History
Ramer Wood Public school was built in 1986. It was named after the Ramer Family of Markham.

  History of the Ramer Family

Mount Joy, Markham was originally a German speaking Mennonite community. It had it's own post office and postal stamp. The area north of the tracks was named "Mount Joy" after Peter Ramer's hometown in Pennsylvania, which originally took its name from the British Naval ship "Mount Joy' launched in 1689. Many Pennsylvania Dutch descendents chose to settle here upon their retirement from their farms.

In 1796, Samuel Mercer, a United Empire Loyalist from Pennsylvania petitioned the Crown for a grand of land. Upon finishing his settlement duties he immediately sold it to Jonas Byer in 1811. In 1837, he sold it to his son-in-law, Peter Ramer. The Ramers were Pennsylvania Dutch (German) Mennonites who emigrated to Markham in the early 1800's. In 1879, Peter (1801-1889) sold the land to his son, Jonas Ramer for a dollar. Jonas built the homestead on Springdale Street (30-34 Springdale Street) in 1858. This historically designated "Late Georgian" house was built for Jonas Ramer who ran a sawmill (for 62 years) and custom cider mill using damned water for power.

In 1885, Jonas subdivided Lot 14 into 'suburban lots' on the west side of Main St. and in 1891; with Plan 1105, he named Peter Street after his father. In 1889, Jonas operated the "Springdale Mineral Baths" where the 'afflicted' from all parts of Ontario and the U.S. could bathe in the water of 'high mineral content". This spa was in operation during the same period as the David Byer Cancer Institute at the block house at 300 Main Street, where a patented cure was used to remove tumors. In total, the Ramer Family owned the property for 123 years spanning five generations. (The only 'remains' of the spring is a plaque, mounted on a rock, 20 metres inside the pine forest behind the school.) Jonas Ramer was born on August, 4, 1827; died near the place of his birth, in Markham on July 30, 1921. He was 93 years old. He was married to Frances Hoover in 1850. To this union were born 11 children. Four sons survive their father. In 1883, Jonas married his second wife Fammy Reaman. She died in 1917.