HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1986-04-23, Page 101Page 49
School on Wheels will receive plaque
By Anne Narejko
A part of the Klompen Feest
ceremonies in 1983 was the
grand opening of a very special
old railway car. Three years
later, this railway car will
again be part of the
ceremonies, but this time it will
be in the limelight because an
historic plaque will be unveiled.
The CNR car, known as the
School On Wheels No. 15089,
played an important part in
education for 39 years as it, and
Fred, Cela Sloman and their
family made their way along
the tracks running through nor-
thern Ontario.
As that portion of the pro-
vince is so isolated, children
had no way of getting an educa-
tion. But thanks to the
Sloman's, over 1,000 children
did.
Dignitaries will
be on hand at
official ceremony
On May 21, 1983, the railway
car used to teach the children
was officially opened in Sloman
Park.
On May 18, 1986 a plaque
honoring the Slomans and the
railway car will be unveiled.
The plaque has been donated
by the Ontario Hertiage Foun-
dation and reads:
"The Slomans and the CNR
School On Wheels.
In 1922 veteran educator J.B.
MacDougall urged the provin-
cial government to establish
railway car schools to serve
residents of Northern Ontario's
outlying regions. Four Years
later, two .cars, the first of
seven, commenced operation.
One, the forerunner of this car,
was staffed by a Clinton native,
Fred Sloman. A dedicated
teacher and ardent supporter of
the innovative program,
Sloman travelled the CNR line,
from Capreol, near Sudbury,
northwest to Foleyet, for 39
years.
Aided by his wife Cela, he
taught academic subjects and
the principles of democracy to
children and adults, some with
no previous schooling, and of-
fered a variety of social ser-
vices to those in need. The
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WE SALUTE the KLOMPEN FEEST
JOHN HART EARL HAMM
SAVE on NEW and USED CARS and TRUCKS