St. Mary's Acadian School

The former St. Mary's Acadian School is valued for its association with the history of education in PEI, for its importance to the history of the Acadians of PEI, and for its contribution to the community of St. Ann.

The school opened in 1855 as the Millvale Road Acadian School to educate local Acadian children. The first visitation report notes there were 28 boys and 17 girls then enrolled. The first teacher was Joseph Doirant.

By 1861, its name had changed to St. Mary's Acadian School. It was then one of eighteen rural schools on the Island where the French language was taught in addition to English. The school inspector noted in 1867 that "the students read very well for French children..." It was also noted that the building was in good condition, but the classroom had "no map of the Island."

A long serving teacher at the school was Helen Gallant, who taught from 1921 into the 1940s. The school remained open until consolidation in 1965. At that time, only grades three and four were being taught in the building.

The property was then purchased by a local carpenter who sold it to Donald Paolucci of Connecticut. The current owners purchased it from him in 1970 and have since enjoyed it as a summer home.

The building remains on its original site with a stone foundation. Renovations over the years have included the removal of an interior ceiling in 1971, repairs as a result of fire damage in 1976, replacement of the south windows in 2003, and the addition of a new asphalt roof in 2005.

Source: Culture and Heritage Division, PEI Department of Tourism and Culture, Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8

File #: 4310-20/S29