Belleville’s heritage includes places that have been torn down and changed over time. Members of the community have held different levels of attachment to these places over time. These changed places have played large parts in Belleville’s history and its architectural heritage. Three sites embody this best. By looking at Belleville Collegiate and Vocational Institute (BCI), the Cablevue Façade, and Kinsmen Park these changes will be made evident.
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| Belleville Collegiate and Vocational Institute Before Demolition Photo Credit: Belleville Heritage Properties |
Belleville Collegiate and Vocational Institute is Hasting’s County oldest school. It was built on land originally planned for Mississauga Reserve and in 1816 it was surveyed by the town again and set aside for a grammar school. Over the next eighty-seven years four different schools stood on the lot and in 1927 BCI was built.
BCI became the first school in Ontario to offer night classes and was the only secondary school in Belleville for twenty-five years. This made BCI Hasting’s County oldest secondary school. The school was designated as a heritage site on October 20, 1997 and then de-designated December 13, 2004.
Despite large community opposition the building was torn down and a sports field has been erected. On the one side of the fence is stonework from the school. Sites have been created for alumni including one called BCI4ever which was created for alumni and the schools 75th anniversary.
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| BCI Monument Erected by Alumni Association Photo Credit: BCI4ever |
BCI is an example of a site that held huge importance for the residents of Belleville and was historically significant. However, it was torn down despite these factors. Unsubstantiated rumors claim that the site was supposed to hold a cultural centre. Regardless of this, the site is now a sports field and is extremely close to St. Michael’s grammar school and Nicholson Catholic College (a secondary school).
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| 224 John Street After Demolition Photo Credit: Anne Duffy |
The second site is the Cablevue Façade. Originally it was part of the Intelligencer/Cablevue building. The building was used by the Belleville Intelligencer, the local paper. The building was originally supposed to be torn down so that those at City Hall would have a clear view to the Moira River. Instead, the Roman arches were deemed to be architecturally significant and the building was torn down but the arches remained and were placed directly across the street from City Hall. The view to the water is now obstructed by the façade, and the arches are all that remain.
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| Cablevue Façade Roman Arches Photo Credit: Anne Duffy |
Kinsmen Park is located at 151 Dundas East. It has a playground and a public pool for Belleville’s school children. The land was bought by the Methodist Episcopal Church from “John Canniff the Elder” and was then consecrated in March of 1828 and was one of Belleville’s first cemeteries. This cemetery holds some of Belleville’s first settlers.
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| Kinsmen Park Playground & Splash Pad Photo Credit: Anne Duffy |
Kinsmen Park recognizes the contributions made by the earliest settlers of Belleville and provides numerous services as a park to the residents of Belleville. On the grounds is a pool that is open for public swims. During the summer months the park operates a splash pad and day programs for school age children.
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| Kinsmen Park Day Camp Photo Credit: Anne Duffy |
These sites have played large roles in the development of Belleville. BCI was one of the first schools as well as the first secondary school. Many of Belleville’s residents grew up in and were taught at BCI. It provided services like night school and was a large part of the community for many years. Its deconstruction was opposed by many in the community. The Cablevue/Intelligencer building was the location of the local paper for many years, giving the community its news. While the paper still remains, the building is now gone and the Intelligencer is printed elsewhere. Kinsmen Park houses those who settled the town. The people buried in Kinsmen Park have helped to build the Belleville that is known to its residents today. Additionally the Kinsmen Club, that operates the park, has provided many services for the residents of Belleville.
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