ave. in 1953 and went to sackville till grade 4. We moved from the area. I would like to get more info on this site. Thanks Annie

Posted August 17, 2008
The location of the house and barn were provided by a late 19th century fire insurance map, the Goad's Atlas. The street directory of 1852 listed the householder at that location as "Thornton Blackburn, cabman, coloured." These were the clues that led to a test excavation in Feb. 1985, and ultimately to the excavation of the Blackburn site later that summer. The cellar was a hand-dug root cellar under the middle room (bedroom) of what had been the Blackburns' shotgun house. This was located in front of the current school building, along the street line just about in front of the current school's southeast corner.
Hope this helps!
Karolyn Smardz Frost

Posted August 2, 2008
I would like to know what evidence there was in the playground to authorize a dig that inturn revealed the Blackburn homestead. I understand from Smardz Frost's book that they located a mysterious cellar - what was that? Thanks

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