Bell Tower School (aka Bridge School) - A Short History

 

The third Cowichan Lake School one-room school was built in 1925 by James McLeod Campbell for $3050 on the corner of King George Street and Renfrew Avenue in Lake Cowichan (now the site of Evergreen Place Apartments).  Built of Douglas fir, the schoolhouse measured 35’ by 25’ with seven windows each on the west and east sides, a ground floor recreation room and a 14-step staircase leading up to the cloakroom and classroom. 

 

A belfry was located over the cloakroom.  It is said the bell inside was rung three times each day: at the start of classes in the morning, at the end of recess and at the end of lunch.

The school was never officially named but was known as both the Bell Tower School and the Bridge School because of its proximity to the car bridge.

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The first teacher in the new school was Mrs. Beatrice McColl (nee Rumming).

An addition was built onto the north end of the school in 1937, doubling its size.

The school was replaced in 1969 with the opening of A. B. Greenwell School.

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In 1986 the schoolhouse was moved from its original location to behind the Kaatza Station Museum.  It was fully restored in 1993 and now serves the community as a meeting room, display area and archives room.

In 1994 the schoolhouse was declared a heritage building by the Heritage Advisory Commission of Lake Cowichan.  A plaque to this effect is mounted on the building.