W.C. Eaket Secondary School
History of the School Property by Alan McLean
to learn more about the Timber Village Museum (new window)
The Main Office
Did you know that W. C. Eaket Secondary School rests
on property that used to be a barn-yard? Yes, indeed, from the turn of the
century
until 1957 it was the home for hundreds of work horses owned by various lumber
companies, who operated in the Blind River area and then in the Mississaugi
River area.
The property extended from the present parking lot on Woodward Avenue to the
tennis courts, including the playing fields of the Town Park, an area of about
four acres of level, stone-free soil--ideal for building purposes.
The buildings which housed the horses, "the Barns", as they were called,
occupied about the same position along Woodward Avenue as the present school,
extending from the parking lot on the south to the edge of Park Street. At one
time there were more buildings towards the tennis courts, but as the need for
them disappeared they were removed. The whole area was well fenced and the open
field was an ideal exercise yard for the horses.
The barns were long, low buildings about thirty feet wide and one hundred feet
long. They had a central alleyway with stalls on either side. The alley was
wide enough for a team of horses and wagon or sleigh to bring in feed for the
horses and remove the bedding from the stalls. At the front of the Number
One
building, just about where the JN portable stands, was the office of the "Barn
Boss", where Mr. Mick Madigan presided. He was a man of many skills--he
was in charge of a crew of men who looked after the horses in sickness and
in
health, and was well known for his veterinary prowess. In his office were the
usual records of his charges, shelves of various potions and ointments, and
surprisingly, a huge stove made to heat a big iron pot containing grain, bran
and vegetable mixture designed to help an ailing horse recover! Mr. Madigan
was also an avid gardener and produced wonderful vegetables in a garden about
where the present school technology shops stand. Fertilizer, of course, was
abundant and
cheap!
In the late summer new horses usually arrived by train from Western Canada,
Southern Ontario and Quebec. It was a great sight to see the cavalcade of fine,
big work horses being led from the unloading ramp to the barns on Woodward Avenue.
From the barns they were moved two or three at a time to the Blacksmith Shop,
present site of the former "Jack's Pool Hall" where they were fitted
with their first set of shoes. These animals were powerful and quite wild, and
were placed in a rack which lifted them from the floor by means of a wide rubber
belt extending from behind their fore legs to just in front of their hind legs.
Each shoe was nailed in place without injury to the animal or to the smith.
As they left the shop each horse, unaccustomed to the iron shoes would affect
a comical walk, lifting each hoof carefully, as if puzzled.
The harness shop was located about where the main entrance to W. C. Eaket now
stands, and it was a most interesting spot to visit. The shop was run by Mr.
Tom Brown and his staff, who maintained hundreds of sets of harness in preparation
for the heavy work expected from the horses in the winter months. If you visit
Timber Village Museum you may view Mr. Brown's bench for repairing horse collars.
It is on four legs, with a seat for the workman and a frame for holding the
collar. The shop had a distinctive odour, quite pleasant, from new leather,
old horse harness, and the oil bath in which the harness parts were dipped for
renewed life and wear.
After a winter of hard work in the bush, the horses were returned to the barns,
sometimes much thinner and marked by harness friction, sometimes lame or crippled.
They were again fed well, cared for and, if possible restored to top shape.
Older horses, or "culls", were usually sold. The others were allowed
to enjoy the spacious yard for a month or two until they went to summer pasture
at the "Company Farm" west of Blind River. In the rest period in
Blind River it wasn't uncommon to see youngsters riding the horses, now relatively
tame after a winter's work.
You may picture in your mind's eye, the changes that have taken place over
the half century: where you now have halls of learning, there once were stalls
of beautiful horses, first stage in the basic training for a life of work in
a strange environment. Where now stand halls in which running is frowned upon
by the teachers, young men used to ride company horses for fun and excitement.
Maybe they were called "The Young Riders"!
The portion of Woodward Avenue occupied by the Barns and the horse yards was
a busy, interesting and delightful section of town. An industry in itself as
the horses, wagons and drivers shuttled back and forth, going about their tasks
which contributed to the well-being of the community and the logging and lumbering
operation of that era.
W. C. Eaket students and staff are fortunate in having inherited such a beautiful
site for their pusuit of learning. From its beginning in 1958 to the present,
the school has enjoyed the legacy of the Barns and the barnyards--lovely level
lawns, wide playing fields, a breathtaking view of the river, and don't forget
the unmatched beauty of the sunsets.
Enjoy!