St. Ann's Schoolhouse

On the eastern side of Royal BC Museum is a brick courtyard called Heritage Square. On one side of this square is Helmcken House, the subject of the last two days' posts. On the other side of this square is the above building, St. Ann's Schoolhouse, the oldest building in the province that is still in use. It was built in the 1840s and purchased in 1858 for use as a convent for newly arrived nuns. Later they re-purposed it as a schoolhouse. You can get some idea of its solid construction by looking at the interior log wall pictured below. In the center of that photo is one of the original little desks.

St. Ann's Pioneer Schoolhouse

This modest little building on the Royal BC Museum grounds probably the earliest schoolhouse in the province. Below is information from a wall plaque on the site.

St. Ann's schoolhouse was purchased by Bishop Demers for the four sisters of the order of St. Ann who came from Quebec in June, 1858, to teach in Victoria. It is believed to be the oldest building in Victoria which is still in use, possibly built between 1843 and 1853. It was moved to its present site from the grounds of St. Ann's Academy in 1974.