259 Scott Street

This property has received Heritage Designation under the Ontario Heritage Act February 28th, 2000. “Erected at the end of the 19th century as a public school, this building has been a focal point for community activities and continues to serve the community into the 21st century as the Fort Frances Museum.
This building so designated is of historic and cultural value to the community of Fort Frances.”
The Scott Street School building heralded the future development along the street. Completed in 1898, the school filled the need of a community that had grown beyond the capacity of a Little Red School House. A debenture of $2,500.00 was raised for the two story structure that boasted a full basement, plaster through out and a central heating furnace. In the classroom, factory-made desks held two pupils who apparently enjoyed an old pump organ that the teacher played as the pupils marched into the school. Unfortunately, she could only play one tune so that the musical setting soon lost its appeal.
By 1914, the Scott Street School became too small for the growing population. After the construction of the Robert Moore School in 1914, the building was used for continuation classes and later became a high school. By 1923 a new High School opened and in 1928 the building became the home of the Royal Canadian Legion until 1968. After uses as a police station, assessment office and Chamber of Commerce the Fort Frances Museum opened at this site in 1978.
In the Heart of Down Town
As the functions of the Scott Street building changed, the street grew around it. Precipitated by a fire, the business district of Fort Frances was changed forever on June 16th of 1905. On that date a $20,000 fire razed Front Street - the main business block of town. Rumoured to have been started by a tipped over lantern at the hardware store, the fire quickly leapt to nearby buildings. Ironically, a newly purchased steam operated fire engine sat idle on a railway flat car as the business district burned. A disagreement between Town Council and the manufacturer was later resolved and the town accepted the fire engine.
After the fire Scott Street was soon developed as the new “Main Street”, The high prices asked for Front Street property led many businesses to re-build in this location. Now a century later, Scott Street has evolved into a “downtown” providing retail and service for the community. Centred at the gateway, our historic business section is an opportunity to use heritage to create a unique identity for our community.