Description of Historic Place

The former Seaforth Public School is located at 13 Church Street, on the northwest corner of Church Street and James Street, in the Town of Seaforth, in the Municipality of Huron East. The two storey, buff brick school was constructed in 1867.

The property was designated, by the former Town of Seaforth (now Municipality of Huron East) in 1985, for its heritage value, under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, By-law 29-1985.

Heritage Value

The former Seaforth Public School reflects the early development of the community. It was the first brick public building erected by the Municipality and served the community as a school until 1953.

The former Seaforth Public School has a symmetrical T-shaped plan. The building has a coursed field stone foundation and a medium-pitched gable roof. The eave line is decorated with a narrow cornice and a plain fascia. Other features include raised quoins and a projecting belt course that continues around the entire building. Italianate style influences are reflected in the round-headed windows with radiating flat arch voussoirs, the central three-storey projecting frontispiece, the elongated proportions and the enlivened surface textures.

Source: Municipality of Huron East Bylaw 29-1985.

Character-Defining Elements

Character defining elements that contribute to the heritage value of The former Seaforth Public School include its:
- two storey, buff brick construction
- medium-pitched gable roof
- nine-bay facade
- narrow cornice
- plain fascia
- central three-storey projecting frontispiece
- double door entrance
- “Palladian” window
- radiating flat arch voussoirs
- wood sills with brick lugs
- round-headed windows
- raised quoins
- projecting belt course