Construction students with the public school board are finishing restoration work on a deck at the John Freeman Walls Historic Site.
The property was the the home of John Freeman Walls, a fugitive slave who came to Canada with the help of the Underground Railroad. The site then served as a terminal of the Underground Railroad and the first meeting place of the Puce Baptist Church.
"Just by being on the property [the students] learn that the Underground Railroad was the first great freedom movement in the Americas," said Dr. Bryan Walls, founder and curator of the site. "We're doing serious humanitarian and ethical building here in terms of their hearts and minds so when they get out into the real world and start making a living and raising a family they will be able to succeed better because they'll know how to treat their customers."
The space the students are repairing is often used as a performance space and needed replacing after 45 years.
The deck itself has a strong history. Not only was it the stage for many gospel performers but Rosa Parks gave speeches from it.
The students have taken a lot of pride in the work they accomplished.
"We know that there's a lot of history at this site and a lot of things that have happened here, a lot of great things, a lot of great people have been here," said Massimo Rubino, Grade 12 student. "It's just great to know that we actually rebuilt this deck because when we got here he actually told us that Rosa Parks used to give speeches on this deck and we thought that's really cool thinking someone so known like that and we can rebuild this deck and they can still have speeches on it today."
Instructor Chris Gosselin said the students have taken a lot out of this project, not only for its historic significance but the skills they've learned being on an actual construction site.
"I think they like being out on a site, it's beautiful out here too and our partners are very appreciative of all the work so I think that really translate across too and has made it enjoyable for them," said Gosselin.
Different groups of students have been working on the project since September 2024.
"I can't say enough about the students and the teachers that have helped put this together and I know it's something that they won't forget," said Walls.