Rockwood Academy 1850

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted June, 2004

Photo by contributor Wayne Adam - Posted November, 2011

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted June, 2004

Plaque Location

The County of Wellington
The Township of Guelph-Eramosa
In Rockwood, on the west side of Main Street South (Highway 7)
south of Harris Street (Road 50) across from Ridge Road

Coordinates: N 43 36.634 W 80 07.969

Plaque Text

A pioneer boarding school for boys was opened on this property in 1850 by William Wetherald (1820-98), an English Quaker who had emigrated to Upper Canada in 1835. The original log building was replaced by the present stone structure in 1853. The academy became noted for its high academic standards, and among its former pupils were such prominent persons as: Honourable A.S. Hardy, Ontario's fourth prime minister; Sir Adam Beck, founder of the province's Hydro-Electric system; and James J. Hill, pioneer railway magnate. In 1864 Donald McCaig and Alexander McMillan became principals of the school. They introduced commercial courses and added the south wing to the building. This school remained in operation until 1882.

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