News Detail
Steam Radiator
There is a saying, “A wood stove warms you twice: once when you cut the wood, and again when you burn it.” This would have been the experience of many a boy in the early days of the School, as they were responsible for getting the fires lit in the woodstoves each morning. They would cut, split and carry the wood to the stoves. Once lit, the heat would rise to the upper floors by convection; however, boys do not remember it reaching the level of the dormitories, where they spent many a cold winter’s night, sometimes awaking to frozen water in their wash basins. Thankfully, there were small stoves in each classroom, which were also maintained by the boys.
One of these old woodstoves was connected in one way or another to the fire that burned the whole campus to the ground in 1926. The most commonly cited cause of the fire is of some clothing, being hung near the stove to dry, ignited. Another theory is that small earthquakes in the area a few days earlier may have damaged a chimney, making it a fire hazard. We will never know.
When the School was rebuilt in early 1927, it included a safer and less labour-intensive heating system. An enormous oil-fed boiler in the basement created steam which was fed to radiators throughout the building. Finally, warmth!
For many decades, students were allowed to enter the Main Building only through the west doors leading from the quad; many photos of these doors are labelled “The Boys’ Entrance.” Through these doors and up the stairs, there was a steam radiator, where, apparently, each morning the student who was Head of School would station himself against the warmth as he signed in the boys for breakfast. There is a small plaque next to this radiator today – located right outside the staffroom – as a reminder of this tradition.
When the Main Building was renovated between 2013-2015, a decision was made to keep the radiator heating system in place. New energy-efficient boilers replaced the old boiler, and all the original radiators were sandblasted clean and repainted. After all these years, you might say the Main Building is still running on its own steam – while keeping us all warm.
The information presented in this write-up is based on current information available in the School's Archives and consultation with key people who have some relevant connection to this "object." If you have further information about this "object" that you would like to contribute, please contact the School’s Advancement Office at alumni@shawnigan.ca.
When the School was rebuilt in early 1927, it included a safer and less labour-intensive heating system. An enormous oil-fed boiler in the basement created steam which was fed to radiators throughout the building. Finally, warmth!
For many decades, students were allowed to enter the Main Building only through the west doors leading from the quad; many photos of these doors are labelled “The Boys’ Entrance.” Through these doors and up the stairs, there was a steam radiator, where, apparently, each morning the student who was Head of School would station himself against the warmth as he signed in the boys for breakfast. There is a small plaque next to this radiator today – located right outside the staffroom – as a reminder of this tradition.
When the Main Building was renovated between 2013-2015, a decision was made to keep the radiator heating system in place. New energy-efficient boilers replaced the old boiler, and all the original radiators were sandblasted clean and repainted. After all these years, you might say the Main Building is still running on its own steam – while keeping us all warm.
The information presented in this write-up is based on current information available in the School's Archives and consultation with key people who have some relevant connection to this "object." If you have further information about this "object" that you would like to contribute, please contact the School’s Advancement Office at alumni@shawnigan.ca.
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Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school for ages 13 –18 on Canada’s beautiful Pacific Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
