Red Brick School in Elgin

Location: 

44°36'31.7"N

-76°13'5.1"E

Address: 3 Halladay Street, Elgin, ON

This park offers a quiet place to rest to rest in the Village alongside the historic Red Brick School House. 

Opened in 1887, this charming two-room brick school, built by local contractor Fred Taber, replaced a smaller wood-frame building. School Section No. 5 in South Crosby is a very early example of the late 19th century campaign to improve Ontario's system of public education through the construction of better buildings. Committed to fostering social, moral and economic progress through formal classroom instruction, the province's Department of Education encouraged late Victorian era school boards to erect larger, more sophisticated schools. Although local officials were often reluctant to raise the taxes necessary to finance such expensive departmental initiatives, some forward-looking communities, such as Elgin, sponsored the construction of architecturally elaborate schools, which showcased their local pride and commitment to progress through education.

Restored by the Elgin and Area Heritage Society, this township owned building has been acknowledged as being of provincial historical value with the placement of the above Ontario Heritage Trust plaque.

The municipality of Rideau Lakes has undertaken a landscaping program within the park, continuing to enhance this property with foresight and care.

In 2015 the EAHS, with the assistance of the Canadian government, erected a plaque honouring soldiers of the N Platoon, 156th Battalion, who had trained in Elgin in 1915.

Positioned within the park are 2 distinctive benches commissioned by the EAHS in 2021. These pay tribute, through inset quotations and plaques, to former teachers and students of South Crosby schools.