The History of General Amherst High School
General Amherst High School was named to honour Lord Jeffrey Amherst (born, January 29, 1717; died August 3, 1797). General Amherst was commander of the British armed forces in North America during the Seven Years War (1756-1763) also known to Americans as the French and Indian War (1754-1763). This was a war fought between Britain and France for dominance over world trade and is considered to be the first war fought on a world wide basis, as campaigns were carried out in Europe, India, North America, and the West Indies. The war was successfully directed by the British Prime Minister, William Pitt. France was crushed. The British victory was the result of the abandonment of the traditional British policy of having the war directed by those of acceptable social status, and turning responsibility over to those of talent and ability no matter what their social circumstances were. Amherst, who was a genius in the act and science of logistics, was one of these new men. Amherst's brilliance lay in having the right people with the right staff, in the right place at the right time. In the conflict in North America, Amherst led 14,000 men in the capture of the fortress of Louisburg in 1758, and accepted the surrender of Montreal in 1761. He remained in Canada as Governer-General until 1763.
In 1837 land was set aside for a high school in Amherstburg, Ontario and a foundation was laid. Construction of the school never got beyond this point. Students who wished to continue their education after elementary school had to go to the town of Essex. Here they were required to pay room and board during the school term. In 1910 a continuation school was established in Amherstburg for students who wished to further their education through grades nine and ten. Classes were held in Amherstburg public school, Christ Church Parrish Hall, the town hall, and the town library, wherever space was available. The continuation school had a principal, B. P. Overholt and a teacher, Miss Mosey. As a result of the efforts of Mr. Overholt, the status of the continuation school was upgraded to that of a full high school. Construction of the present high school was begun in 1921, and completed in 1922. This original structure is still in use in General Amherst High School today.
Norman Davies was the first principal of the new General Amherst High School. He was assisted by a staff of three teachers. In 1926, two more teachers were added and Water K. Sidey replaced Mr. Davies as principal. Mr. Sidey remained as principal until he retired in 1960. Subsequent principals have been A. A. Martin (1960 - 1962), Reg Cozens (1962 - 1969), Jack Wilson (1969 - 1987), Cliff Pattison (1987 - 1988), Rod Paulin (1989 - 1991), Reg Simpson (1991 - 1996), John Corbett (1996 - 1998), Tom Halliwill (1998 - 2002), and Patrick Catton (2002 -).
In 1929 a gymnasium was added to the middle section of the north end of the school. By 1931 there were 160 students. The focus of the school was on academic excellence until 1964, however, shops were set up in the basement for vocational activities. Evening classes were introduced offering vocational and business courses, home making courses, and English for new Canadians. During the day, students were brought in from the neighbouring elementary schools to take advantage of these programs. These courses have been offered intermittently since the 1930's depending on demand and the availability of financial resources. In 1946 the first school buses began to run, bringing in students from the neighbouring communities of Malden, Anderdon, Sandwich West, and Colchester North. By 1970 the school had a student population of 2100.
The past World War II population and economic boom required the physical expansion of General Amherst High School. In 1952, four classrooms were added to the western end of the school. In 1960, a cafeteria was built in the basement of the eastern end along with three new classrooms on the first and second floors. The original gymnasium was torn down in 1963 and a new wing, perpendicular to the original east-west alignment of the school, was run to the north in the middle section. This new wing contained laboratories and technical workshops. Parallel to the middle wing, a wing containing a double gymnasium was run to the north at the west end of the school. In 1967 another new wing was run to the north at the eastern end. The first and second floors contained laboratories, classrooms, business rooms, a staff room, a library and a new cafeteria in the basement. A third gymnasium was added to the west wing of the school. The new expansion was still inadequate in meeting the needs of the growing student population. In 1966, a three shift system had to be used at General Amherst High School. Eight portable classrooms, the old St. Rose High School, and the basement of the town library were employed to accommodate student overflow.
In 1967 a series of nine murals were designed by Anne Fines of Kingsville and erected on the west end wall of the school. The murals depict the history of the area. The northern mural celebrates the centennial of Canada. It depicts industry with stylized images of modern factories, business with modern ships, multiculturalism with flags, and the nation with a maple leaf. The second mural entitled, "North to Freedom 1793" illustrates the experience of the fugitive slaves and the Underground Railroad. The fugitive slaves are shown working the land and engaged in domestic activities. These are illustrations of broken chains and a map of the USA. The third mural, "Teacher and Trader 1684" reveals a French-Canadian priest, a trader/woods man, a native woman cooking, and a cabin surrounded by tree stumps. The fourth mural shows a pioneer clearing the forest. The fifth mural depicts the French explorer LaSalle's ship the 'Griffon' under full sail, being watched by a native mounted on horse back. The sixth mural, "The Loyalists" contains no human figures but shows Fort Malden, a log boom, and stylized grain. The fort and military establishment provided a market for the products of forest and field for this area until the end of the 18th century. The fort stood both as a physical and psychological barrier to the threat of both the political expansion and spread of ideas from the USA. The last three murals deal with the experience of the War of 1812 between the British and the Americans. The first of these murals depict the British General Sir Isaac Brock and his native ally, Tecumseh. The second shows the Battle of Lake Erie at Put-In-Bay where an American victory drove the British fleet from the Great Lakes which cut off Fort Malden from its source of supplies. This made the fort vulnerable to an American attack. The last mural shows Fort Malden being fired at by American ships and the burning of Fort Malden by Colonel Proctor prior to his retreat inland up the Thames River.
Even after the additions of 1967, twelve movable portables were needed to service an increasing school population. These portables were erected in a parking lot across Sandwich Street east of the main school building. The pressure was eased by building two new secondary schools, Sandwich Secondary in Sandwich West, and Western Secondary in Anderdon. From 1970 until 1975, while these schools were being built, the facilities of General Amherst High School were shared by the three schools. General Amherst was on the morning shift, then vacated the school to Sandwich for the afternoon shift.
In 1987, as the result of the introduction of a policy providing full funding for Catholic high schools, a new Catholic high school, St. Thomas of Villanova, was created for southwestern Essex county. This new school shared space with General Amherst High School in the Amherst building until 1993. From 1989, General Amherst had the morning shift and Villanova the afternoon shift. Politically, a very unstable situation had been created. Several times a new building for Villanova was offered, and then withdrawn. Building a new high school for General Amherst and giving the old building to Villanova was suggested. Giving the old General Amherst building to Villanova and sending General Amherst students to Sandwich and Essex High School was proposed. Community protests and demonstrations, student walkouts and boycotts brought the issue to national attention. This pressure forced the provincial and municipal government to back off. General Amherst High School was saved.
In 1993 the students of Villanova left General Amherst High School for their new school in LaSalle. Many conversions to the school were made in the 1990's. New computer laboratories were set up to meet the needs of the business, technical, and academic departments in the school. A new art room and a theatre arts room were set up in the middle wing of the school. A new music room was established near the western end of the school. The student population of General Amherst numbers close to 750 students.