1945–1985, 1996–1997.
42 cm of textual records.
Administrative history
In 1945 the Bible Society of Virgil decided to add a high school department to the Virgil Bible School. Henry Tiessen was called to teach Grades 9 and 10 in the crowded homestead where the Bible School, which had begun in 1939, also conducted classes. The high school became known as Eden High School. The next year, as enrolment increased, more teachers were hired and Gr. 11 was added. In November 1946, Henry Dueck, chairman of the Eden Board, and Henry Tiessen went to Toronto and obtained accreditation for Eden with the Ontario Department of Education.
In 1946 the Society decided to construct a new high school building several hundred yards from the Bible School building, which housed students from Gr. 9–12 the following year. In 1948 the Ontario Mennonite Brethren Conference assumed responsibility for both Eden Bible and Eden High School. In 1948, Rev. Isaak Loewen and his wife were hired as caretakers and as house parents for the dorm students. In 1950 Eden High School changed its name to Eden Christian College.
Principals at Eden included Henry Tiessen, David Neumann, Rudy Bartel, George Wichert, Ray Ratzlaff, Keith Vrieszwyk, and Ray Smith.
By 1987 Eden's high tuition rates and low enrolment forced the conference to turn Eden over to the Lincoln Board of Education. Now Eden High School continues to operate in St. Catharines, Ontario as an alternate school with a Christian philosophy and staff, but funded by the government.
Exerpt from The Mennonite Historical Society of Canada.
Scope and content
The records found in this collection consist primarily of school yearbooks, annual catalogues, and minutes regarding the new auditorium building. It also contains brochures, programmes, and reports. The material shows faculty members, students, student life, and information for prospective students or those interested in news related to the College.
Custodial history
The custodial history of this fonds is unclear.
Notes
- Volume 721.
- Finding aid consists of a file list.
- No restrictions on access.
- Described by Leslie Wiebe May 23, 2002.
- Location: Institutional Records – Eden Christian College.
Textual file list
Volume 721
- Brochures and Programmes. – 1960–1985.
- Auditorium fundraising and building committee minutes and blueprints. – 1973–1975.
- Reports and Correspondence. – 1970, 1973.
- Eden Link. – 1967–1968, 1995–1997.
- Eden Bible and High School Year Books and Catalogues. – 1946–1949.
- Eden Christian College Annual Catalogues. – 1965–1968, 1969–1971, 1974–1975.
Eden Echoes, Yearbooks. – 1950–1960, 1962–1963, 1965–1966, 1968, 1971–1979, 1981, 1983–1984.
