Alma College (St. Thomas, Ontario)
Romanesque style School designed by James Balfour (architect) 1877, destroyed by fire in 2008
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| Date | Fire on May 28th 2008 |
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| Location | St. Thomas, Ontario |
| Outcome | Destroyed by arson |
| Website | Alumnae home page |
Coordinates: 42°46′24″N 81°11′27″W / 42.773315°N 81.190869°W
Alma College was a girls' private school in St. Thomas, Ontario in Canada. Built in 1878, the school was in operation between 1881 and 1988. The college closed in 1988 in part due to a teacher's strike. Primary school and music classes were still taught on campus until 1994. Following its closure the school building was used as a set for several movie productions; Silent Hill (interior shots), its image is included in the 2009 film Orphan and the made-for-TV movie, Mr. Headmistress (1997). The building was destroyed by a fire on May 28, 2008.
With the economic boom of St. Thomas in the late 19th century, Bishop Albert Carmen proposed that a ladies' college be established. The school name derives from the late Alma Munro (Moore) (wife of then Sheriff Colin Munroe) and Mrs. Alma Munro Duffield, daughter of Colin and Alma.
Alma college was officially opened in 1881 as a liberal arts college for women, teaching literature, arts and music. By 1883, it had 165 students. The school's traditional colors were chosen based on each of these subjects: blue (literature), gold (art), and crimson (music).
James Balfour (architect) designed the Alma Ladies College building (1878–81) and the additions (1888-89). Construction was done by Henry Lindop of St. Thomas at an estimated total cost of about $50,000. Alma College's grounds featured a main building, a chapel, a hall cum gymnasium, and a unique outdoor amphitheater. In its later years the college was affiliated with the University of Western Ontario, and was the first college in Canada to organize a department of domestic science.
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