Eden Christian College – St. Catharines, ON
Proper Title
Eden Christian College fonds
Dates of Creation
1945–1985, 1996–1997
Physical Description
42 cm of textual records
Administrative History
In 1945, the Bible Society of the Mennonite Brethren Church in Virgil/Vineland decided to add a high-school department to the Virgil Bible School, which had been established earlier in 1942. The new Virgil Bible and High School opened in the fall of 1945 on nine acres of the old Ball Estate, Locust Grove, near Virgil, now part of Niagra-on-the-Lake. Henry Tiessen was called to teach Grades 9 and 10 in the building where the Bible School also conducted classes. The name of the school was changed to Eden Bible and High School. The next year, as enrollment 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 High School. In 1948, Rev. Isaak Loewen and his wife were hired as caretakers and as house parents for the dorm students. In 1953, the Eden Bible School graduated its last class and the Bible School section of Eden was relocated to Kitchener to become the Mennonite Brethren Bible Institute. The Eden High School section continued to grow and in 1956 its name changed 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.
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 720-721.
- Finding aid consists of a file list.
- No restrictions on access.
- Described by Leslie Wiebe May 23, 2002; updated by Jon Isaak, May 14, 2014.
- Location: Institutional Records – Eden Christian College.
File List
Volume 720-721
- 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.