Do you realize that there is a one-room schoolhouse right in the center of the town of Merrickville, Ontario?  There were about 50-60 students, and as many as 80 students in the winter.  S.S. No. 6 Oxford was moved from Acton's Corners to inside the Blockhouse by the Rideau Canal in Merrickville in 1902.  This is a picture of the inside of the school with the desks facing the windows to make use of the natural light.

On Tuesday, October 30th, I have the opportunity to speak to the Merrickville & District Historical Society .  Come and listen to my talk and I'll be pleased to sign a copy of my book for you.

Last week, I had the opportunity to speak at the Kanata Seniors Centre.  I was pleased to see a longtime friend, Jane Grant, and Nora Georgekish-Watt, my daughter's grade 1 teacher at Stephen Leacock School (Kristin is now 26) in the audience. 

Another person in the audience was Dorothy Stanton Boone.  She attended S.S. No. 8 Fitzroy at the age of five.  When the boy who sat in the desk in front of her had head lice, she ended up with 37 lice, so her father pulled her out of the school.  She started back again the next year. 

I also met Marian Marcotte Knowles who taught at S.S. No. 7 Rolfton Buchannan & Riley, in Meilleur Bay near Deep River from 1943-1944.  It was a lonely time for a 17-year-old living in a boarding house and teaching kids almost as old as she was.  She later biked to S.S. No. 4 Pembrooke from 1945-1949 until she married.  She is the mother of Terry Marcotte, the CTV Sports announcer.

Frank Holm told me that his uncle, Harry Oldson, used to board teachers for the one-room school in Finmark, 30 miles outside of Port Arthur (Thunder Bay).  The cute teachers only lasted one year, as all the guys in the area would arrive and try to get a date.  Then the trustees would have to find a new teacher.

Stone Fence Theatre in Eganville is performing "The Schoolhouse" at 178 Jane Street on October  13, 20 and 27.  Tickets can by ordered by telephone 613 757-1001 or toll free at 1-866-310-1004 .  My book is also for sale and $5.00 from each book will go to support their local theatre.