This past week was sure a busy time.  I was out every night of the week marketing my book or dealing with CFUW business.

November 22 – Carleton Place Manor

On Monday, it was a very foggy and dark drive to Carleton Place Manor.  Fortunately the residents enjoyed my presentation and three former teachers of one-room schools were in attendance.  One of them was Edna Bourk Armstrong whose story is on page 153 of my book.

November 23 – Torbolton Historical Society

On Tuesday, the Torbolton Historical Society let me sign books at their annual meeting at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Dunrobin.  People came to listen to a wonderful presentation by Beth McEwen who spoke about her experiences of working on Baffin Island.  I met several people who had attended one-room schools in Torbolton and Fitzroy Townships so they invited me back to speak on April 19th.

November 24 – Stonehaven Manor & Apartments

Stonehaven Manor was a very welcoming venue to give my presentation.  My parents, Howard and Marilyn Chamberlain are moving into an apartment there next week and were a wee bit proud to see their daughter in action.  I actually feel I was blessed with a ‘gift of the gab’ and clear speaking skills from my father.

Hope Oberlin (née Tomlinson) came to hear my presentation.  She informed me that she went to the Quarrie School at the ‘Quarries’ as it was known, because there was a large quarry there which produced the stone from which the school was built.  Students would also swim in the quarry.  The school was built with two rooms, but one room was closed down during World War II due to a lack of teachers.  Being the youngest of nine children, all her older sisters and brothers attended the same school.  She completed Grades 3 & 4 there.

November 27 – St. Martin de Porres Craft Fair & Chapters Kanata

On Saturday, I shared a table at the St. Martin de Porres Craft Fair with two friends - Barbara Carrière, who co-authored a book about her climb of Mount Kilimanjaro in Kenya in aid of the Stephen Lewis Foundation, and Kami Dunlop, who has just written her first heart warming children’s book about her son who is autistic.  It is very inspirational and uplifting to be amongst fellow authors.

In the afternoon I signed books at Chapters in Kanata.  A couple of friends dropped by and I also met a couple of prospective members for CFUW/Kanata.  (I always seem to be wearing more than one hat at a time!)  One of the women had parents moving into the Stonehaven Apartments in January, so I know we will meet again soon.

In the evening, David and I help celebrate the retirement of Frances and Gunars Balodis from Music For Young Children at Cyranos Restaurant in Bells Corners.  We have so much admiration of those two as they have touched the lives of so many children and parents with their exceptional music program.  Both our children, Andrew and Kristin, are graduates of MYC and we’re avid supporters of this program.  Some people asked about my about my book (just happened to have one in my purse)….so David had to retrieve more from our car.

November 29 – CFUW/Sherbrooke

I was so pleased to receive an e-mail today from Carol McKinley, past president of CFUW/Sherbrooke.  She and Bev Tauber, two authors of “Days to Remember” – stories about people who taught or attended one-room schoolhouses in the Eastern Townships - know how difficult it is to write a book.  They were very supportive of me as I wrote my book, as they too share my passion to record our Canadian educational history.

November 30 – “Y” Morning Break Group at St. Martin’s Church

As I was involved with doctor’s appointments, I was also able to fit in a presentation at St. Martin’s Church to about twenty women.  One of the ladies, Patricia Bays told me she went to a very different kind of one-room school.  The Ontario Ladies College was a small United Church girls’ private school in Whitby, Ontario.  In a school of 125 girls, there was a small classroom of elementary school students – about 15 girls from grades 5 to 8.  She was the only student in Grade 5, and two more girls joined her in Grade 6.  She’s not sure how the teacher managed to keep all students busy, but she does know that when she had finished her Grade 5 work, she was able to go to the back of the room and choose a library book.  To this she attributes her love of reading and libraries.

My day ended with a delightful conversation with Ruth Tripp, a 95-year-old woman who telephoned me to say how much she enjoyed the book and wanted me to send her another one for a friend.  She attended S.S. No. 12 Fitzroy from 1921-1929.  She fondly remembers teachers Miss McBride, Miss McGuire, Miss Craig and Mr. Johnston.  Although only 18, Mr. Johnston ensured all his Grade 8 students passed the Entrance Exams.  Ruth remembers him drilling her in geography at 8am each morning; this was after a 4-mile walk to school.  She also remembers the box stove – students froze on one side or roasted on the other.  Ruth also paid tribute to the wonderful sketches of Mia Overduin and Adell Hay that are sprinkled throughout my book.

Book signing at Chapters Indigo in Barrhaven offered me the opportunity to chat with former and current students from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School and their families.  These included Sarah Bear, Rachel Fairservice, Martina Luketich and her mother Nadia, Connor Fulco (He claims he is the best student I ever taught!), Cole, Sydney and Blake Kusiewicz and their parents, Mrs. Blackwell, Ella Taylor and her parents and Kayla Phillipps and her mother.  It was wonderful to be so warmly greeted by Cindy Howard who works at Indigo, as she was a terrific parent volunteer during the time I taught her daughter Cassidy.  Even though my book is written for adults, my students are enthralled when I share some of stories of people I have interviewed. 

After book signing, I joined forty students from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School and directed them singing and playing tone bells in the Santa Claus Parade in Barrhaven.  There were throngs of people lining the route and everyone was in the holiday spirit.

Susan & Brock Fournier have a beautiful family run store, Spotlight on the Rideau, in Smith’s Falls right beside the Rideau Canal.  It features all local artists – your connection to one-of-a-kind creativity.  There are wonderful wooden carvings, bowls, china painting, carved antique cars, paintings, jewelry, etc. all made by people near the Rideau Canal.  Today they invited six local authors (yours truly included) to celebrate their first anniversary.  I enjoyed meeting the other authors whose works included information on workers of the Rideau Canal, poems about the area, Smith’s Falls baseball team and the life of a fictional local girl in the 19th century.  Hopefully next year more people will join in the celebration.

Today found me in the southeast area of Ottawa signing books at Chapters South Keys.  I was so pleased to renew my acquaintances with two people who helped me with my research – Mary Boyd and Chris McPhail. 

As a member of the Gloucester Historical Society, Mary gave me access to information about schools in Gloucester Township.  She and her parents went to the Forsythe School (S.S. No. 18 Gloucester) and her story can be found on page 41 of my book.

While I was researching at the Osgoode Museum in Vernon, I came across a photocopy of a charming picture (p. 69) with Chris McPhail’s name and phone number on it. When I called his number, Chris, who is a member of the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa, told me his neighbour had the original picture.  Imagine my surprise when I learned that his neighbour was Peggy Carss, a longtime friend of my parents.  Chris’ grandfather taught Peggy’s mother, aunt and uncle at S.S. No. 9 Dalhousie near Poland, Ontario in 1897.

I also met Arlene Mason, a former student of Chloris Bradley Brown (p. 149) at Merivale Public School (S.S. No. 13 Nepean).  She was delighted to learn that ‘Miss Bradley’ is still alive and kicking!

All Saints Catholic High School was the venue for my first craft fair selling the book.  I chatted and signed books for people who had been to one-room schools across Canada or were buying Christmas presents for friends and family.  The book is a wonderful gift for older people to reminisce or have the stories read to them, as they are generally only one page in length.

In the afternoon, I signed books at Chapters Pinecrest.  I was delighted to meet Mary-Ellen Van Dongen-Viau who is featured in my book.  Her claim to fame is that she went to the Marvelville School with Larry Robinson (NHL Hockey player and coach) and the story of them being in Grade 1 together is adorable.  Leanne Hopewell, Customer Experience Manager at Chapters Pinecrest, advertised my book to customers and ordered another 18 books for the store.  I’m now over 350 books sold – not bad for two months of being in the market.

Walden Village  10/05/2010

Andrea Lavigne graciously welcomed David and me to the Walden Village Retirement Residence.  One of the residents, Mr. Johnson shared a fantastic picture of his former school, S.S. No. 1 Huntley (now the Cheshire Cat Pub) in the 1920s.  It turns out his sister, Erma Johnston, is mentioned in my book.  As a Grade 8 student, she was a marvelous help to her eighteen-year-old teacher, Ruth Hill (Bradley).  Their picture is still found in the schoolhouse today.

Happy Birthday Ruth Hill Bradley 10/11/2010

I was delighted to help celebrate Ruth Bradley’s 85th birthday party.  She looked fabulous in her high-heeled shoes and mini-skirt!  One of the funniest stories in the book is about Ruth and her students.  I had the pleasure of teaching with her at W. Erskine Johnston School in Kanata back in the 1980s.

Oxford Township  10/12/2010

The Oxford Historical Society invited me to speak tonight in Kempville.  Jean Newans, a wonderful music teacher whose story is in my book, introduced me to the members.  A very interesting discussion resulted after my presentation.  Excellent questions and comments were made comparing the educational system then and now.

Home of Larry Robinson  10/19/2010

I was at the Marvelville Community Centre today – home of Larry Robinson of the Montreal Canadiens fame.  Ladies who went to this old school still meet regularly for coffee, tea and treats.  Also in attendance was Michael Daley, a local historian who has help record many stories from Osgoode Township.

While researching for my book at the Osgoode Museum in Vernon, I was so fortunate to have met and work with Linda Robinson.  It was through her that I was able to share the family story of Brian, Larry, Linda, Carol and Moe Robinson.

In the afternoon, I gave my first speaking engagement in French to residences of the Centre Jean Urgel in Embrun.  I was sad to learn that the sister of one of the ladies had interviewed had passed away.  I’m so pleased to have included her story in French in my book.

Jubliee Group  11/03/2010

Today found me presenting in front of members of the Jubilee Group at Woodroffe United Church.  It was fun to reconnect with some CFUW/Ottawa women.  It was through the Canadian Federation of University Women that I was inspired to write my book to begin with.  Three women in attendance enjoyed sharing some of their experiences in one and two-room schoolhouses in southern Ontario.  After all, one-room schools dotted the countryside throughout North America, so people across Canada and the United States can really relate to the stories in my book.

CBC Radio  (91.5 FM)  “All In A Day”  11/04/2010

Wow!  What a day I’ve had!  I taught French all day and then left St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School and drove downtown to CBC headquarters in Ottawa.  It was quite an experience walking by hundreds of hardworking CBC employees with tons of monitors broadcasting from many locations.  Alan Neal interviewed me on his show “All In A Day”.  It was a wonderful opportunity to promote my book and the One-Room Schoolhouse Tour that the Canadian Federation of University Women in Kanata are hosting next May 29th.

I also gave a presentation at the Ottawa Public Library, Hazeldean Branch in Kanata.  In attendance was Shirley Monkhouse.  Her great great great great grandfather and his son were pioneers in March Township and helped build S.S. No. 1 March.