History: The Lowville School and the Village of Lowville

As the current occupants of The Lowville School House since 2022, FSRT respects the heritage designation of this building and its historical significance to the local community.  We consider it a privilege to occupy this space, in such a beautiful setting.

As we were eager to learn more about the building, as well as the history of the village of Lowville itself, we discovered many interesting facts not identified on the plaque outside the building.  Therefore, we'd like to share them with you below in one place, as compiled from the various local sources identified. 

Feel free to stop by and visit us when our door is open, say hello and look around.  We're friendly!

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Overview

“The Lowville School, also known as the Limestone Valley School, was built in 1889 on land donated from the farm of Joseph Featherstone. It was built of local fieldstone from the farm of Mervyn Coulson; sand for the mortar came from the Cleaver Mill Pond. Its front gable is marked by a kingpost infill and is crowned with a bellcote and weathervane. The woodshed at the end gable is part of the original structure. The separate boys' and girls' entrances are located, unusually, not at the ends, but on the four-bay sides. The windows retain their six-over-six panes and some of the original shutters. The Schoolhouse is a well-known landmark in Lowville Park.”   Source:   City of Burlington by-law document located in the Ontario Heritage Act eRegister. 
 
Designated in Nov. 1992 by city of Burlington by-law 134-1992:  A By-law to designate the exterior facade of the property known as 6207 Guelph Line, Part Lots 6 & 7, Concession 4 N.S., in the City of Burlington, Regional Municipality of Halton, as property having historical and architectural value and interest pursuant to the Ontario Heritage Act. 
 

Details

Historical: 

• Name: The Lowville School (also known as the Limestone Valley School, or SS No. 9). 
• Construction finished in 1889. 
• The original village school (Barker School) was a wood-frame school located at the NE corner of Brittania Rd. & Guelph Line (at diagonal corner from current church), and also served as a place for religious services before current church was built. 
• The Barker School was replaced by another wood clapboard school at the current location of The Lowville School, in 1877. “Robert Coates was the school master there. About 1875 he was influential in having plank sidewalks built in the village to ease walking. The 12 Mile Creek [Bronte Creek] also received a new footbridge so that it could be crossed safely.”  Source: Kilbride History Group article. 
• The plank walkway led to a set of wooden stairs up to Highville, just northwest of the schoolhouse. The wooden steps were replaced in 1919 by concrete steps and a centre iron railing.  There are 104 steps.  There is a stone atop the staircase that reads, “Built by J. Auckland and Sons.”   Students and townspeople used the steps as a shortcut to avoid having to walk along the main road (Guelph Line). 
  
•  The current stone Lowville School replaced the wooden one in 1889.  
  
• The school served the community until 1954, when Fairview School was built on Britannia Road. Today that building is the headquarters of Conservation Halton. 
• In 1958, The Town of Burlington annexed Nelson Township and inherited Lowville Park.  Source: Kilbride History Group. 
• Burlington became incorporated as a city in 1974. 
• The Lowville School House has since been utilized as a community meeting place and a workspace for a variety of local organizations over the years. 

 
Architectural: 

• Mostly original construction; fieldstone exterior walls. 
  

• Single pane glass (6 over 6).  Windows replaced in 2017 (source: Ontario Heritage eRegister permit; “Replacement of windows in like materials and design...”) 

• Cedar shake roof (replaced in 1992, and then again in 2015 with longer-lasting, composite Enviroshakes).  “Replacement of existing cedar shake roof with composite shake shingle (Enviroshake), and installation of additional vents and soffit venting.”  Source: Ontario Heritage eRegister permit document 2015, and 2013 City of Burlington report. 

• Separate boys' and girls' entrances unusually located on the four-bay side walls. 

• Front gable is marked by a kingpost infill. 

• Bellcote, bell, and weathervane on roof. 

• Woodshed on east side built in 1947, of wood-clad, wood-framed construction on a concrete slab foundation with a wood truss and cedar shake roof (replaced in 1992, and 2015 at same time as school roof).  Major renovations to the wood shed were done in the 2000s to maintain the shed for its current use, including a concrete slab floor, exterior painting, newer soffits, fascia and downspouts.  Source: City of Burlington 2013 report. 

• Current porch at main school entrance replaces an earlier, more basic design (visible in a past photo). 

• Electric heaters and a paddle ceiling fan added, and electrical and lighting work done inside around 2015.  Source: 2013 City of Burlington report. 

 
Other: 

• Boulder on west side of building contains a plaque honouring Joseph Featherstone and family, who donated the property where the school stands. 
   

 
General Lowville history: 

• Lowville is located within the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. 

• Following the Mississauga Land Purchase of 1805, land surveys were distributed by Land Lotteries. An American, Reverand Daniel Pickett, was the first settler.  The village of Lowville was established in 1853.  By 1868 Lowville had 276 residents, 5 hotels, 2 churches, a school, a Temperance Lodge, a foundry, grist and saw mills, a cheese factory, a general store, a telegraph and post office, and blacksmith, harness and furniture shops.  Source: Kilbride History Group. 

• The original General Store stood where the Lowville Bistro is today. 

• Why named Lowville?  The village north of Dundas Street was the lowest point on the main road from Guelph to Lake Ontario. 
  
  

Read some great articles below about the interesting history of Lowville, including the 1871 railway protest, and the 1884 explosion at the Powder Mill that made explosives for building Canada’s Transcontinental through the Rocky Mountains. 

• BurlingtonToday article, May 3, 2023 (from Burlington Historical Society) 
• Inside Halton article, July 4, 2008 (from Burlington Historical Society) 
• Kilbride History Group article 
• Hamilton Spectator article, Nov. 5, 1944 (from Burlington Public Library).  Reprinted in the Canadian Champion 1969 here (from Milton Public Library). 
• Website and photos here. 

 

• Over the years, the nearby Bronte Creek channel had been altered and degraded from human use, making it less hospitable to coldwater fish and wildlife. From 2011-2014, the Trout Unlimited organization (Ted Knott chapter) undertook major restoration work on the nearby section of Bronte Creek to re-naturalize the creek channel, restore degraded creek banks, plant trees, and provide more suitable habitat for coldwater fish, particularly the trout and salmon that run up the creek to spawn.  Grant funding supported the work, with volunteers from various groups contributing their time and energy, including FSRT and BurlingtonGreen.  An interpretive trail was also installed along creek.