One room schoolhouse exhibit opens
The one room school is one of the most iconic and recognizable teaching institutions; kept very much alive in literature and of course in the minds of former students and teachers. The Asphodel-Norwood Historical Society has paid homage to all of Asphodel-Norwood’s one room school houses hosting the grand opening of an extensive exhibit about each of the schools on May 6 and 7 at their Heritage Centre in Westwood.
The Historical Society has been working on their One Room School House project since the beginning of January. At one time there was around a dozen one room schools located within Asphodel Township; however as the towns of Norwood and Hastings grew over the years the schools became too small to house the growing number of pupils and with improved roads and vehicles, it made sense to create larger and more centralised facilities. By 1967, the last public one room school had closed in Asphodel, followed two years later by the Daisy Dee Separate School. (The Daisy Dee School is thought to be the last One Room School to close in Peterborough County.)
The society’s large exhibit has literally taken over their Heritage building and features a wide collection of artefacts from the different schools as well as a broad range of archival materials including class pictures and school registers. One area of the centre is even set up as a mock school room with period school desks equipped with the standard slate and chalk.
Preparation and research for the project included interviewing many students and former teachers.
A recurring theme discovered by the researchers was the dramatic impact that closing a school even 50 years ago had on the surrounding community. A similar plight currently exists for many rural schools in today’s small town Ontario. Reasons for closure both now and then include: quality of education, declining enrollment (in certain areas), transportation and building maintenance.
The exhibition will remain on display until the first part of September and it is hoped that it will encourage others to share their own pictures, memories and items so that they can be added to the archive of information. Each of the school houses including: SS1 Westwood, SS2 Cameron, SS3 Union South Dummer, SS4 Separate School, SS5 Fife, SS6 Daisy Dee, SS7 Donegal, SS8 Norwood, SS9 Elgin, SS10 Hastings and SS12 Birdsall each have individual files, plus although not technically in the township the Brick School and Center Dummer school are also included in the project.
The society is also hosting two special guided bus tours on Saturday June 3 that will take guests to see the remaining school houses that are now private homes as well as the locations where the other schools once stood. Cost is $10. The Heritage Centre is located at 1818 Asphodel 3rd Line and will be open May 20, 27 and 28; June 3, 24 and 25; July 13, 14, 15, 16, 22, 23 and 29; August 26 and 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or by appointment. To reserve a spot on the bus tour or for an appointment to see the exhibit call Paula Warr at 705-772-0136 or Brenda Bullock at 705-837-2064.
Millie Morton presentation
Tying in with the Historical Society’s One Room School House project will be a joint presentation by the society and the AsphodelNorwood Public Library Board on Tuesday May 16 at 7 p.m. in the Asphodel Norwood Community Centre by author Millie Morton. Millie will be speaking about her book Grace, a story about her mother’s experiences as a teacher in a one-room school house and the changes through the past century. Admission is free, light refreshments will follow, all are welcome.
Yard Sale for MS
A special yard sale will be held on Saturday, May 13 (rain date May 20) from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the lawn of the Norwood United Church (at the lights), all proceeds will be donated to the Multiple Sclerosis Society. If you would like to donate items for the sale please contact Lindsay Genge at 705-696-3828 or Elaine Scoptt at 705-639-2149.