1

This timeline of Kinghorn School is illuminated with excerpts from a brief history of the school written by Laura Rolling in the 1960's.

2

Kinghorn, in relation to King City
1878
King Township, Ontario

3

Indenture transfering land from James and Mary Burns to the Trustees of S.S. 23.
6 April 1860
King Township, Ontario

4

"In 1860 the southwest corner of the present school site, comprising a quarter acre of land was purchased from James and Mary Burns off their farmland ..."

"The log building served it [sic] purpose for several years when a more commodious frame structure was erected to the north and the log building was used as a residence for Mr. McKay. (an early teacher)

Apparently the school enrolment was quite large then (probably due to families engaged at the Tannery). There were assistants until 1872.

Still another reason for a large attendance was the fact no school existed at Springhill (King City). The eastern boundary of S.S. 23 extended to the west side of Con. 4 until S.S. 2 was formed when Dr. Lewis Langstaff of Springhill originated the movement."

5

Map of one room school houses
19 October 2004
King Township, Ontario

6

"Very few school sections have undergone such remarkable changes as King S.S. 23, the rural section of Kinghorn. There were two alterations in size and enrolment has ranged from 120 to less than 20 since organization in 1860. In the early days, boys and girls of S.S. 23 received their education from itinerant teachers."

7

SS 23 Kinghorn
1888
King Township, Ontario

8

SS 23 Kinghorn
1888
King Township, Ontario

9

Miss Elizabeth Tinline
1870
King Township, Ontario

10

"In 1867, Miss Elizabeth Tinline of Strange, Con.6 and Miss Sarah Wells were engaged as assistants to Abram Carley. Miss Tinline, then 19, took her classes in the log building which had been converted to a classroom."

11

Walter Rolling
1937
King Township, Ontario

12

Walter Rolling
The 2nd oldest child of Benjamin Jr. and Sarah: born May 31, 1873. He started his education at the Laskay School in Strange with Miss Tinline.

In January of 1895 Walter began his career at Kinghorn with a salary of $295 per year.
In 1897 he attended Toronto Normal School to get a Second Class Professional Teaching Certificate; one of the very early African Canadians to do so.

13

SS 23 Kinghorn School class of 39 students
1912
King Township, Ontario

14

"When Miss Alice Ferguson became principal in 1892-95 she had upwards of 40 pupils.
However when Walter Rolling came in the fall of 1895 there appeared to be a heavy enrolment thereon.

During the early years of his 41 years of principalship, when the Davis Tannery was at its height, he had an enrolment of 83, with an average attendance of 55 in winter time. In those days he taught first and second form high school grades when many young men and women from farms graduated their junior high school leaving examinations."