What an amazing day I spent in Bromley Township. On June 4, 2011, the Bromley Historical Society invited me to speak in Osceola, a village outside of Cobden. There were many former teachers and students of one-room schoolhouses in the audience who were anxious to share their stories.
Muriel Buttle from Cobden attended a one-room school from all of her elementary school days. She walked two miles each way – no school bus then!! After graduating from Grade 13, she taught in a one-room school with all grades including Grade 9. She completed a B.A. and B.Ed. at Ottawa U before retiring after 27 years of teaching. She loved her job!
Ken Swanyze went to S.S. No. 10 Snowball in King Township, York Co until 1969. The school had an oil furnace that had a warning light outside that indicated a failure. Some of the older boys knew how to “short” the system and make the light go on. When they informed the teacher, she often would send them all home at 8:30am.
Lauretta Rice recalls when a local trustee was known to stir up trouble in the Round Lake area about 75 years ago. This man made life difficult for the teacher, especially since she refused to board at his house. One day, his son needed to be disciplined. He was not pleased and confronted the teacher. After trying to reason with him, her temper got the better of her. She took a wash dish full of dirty water and threw it at the trustee! Young lads who had seen the incident cheered and clapped for the teacher. The trustee turned on his heels and went home, never to bother the teacher again.
Catherine Gallagher taught in Loughrin Township. She recalls Christmas concerts being very special. The whole community helped – built a stage and everyone attended. She lived in the “teacherage” – two small rooms at the rear of the school. She lit fires and helped clean the school on dark, wet evenings. Catherine has great memories and still keeps in touch with a former student who always calls her on her birthday.
Later, Blaine Marchand and Jamie Robertson took my friend Petra Friedrichson and me to see four former schoolhouses in Bromley Township. Jamie owns St. Josephs Catholic School, S.S. No. 6 Bromley at 495 Micksburg Road, Cobden opposite the Osceola community building. Inside this impressive building were numerous items such as old desks, books, globes, boxes for pencils and crayons plus all sorts of collections including small frogs and turtles.
Further down the road we went inside a boarded up school, S.S. No. 8 Bromley at 1523 Micksburg Road.
Next we met Ann Bulger, whose husband has family dating back four generations in Bulger’s Corner. She graciously invited us in to see her restored home. She then showed us the union school U.S.S. No. 2 Bromley and S.S. No. 1 Wilberforce, 936 Bulger Road, Douglas, along with the school ledger from 1855.
Continuing our drive, I took pictures of Pine Valley School, 1626 Cobden-Eaganville Road, Douglas and then the Wolftown School, S.S. No. 9 Bromley at 1368 Cobden-Eaganville Road. It was built in 1925. Margaret Angus shared with me a very special School Souvenir her husband, Alex Angus, received when he graduated as a student in 1925.
If anyone has any information about former schools in Bromley Township, I would be pleased to add it to my website.
Muriel Buttle from Cobden attended a one-room school from all of her elementary school days. She walked two miles each way – no school bus then!! After graduating from Grade 13, she taught in a one-room school with all grades including Grade 9. She completed a B.A. and B.Ed. at Ottawa U before retiring after 27 years of teaching. She loved her job!
Ken Swanyze went to S.S. No. 10 Snowball in King Township, York Co until 1969. The school had an oil furnace that had a warning light outside that indicated a failure. Some of the older boys knew how to “short” the system and make the light go on. When they informed the teacher, she often would send them all home at 8:30am.
Lauretta Rice recalls when a local trustee was known to stir up trouble in the Round Lake area about 75 years ago. This man made life difficult for the teacher, especially since she refused to board at his house. One day, his son needed to be disciplined. He was not pleased and confronted the teacher. After trying to reason with him, her temper got the better of her. She took a wash dish full of dirty water and threw it at the trustee! Young lads who had seen the incident cheered and clapped for the teacher. The trustee turned on his heels and went home, never to bother the teacher again.
Catherine Gallagher taught in Loughrin Township. She recalls Christmas concerts being very special. The whole community helped – built a stage and everyone attended. She lived in the “teacherage” – two small rooms at the rear of the school. She lit fires and helped clean the school on dark, wet evenings. Catherine has great memories and still keeps in touch with a former student who always calls her on her birthday.
Later, Blaine Marchand and Jamie Robertson took my friend Petra Friedrichson and me to see four former schoolhouses in Bromley Township. Jamie owns St. Josephs Catholic School, S.S. No. 6 Bromley at 495 Micksburg Road, Cobden opposite the Osceola community building. Inside this impressive building were numerous items such as old desks, books, globes, boxes for pencils and crayons plus all sorts of collections including small frogs and turtles.
Further down the road we went inside a boarded up school, S.S. No. 8 Bromley at 1523 Micksburg Road.
Next we met Ann Bulger, whose husband has family dating back four generations in Bulger’s Corner. She graciously invited us in to see her restored home. She then showed us the union school U.S.S. No. 2 Bromley and S.S. No. 1 Wilberforce, 936 Bulger Road, Douglas, along with the school ledger from 1855.
Continuing our drive, I took pictures of Pine Valley School, 1626 Cobden-Eaganville Road, Douglas and then the Wolftown School, S.S. No. 9 Bromley at 1368 Cobden-Eaganville Road. It was built in 1925. Margaret Angus shared with me a very special School Souvenir her husband, Alex Angus, received when he graduated as a student in 1925.
If anyone has any information about former schools in Bromley Township, I would be pleased to add it to my website.
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