Part of the town’s local heritage is coming back to life.
The property at the corner of Belsyde Avenue West and Tower Street South, which has stood vacant for nearly a decade, recently sold for $935,000 and is the future home of Emmanuel Christian High School, set to open in September 2016.
The former Centre Wellington District High School building was placed on the open market in mid 2012, following a decision by Reid’s Heritage Homes, which constructed two large condominium buildings nearby.
That company had purchased the entire site of the former high school and severed off much of the land to construct the two large residential buildings.
The original 1928 school building, which is about 20,000 square feet in size and sits on 2.33 acres, is designated under the Heritage Act to ensure its protection.
Emmanuel Christian High School principal Henk Noble is excited about the opportunity ahead.
“We’ve been bursting at the seams for some time now,” said Noble.
He later added, “We’re very excited about this and glad the building can continue with its original intent.”
Local realtor Eric Van Grootheest is also excited about the sale.
Once renovations are complete, Van Grootheest estimates the building will be 32,000 square feet and have a capacity for 330 students.
Noble explained Maranatha Christian School was first established in 1963 just south of Fergus. In 1977, the school opened a junior high school in Guelph for Grades 7 to 10.
The Maranatha elementary school served Grades 1 to 6.
The current building on Garafraxa Street east of Fergus combines the elementary Maranatha Christian School and the junior high Emmanuel Christian High School. That building opened in 1989.
Noble said in 2005 the decision was made to add Grades 11 and 12.
“In addition, there were students coming in from feeder schools. One is located in Orangeville and another in Guelph,” Nobel adds. “We’ve been growing ever since.”
The combined schools in Fergus currently operate with seven portables on site. Nobel noted the school has actively worked to find a new site for the past four to five years.
“It’s very difficult to find something that is zoned properly,” he said. “We were focussed on Centre Wellington.”
After working with the owners of the former Fergus high school site for some time, Nobel said a meeting held last week with the membership committee resulted in the decision to move ahead with the purchase.
Nobel said he believes the current structure will fit in quite well with Emmanuel’s needs. He explained the high school currently uses nine classrooms. He anticipates that after renovations, the old high school will house 14 classrooms, plus storage and additional rooms.
“We plan to add a new gym and foyer on the side of the building,” said Noble.
He noted the renovated structure should satisfy the needs of the school community for the next 20 to 25 years.
“Our students come from as far south as Guelph, up to Orangeville. We even have some coming from Listowel and Owen Sound,” said Noble.
He agreed it is a long drive for some students to get to school, but, “That is the commitment parents have to have Christian education.”
Nobel said major renovations will be needed at the Fergus heritage building, but officials expect classes to begin in September 2016.
Plans include the installation of an elevator to provide wheelchair accessibility, though much of the planning is still preliminary, Nobel said. The only entrance to the current structure is off Tower Street (Highway 6). That will continue to be the main entrance, Nobel said. He noted there is a right-of-way/shared entrance with the condominium development. He stressed the old high school is a heritage building, noting its impressive stonework.
“In that context, it is good a school is going back into it [that will] be a part of the Fergus community for a long time to come,” said Noble.
Van Grootheest said the previous owner was an incredible help, as was Centre Wellington senior staffer Brett Salmon and CAO Andy Goldie.
