Moncton High School - History

History

Moncton High School was established in 1935, upon the initiative of Fred Edgett, a local grocery wholesale manager, and was constructed by Ambrose Wheeler, a local construction genius of his day. Edgett convinced the public that Moncton needed a high school in a distinct building and that it was in fact possible to take on such a project in spite of the economic depression that had settled upon Canada's economy. Wheeler, along with his right hand man Stan Calhoun, both of whom having previously collaborated in the construction of the Assumption Cathedral, were successful in this large-scale project. The first chairman of the school, Fred Edgett, was nevertheless heavily criticized for spending $450,000 in the endeavor. However, he had rightly predicted that the relative cost of the school would diminish as the economy grew back. The dollars spent at the time of construction were “depression dollars” and lost much of their value as inflation kicked back in. During World War II, MHS played an important role in teaching aero engine mechanics to future aviation engineers involved in the war effort. Records show that between 1940 and 1945, the school basement was used as a shop for aeronautical engines, teaching students of aviation mechanics from all parts of the world. This instruction complemented the basic aviation instruction provided to new pilots who left afterwards directly to Europe.