Niagara Falls Collegiate opened its doors in 1893 with eight classrooms and just under 100 students. The building was located in the centre of Wesley Park, an area which was also once known as Bender's Bush. The property at the centre of Epworth Circle had previously housed the Wesley Park International Camp Ground and Methodist retreat, established in 1883. The camp meetings failed, and in 1887, the lots were sold off by lottery. In 1893, the Wesley Park Auditorium site was acquired by Niagara Falls Collegiate.

Niagara Falls Collegiate was the second high school in Niagara Falls, after Drummondville High School. In 1901, work began on the construction of a gymnasium which resembled a large red barn, which was replaced with a two-storey gymnasium and auditorium complex in 1918. During the mid 1910's, Niagara Falls Collegiate added a roster of commercial courses, as well as the study of agriculture, domestic sciences, shop mathematics and mechanical drawing. The school offered both day and night classes to allow those with day jobs to study in the evening.

In the following years, the number of students taking such vocational courses had increased so much that a new technical wing was needed. This was erected in 1920, and the school name was changed to Niagara Falls Collegiate and Vocational Institute (N.F.C.V.I.). The technical wing was followed by a new academic wing in 1928. The gym and auditorium were condemned in 1938, torn down in 1945, and replaced with the present gymnasium, auditorium, and cafeteria complex in 1949.

NFCVI served the city until after World War II, when an increase in enrolment lead to the construction of three additional high schools in Niagara Falls. In 1954, the school underwent major renovations; the old bell tower was removed and the academic and technical wings of the school were connected. The population of the school continued to grow, and by the 1960's, a peak enrolment of 1100 students necessitated even more additions. In 1967, a third gym, a new library, staff lounges, and new classrooms were added.

In the 1970's, however, enrolment at Niagara Falls Collegiate and Vocational Institute began to decline rapidly. In 1982, attendance was so low that the school board decided to close the school. However, after considerable opposition from students and alumni, the board reversed its decision, and NFCVI remained open.

A 90th anniversary gala was held in 1983, but it was a difficult time, with the Niagara South Board of Education still deliberating about closing the school. In 1988, the Lord Elgin School building was transferred to the Roman Catholic Separate School Board, and the Lord Elgin students were transferred to NFCVI. The academic students at NFCVI were dispersed throughout the remaining city high schools.

Now: Niagara Centre for the Arts Academy

In 1999, the District School Board of Niagara voted to close Niagara Falls Secondary School. Since then, the Epworth Circle building has been home to a number of organizations , including St. Ann Adult Learning Centre, Kingston College, the Niagara Centre for the Arts, a private recoding studio, a dog training facility, and the Niagara Centre Academy.

Berketa, Rick. 2012. Niagara Falls Hotels and Campgrounds - A History. http://www.niagarafrontier.com/earlyhotels.html

Guidetags. 2021. Niagara Falls Then and Now - Wesley Park International Campground - Epworth Circle.
https://www.guidetags.com/mindmaps/explore/niagara-falls-then-and-now/4147-wesley-park-international-camp-ground-epworth-circle

Niagara Falls Public Library. 2017. Niagara Falls - Then & Now: A Photographic Journey Through The Years. [NFCVI/Collegiate Institute & Technical School/ Niagara Centre for the Arts Academy].

Niagara Falls Then and Now
A collaborative project
Niagara Falls Museums - Niagara Falls Public Library - Dept. of Geography and Tourism Studies,Brock University.
Original newspaper series by Sherman Zavitz, Official Historian for the City of Niagara Falls from 1994 - 2019.

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Copyright for all content remains with original creators.