As I walked around the school, I heard cracking noises in the pipes and walls. There was no one inside—perhaps a ghost? Maybe not. It was the still-pumping heart of the building: the gas-fired steam boiler, rumbling and keeping the school alive.

Let me tell you more about the school, this time diving into some of the technical details. There’s a bit of photographic art scattered throughout, and I found some in the basement of the former Wells Street Public School (now Wells Street Schoolhouse Lofts)—in the boiler room. The deterioration there is likely due to moisture, rusted piping, chipped paint, and the unique architecture of the plumbing system, which really drew me in. The engineering behind it all is an added bonus.

The last time I saw something like that was on a much larger scale—during our thermodynamics course in third or fourth year of engineering, when we had the chance to tour the underground heating system at the University of Toronto. Who would have thought that years later, I’d come face to face with a similar boiler unit, but this time for a different purpose?

Everything has a life expectancy, and that includes the mechanical equipment of the school.

The heating heart of the school—the gas-fired steam boiler installed back in 1949—is still going strong. However, according to the inspection reports I reviewed, the boiler is nearing the end of its theoretical lifespan, and as you can see, it’s showing clear signs of deterioration.

Currently, there is no air conditioning in the school, and I’m assuming it was only cooled by passing cold water through the radiators.

That boiler will be history once the school is converted into lofts and a new heating system is installed. From what I can tell, it looks like the gas-fired steam boiler was assembled inside the basement, and according to Ms. Birch, it will be removed the same way—by being disassembled.

It all started with the crack in the wall.

According to the reports, the building is also in poor electrical condition. While it’s still functioning, it has far surpassed its anticipated service life. Similarly, the interior lighting fixtures, heating and cooling piping systems, radiators, and several fin-tube cabinets have been problematic in recent years and have exceeded their useful lifespan. And then, there are issues with the gas piping system, plumbing, and the heat recovery ventilation.

Renovation was recommended, and it certainly wasn’t inexpensive. Additionally, the process could have been disruptive for both students and teachers.

There were many other issues that needed addressing. The report was lengthy—and probably boring to write! It made me laugh when I saw mentions of a ‘water-damaged mirror’ and ‘soup dispensers appearing to be in fair condition’ in relation to the washrooms.

I’m not sure if it’s still the case, especially with the recent spike in temperatures, but when I visited the school last month, it was still heated. I felt a blast of warmth coming from the roof entrance as I made my way around taking photos.

I suppose the school needed maintenance after it was closed, and the owners are doing a great job to minimize further deterioration.

The fix wasn’t cheap, and the decline in enrollment ultimately became the deciding factor. As Dave Cooke wrote in the Facilitator’s Report for Wells Street Public School: “Over the years, Wells Street Public School has experienced a gradual decline in its enrollment, but the Board has directed overflow enrollment from other schools in the area to maintain its viability.”

For those who attended, Wells Street Public School will always hold a special place in their memories. While it’s important to honor the past, we must also embrace the inevitable changes that come with time. The building may be transforming, but its legacy will remain. In the end, we’re fortunate that the structure will stand, continuing to be a part of our community’s story for years to come.

“Action and reaction, ebb and flow, trial and error, change – this is the rhythm of living. Out of our over-confidence, fear; out of our fear, clearer vision, fresh hope. And out of hope, progress.”

Bruce Barton

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COMMENTS

Bruce Butler said: March 21, 2012 at 16:50

“Thank you for these wonderful posts. My mother went to high school here, I attended Wells PS from kindergarten to grade 8 and my son and daughter from Kindergarten to grade 6. These pictures have sure stirred up a lot of memories. Once again Thanks! Bruce”

Anna Lozyk Romeo said: March 21, 2012 at 19:15

“Bruce, welcome to my blog and thank you for sharing your relationship with school. I did not even go to this school, but it brought back many memories for me too as the school I went to was very old and my dad went there as well.”

Michelle Krawczyk said: March 24, 2012 at 09:11

“I agree with Bruce- brings back a lot of memories. I was the youngest out of 4 kids to attend Wells. I was there from kindergarten to grade 5. Love showing my husband and kids the inside as they have only ever seen the outside- and of course it’s been closed. Thank you.”