19300 Centre Street

The Ross Family Complex is located on the west side of Centre Street, half a mile north of the village on lot 13.

Originally this was the site of the Mount Albert Public school, SS#13.  In 1890, a four-room, red brick, public school was built to serve the children attending the North and the South School.  Mr. Woodcock and Mr. Ramsden built the school for the sum of $2,360.  This school was closed in 1966 when the new school was built on Mount Albert Road.

In 1998, a new building was built on this site.  In 1999, it was named the Ross Family Complex to recognize a large donation from former Mount Albert residents Effie and Muriel Ross.  "A lot of the old names in Mount Albert are being forgotten.  We need to do something to recognize them," said the sisters' brother John, who still lives in Mount Albert.  The Ross family has been in Mount Albert since around 1890. 

Rick Leclair, the town’s recreation director, said, “The participation of the Ross family in social and recreational organizations and activities over the years helped to make Mount Albert the vibrant community it is today.”

The new facility contains the Library, a seniors’ room and a gymnasium.

Originally, the Department of Education provided funding for local libraries.  In 1966, the Department stopped providing these funds.  Local fund raising in Mount Albert kept the library going until 1974.  In 1974, the local Library Board was dissolved and the library became part of the East Gwillimbury Library Association.

The Library has been in many locations in Mount Albert over the years. 

The first library was opened by W.T. Lloyd in 1898 and was located in his drug store. 
In 1912, it moved to a room on the upper floor of the Allen Theaker store that was located in the old Rowland building on the northeast corner of Centre Street and Bank Street.  Miss Rear was the librarian. 
In 1919, it moved to the south room in Miss Elizabeth Leek’s residence on Centre Street with Minnie Leek as the librarian. 
In 1932, the library moved to the north side of the main floor of the IOOF building.  Minnie Leek remained as librarian until 1937.  In 1937, Miss Olive Tinsdale was appointed librarian.  She remained librarian until 1955.  In 1956, Mrs. Howard Robertson became librarian.  Mrs. Elsie Crozier took over the job in 1958.
In 1975, the Library moved to a basement room in the Community Centre on Main Street.
This facility was not large enough, so in April of 1975, it was moved again.  This time to the Old Fire Hall building on Main Street.
In 1998 the Library moved to the Ross Family Complex.  This new facility provides lots of room for growth and should be its permanent home for many years to come.

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