An early “temple of learning” London Collegiate Institute was destroyed by fire in 1920. Originally built in 1877/78, the school was subsequently expanded in 1899. On April 22, 1920 a large fire gutted the school. A new school was built on the same property and was opened in 1922. The name was changed to London Central Collegiate Institute (Central Secondary School) and is still located at the NW corner of Waterloo & Dufferin.