Attendance continued to increase, and classes had to be held in Berlin's fire hall in 1874.

At that time Alex Young stepped down as principal and was replaced by Jeremiah Suddaby.

In 1882, the first kindergarten in Ontario, taught by Miss Janet Metcalfe, was opened at the school.

The designation noted the facade, the archway between the main foyer, the archway between the main foyer and the original kindergarten, and the oil painting of Jeremiah Suddaby that was painted in 1912 by A. Y. Jackson, one of the original members of the Group of Seven.

The school's most famous alumnus is William Lyon Mackenzie King, former Prime Minister of Canada.