Originally built as North Burnaby High School, this eight-room school became Rosser Avenue School in 1945. It has been altered with replacement windows, the application of stucco over the original siding and an addition, but has retained its historical form, including a hipped roof with half-timbered gables and a domed roof ventilator. The Rosser Elementary School was designed by the architectural firm of Bowman & Cullerne, who specialized in school design. The firm’s projects include Seaforth School (1922, now relocated to Burnaby Village Museum), Windsor Street School (1923), and Nelson Avenue School (1927).
This school was built to replace Kingsway East School, which became part of Burnaby South High School. Architects Bowman & Cullerne designed the school in 1924; additions were made in 1927. The school features a distinctive double-height gabled entrance, a broad hipped roof and an octagonal rooftop ventilator. The Windsor Street School was designed by the architectural firm of Bowman & Cullerne, who specialized in school design. The firm’s projects include Seaforth School (1922, now relocated to Burnaby Village Museum), Burnaby North High School (1923), and Nelson Avenue School (1927).
Photograph of Grades 3 and 4 at Windsor Street School. Margaret Urquhart (Peggy) is in the 3rd row, 4th from left. The teacher, to the right, is Miss Burke.
Photograph of Grades 3 and 4 at Windsor Street School. Margaret Urquhart (Peggy) is in the 3rd row, 4th from left. The teacher, to the right, is Miss Burke.
Inside the front cover:
"Free Text-Book
The Property of" [printed label with following filled in]
"Olive Benton 8A"
"Windsor Street School"
"8"
"1925"
"FIRST - SEPT - 1926" [handwritten in pencil]
Poem written in pencil on front endpaper signed by "O._ [B]".
Short rhyme written in pencil on front fly leaf.
Study notes handwritten in pencil on back fly leaf.
Miscellaneous sayings, poem, rhymes, drawings and a list of 10 U.S. states written chiefly in pencil (some in pen) on back endpaper and paste down.
Nelson Avenue School was established in 1912 to serve the Alta Vista district of Burnaby. Architects Bowman & Cullerne designed this Classical Revival style school which was built as the annex to the original school building in 1927 and was a twin structure to the original Windsor Street School building. It once featured a columned porch but has been altered with a coat of stucco over the original main floor siding and replacement windows. It still retains its distinctive hipped roof with a domed octagonal roof ventilator.
Harold Cullerne (1890-1976) joined J.H. Bowman (1864-1943) in a partnership that lasted from 1919 to 1934. The firm specialized in school design, and their project list includes Seaforth School (1922, now relocated to Burnaby Village Museum), Burnaby North High School (1923), and Windsor Street School (1924).
Photograph of three women at a teachers' convention in Victoria. Left to right: Dorothy Black (Emonds Street School teacher), Margaret Reid (Kingsway West School teacher), and Freda Fennell (Windsor Street School teacher).
Photograph of three women at a teachers' convention in Victoria. Left to right: Dorothy Black (Emonds Street School teacher), Margaret Reid (Kingsway West School teacher), and Freda Fennell (Windsor Street School teacher).
Photograph of students from grades one and three at Windsor Street School sitting and standing in four rows in front of the school with their teacher, Miss L. M. Hazlett who stands at the back row on the far left. Also in the back row are; Edward Burl, Donald Hawkin, Ian Dunbar and Jim McClosky. S…
Photograph of students from grades one and three at Windsor Street School sitting and standing in four rows in front of the school with their teacher, Miss L. M. Hazlett who stands at the back row on the far left. Also in the back row are; Edward Burl, Donald Hawkin, Ian Dunbar and Jim McClosky. Standing in the second row are; Donald McDonald, Bruce Dean, Freddie Bond, Charles Farren, Charles Howes, Russel Millar, Harley Cash, David Penzer, Gordon Williams and Gordon Thornhill. Standing in the third row are; Arthur Sellars, Neil McKinnon, Billy Langford, Teddy Galbraith, Peggy Harrington, Birnie Reid, Elenor (last name unknown), Bessie McMurray, Rosanne Fraser, Marjorie (last name unknown and Betty (last name unknown). Sitting in the front row are; Flora Lawrie, Gwennie Owen, Sandra (last name unknown), Ella Beatty, unidentified, Elsie Williamson, Dagney (last name unknown), unidentified, unidentified and unidentified.
Note in black ink on verso of photograph reads: "Left to Right Gr 1+3/ 1st R. Miss L. M. Hazlett, Edward Burl, Donild [sic] Hawkin, Ian Dunbar, Jim McClosky / 2nd R. Donild [sic] McDonild [sic], Bruce Dean, Freddie Bond, Charels [sic] Faren [sic], Charels [sic] Howes, Russel Millar, Harley Cash, David Penzer (arm), Gordon Williams, Gordon Thornhill / 3rd R. Arthur Sellars, Neil McKinnon, Billy Langford, Teddy Galbraith / 4th Girls Peggy Harrington, Birnie Reid, Elenor [torn]/ Bessie McMurray, Rosanne Fraser, Marjorie [torn] Betty Per[torn] / 5 R. Flora Lawrie, Gwennie Owen, Sandra [torn]/ myself, [illegible name], Elsie Williamson, Dagney B[cut off]"
Note in black ink on recto of photograph reads: "WINDSOR ST. SCHOOL Gr. 1+3 1937?
Photograph of students from grades three and four at Windsor Street School sitting and standing in five rows in front of the school building. Sitting in the front row (from left) are; David Penzer (grade three), Clifford Spraule (grade three), Alex Decker, Wilfred Bjorvick (grade three), Mike Kozak…
Photograph of students from grades three and four at Windsor Street School sitting and standing in five rows in front of the school building. Sitting in the front row (from left) are; David Penzer (grade three), Clifford Spraule (grade three), Alex Decker, Wilfred Bjorvick (grade three), Mike Kozak, Arthur Sellars (grade three) and Charles Farren (grade three). Sitting in the second row are; Sheila Stockley (grade three), Gloria Frezen, Sandra MacKenzie (grade three), Merle Armstrong, Peggy Harrington, Elsie Williamson, Betty Cox (grade three), Dagney Bjorvick, Joyce Langford (grade three), Barbara Bagley (grade three) and Margaret McConnle (grade three). Standing in the third row are; Douglas Jackson (grade three), Charles Homes (grade three), Thelma Renas, Marjorie Bjorvick, Bessie McMurray, Ella Beatty, Rosanne Fraser, Rose Cox (grade three), Jessie Penzer (grade three), Trudie Bapp (grade three) and Betty Perdue. Standing in the fourth row are; Bill McDougal, Ronnie Kirkpatrick (grade three), Raymond Renas, Bill Stinson (grade three), Harley Cash (grade three), John Adams (grade three), Gordon Williams (grade three), Roy Donelly (grade three) and Jack Gray (grade three). Standing in the back row are; George Baker, Gordon Thornhill, Tom Dunbar, Neil McKinnon (grade three) and Maurice Baker (grade three).
Photograph of students from Windsor Street School on the steps of the building. Some of the students have been identified as follows: First row (l to r): Norman Jebson, Ron Decker, Ross Hepburn, unidentified, unidentified, unidentified, unidentified, George Decker. Second row: unidentified, uniden…
Photograph of students from Windsor Street School on the steps of the building. Some of the students have been identified as follows: First row (l to r): Norman Jebson, Ron Decker, Ross Hepburn, unidentified, unidentified, unidentified, unidentified, George Decker. Second row: unidentified, unidentified, Ruth Weston, Bev Kidd, unidentified, A. Loftsgard, unidentified, B. Lockwood, unidentified. Third row: unidentified, unidentified, unidentified, D. Ettinger, unidentified, unidentified, unidentified, J. Penzer, unidentified, M. Farband. Fourth row: M. Lewis, unidentified, unidentified, A. Stanley, R. Strawson, unidentified, unidentified, unidentified. Fifth row: (1st) J. Allen, N. Cain (the rest are unidentified).
Photograph of students from grades five and six at Windsor Street School sitting and standing in five rows in front of the school building with their teacher, Miss Padgett. Sitting in the front row (from left) are; Clifford Jones, Ole Stanley (grade five), Teddy Galbraith, David Penzer (grade five)…
Photograph of students from grades five and six at Windsor Street School sitting and standing in five rows in front of the school building with their teacher, Miss Padgett. Sitting in the front row (from left) are; Clifford Jones, Ole Stanley (grade five), Teddy Galbraith, David Penzer (grade five), John Adams (grade five), Gordon Thornhill, Neil McKinnon and Gene Lawrence. Sitting in the second row are; Dagney Bjorvick, Dora Ciccone, Peggy Harrington, Rosanne Fraser, Verna Irvine, Mollie Johnson, Dorothy Russle (grade five), Elsie Williamson and Sandra MacCarthy. Standing in the third row are; Jeanette Cruikshank, Betty Perdue, Leona Milne, Elleanor Thompson, Thelma Butler, Margaret (last name unknown), Phyllis (last name unknown), Daphne Northly, Flora Lawrie, Sheila Stockley (grade five) and Sandra McKenzie (grade five). Standing in the fourth row are; Miss Padgett (teacher), Ella Beatty, Bessie McMurray, May Tilke, Howard Kid, Walter Lee (grade five), Raymond Westley, Ian Dunbar and Wendell Boyce (grade five). Standing in the back row are; Stanley Pilkington, Donald McDonald (grade five), Donald Hockin (grade five), Bob Underhill, Alex Decker, Mike Kozak, Charles Farren (grade five), George Baker and Douglas (last name unknown) (grade five).
Note in black ink on recto of photograph reads: "WINDSOR ST. SCHOOL Gr. 6 1939-40?"
Numbers written in black ink on recto identify the students
Note in black ink on verso of photograph reads: "1. Clifford Jones 2 Ole Stanley* 3 Teddy Galbraith 4 David Penzer* 5 John Adams* 6 Gordon Thornhill 7 Neil McKinnon 8 Gene Lawrence 9 Dagney Bjorvick 10 Dora Ciccone 11 Peggy Harrington 12 Rosanne Fraser 13 Verna Irvine 14 Mollie Johnson 15 Dorothy Russle / 16 Elsie Williamson 17 Sandra McCarthy 18 Janette [sic] Cruikshank /19 Betty Perdue 20 Leone Milne 21 Elleanor Thompson 22 Thelma Butler 23 Margaret [illegible] 24 Phyllis [illegible] 25 Daphne Northly/ 26 Flora Lawrie 27 * Sheila Stockley 28 * Sandra McKenzie 29 Miss Padgett 30 Ella Beatty 31 Bessie McMurray 32 May Tilke / 33 Howard Kid 34 Walter Lee * 35 Raymond Westley 36 Ian Dunbar 37 Wendell Boyce * 38 Stanley Pilkington 39 Donald * McDonald 40 Donald Hockin * 41 Bob Underhill 42 Alex Decker 43 Mike Kozak 44 Charles Farren* 45 George Baker 46 Douglas [illegible]* / [written sideways] This picture was taken in grade 6 - Some are grade 5 Gr. 5 marked with * "
Photograph of the Windsor School Parent-Teacher Association. Identified: (front row, far left) Mrs. Violet Terry Rogers. Mrs. Rogers's husband, Frederick Rogers, an electrical contractor, did the electrical wiring for Windsor School when it was built.
Photograph of the Windsor School Parent-Teacher Association. Identified: (front row, far left) Mrs. Violet Terry Rogers. Mrs. Rogers's husband, Frederick Rogers, an electrical contractor, did the electrical wiring for Windsor School when it was built.
1 photograph : b&w with col. annotations ; 28.5 x 35.5 cm mounted on cardboard
Scope and Content
Photograph of students seated in desks inside the classroom of Windsor Street School in Burnaby. Student, Mona McPherson is identified seated at the back of the far right row of desks. Photograph was taken to demonstrate the overcrowding in school classrooms.
1 photograph : b&w with col. annotations ; 28.5 x 35.5 cm mounted on cardboard
Material Details
black and red arrow drawn in ink at bottom centre of photograph
Scope and Content
Photograph of students seated in desks inside the classroom of Windsor Street School in Burnaby. Student, Mona McPherson is identified seated at the back of the far right row of desks. Photograph was taken to demonstrate the overcrowding in school classrooms.
"Presented
To my valued fried Rev. D. W. Scott. a former neighbor at Capitol Hill with best wishes of the author
George Green
Victoria March 1 1947" [handwritten in black ink on page opposing front pastedown]
"BMMM-WU SIGNED 1st ED 50.00" [handwritten in pencil on page opposing front pastedown]
"By George Green, pioneer resident of Burnaby, and an ex-Councillor. Charter Member of the British Columbia Historical Association, Vancouver Branch, and an Executive Member."
Photograph: Windsor Street School staff photograph taken in 1959.
The school principal, Mr. John Prior, is one of two men standing in the center of the back row.
seated in the front row on the far left, Jill allder
seated in the front row, fourth from left, Lillian Ghill
seated in the front row, …
Photograph: Windsor Street School staff photograph taken in 1959.
The school principal, Mr. John Prior, is one of two men standing in the center of the back row.
seated in the front row on the far left, Jill allder
seated in the front row, fourth from left, Lillian Ghill
seated in the front row, seventh from left, Gwen Langill
Photograph: Windsor Street School, Grade 1, Division 18 class photograph taken in 1959.
The teacher, Jill Allder, is standing on the far right. The lady standing on the far left is unidentified.
The photo is by Layton.
Photograph: Windsor Street School, Grade 1, Division 18 class photograph taken in 1959.
The teacher, Jill Allder, is standing on the far right. The lady standing on the far left is unidentified.
The photo is by Layton.
Safety First - Notebook -- [192-?]. Notebook produced by the Board of School Trustees of Burnaby BC. The front cover of the notebook has "SAFETY FIRST / EXERCISE BOOK / STOP. LOOK. LISTEN." printed on it along with illustrations of children playing near streets.
Lined pages within notebook of entries by student, James Bancrofts of Windsor Street School regarding History of Canada and England.
Verso of notebook includes "Arithmetical Tables" and "Multiplication Table".
Object History
Windsor Street School was located between Windsor and Kingsway, east side of Gilley. The notebook was used by James Bancrofts of Windsor Street School for the History of Canada and England.