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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1986-07-23, Page 781 Page 32 Many attended Baird's Mr R. Woods) Lucy was privileged to attend the Farewell Picnic at School Section No. 1, Stanley (Baird's) on Saturday, August 27. Carl arrived in good time, so as not to miss anything, and Lucy was duly loaded into her wheelchair. Carl wrote her name "Mrs. Carl Diehl" on a slip of paper and pinned it on her jacket. Why did ed. Because no ou not one woulut d now you by that name" was the answer. It was a very well -organized affair under the convenership of Mrs. Glen Broadfoot, who also acted as Master of Ceremonies. Stewart and Postmaster Scott,Cl heard the S S went First of all, the reception committee made \out each Thanksgiving Day, one feel welcome and then there were scholars recite their catechisms, etc., and greetings of friends and relatives, school awarded a rion one man who a did not impression ng to mates and former ha shfs. Lucy regretted that she could not get in- the school section, but attended Sunday side the school to peruse old records back to School there, r , that hed ft desired to attend the 1855 and pictures on display. Miss and McGregor mentioned the pressure of Just the proper touch to a predominantly g Scottish community was the piping in of the the Department of Education, prior to 1875 program by a Canadian of Irish descent for a new school. The ratepayers turned it London).rant was withdrawn. nn Stewart, son of Harvey Stewart, down 0 (At onelmeeting, so Greg told Lucy, John k The skirl o'the pipes set the pace for a pro- Butchart, a trustee who too speak. in Duncan gram commencing with sports for boys and of building, gotP girls of all ages from wee toddlers up to the MacKenzie —who could e late Arthur h r C read nor young men. The latter race was won by Billy grandfather -McGregor who ran so fast that he couldn't write, shook his fist at him and roared: "Sit stop and went head over heels over the ,wire down Butcher!" fence at the East side. His aunt, Miss Margaret McGregor made a dash with her camera in an attempt to record the incident on film. Miss Kate McGregor read her interesting history printed in the Clinton News -Record, July 28, 1966, with added highlights. She enlarged on the Sunday Schools which used to be held there, and how the Rev. Dr. "RAMBLING G°°014 rkItOU e0gha®o`� to0tt r Pis cJtareog yat loot ythvrg s trlopiosOco kitete, s ebtation is e e GOOD NEIN l o � `s� ,t to'o\e �;th ter ` y°othepnd�F�VGKs w, N�j,N� n CPRS a f ,,v p► v ON, MOANS 'Ilrl 1` N W 1986 titSSNIA O 6 1981 PN ON WAD 1981 / J arewell picnic . Butchart rt may have feared MacKen- zie's strength, but stood his ground). Miss McGregor also read a letter sent to Miss Bertha Diehl, Clinton, for this occasion by a schoolmate, the former Azi Nott with whom she has been in touch. It epitomizes the feelings of many of the 241 who attended the Farewell, and the many others who could not be present. WITH LUCY" enrollment was too large to cover every class every day, he wisely assigned the hearing of junior pupil's lessons to one or another of his senior students, thus giving them teaching experience. He who in 1865 had an enrollment of 134 pupils, each one of whom received sound basic learning, would fade into the past. At this reunion memories were vivid: "Do you mind how we played 'monkey', swing- ing from tree to tree around the school yard until Master from us sliding down, and tried to put a aird found the limba drooping top to it?" one pal asked Carl. There are two rows of trees planted around the 4 -acre lot on which the new school was built in 1875. Neil McGregor had a democrat and each Saturday Master Baird got some of the young men in the school section and they got small trees from each farm — walnut, maples, ash, spruce (a Lombardy poplar and a mountain ash were included but have since died) and planted this double row on four sides. They have grown so high that they provide a delightfully shady play ground. No one knows who planted the sour grapevine which is still bearing fruit up in the maple tree near the entrance! Little stories came to Lucy's ear. Atten- ding the reunion were Clarence Jackson, M.D., Cleveland and his brother Spence Jackson, D.D.S., Toronto. Clarence found their names and their sister Zetta's entered in the register t y they attended No. afteramoving tothesection. He photographed it and also the seat where he sat. Lucy's husband recalled the letters on the top of the large box stove for which the pupils carried wood from the old school across the road each day. They were "Heavy Box" at the front and "36 in." at the back. In Carl's day the children toasted their sandwiches on top of this heater and Vied with each other to set them on the letters. On display in the school were the old con- tracts with the smoke seal of the school. This recalled one of Neil's stories. After Master Baird left, the teacher's contract was being executed. Another trustee, Ned, was getting the seal well -smoked over the coal -oil lamp. He reached for a book. So- meone said, "Here's a hammer, use it!" "The Master always used a book," replied Ned, and proceeded to hammer the seal down with one. Former teachers were called upon for im- promptu speeches. Miss Ida Taylor recalled writing on the black board the first day, "Do Right" and she had never used the strap. Mrs. R.Y. McLaren (Miss Elizabeth McEwen) who followed Master Baird, reminisced about her school days rather than as a teacher. She recalled the Master's kindness. She had been a sickly child and out of school a good deal. Bella May McEwen had done her sums for her on her slate. She knew that the Master suspected it but he never said anything. Then she recall- ed standing alone against four on the other side in a spelling bee. She was spelled down on the word ostrich. The last word given had been autumn, and although she knew better, she used the "au" instead of "o". Mrs. Margaret (Henry) Herne described the speech difficulties of two of her little pupils. One said: "He ran fa-ar and fa-ar" and the other "shasser and shasser" instead of "faster and faster". -Former pupils were asked to contribute to the program. Harvey Stewart recounted how he and his brother Ken who commenced school together, arrived at that seat of learning. They pl"ayed in the muddy school yard, and when the bell rang, they did not go in. pro y rolled down her cheeks as she Master Baird went out to see why. They listened to the sweet voices of the young and were sitting on the step, each with a maple ony. chip, cleaning the mud off their shoes. A n It was sad she thought thin at�wit the dos- lesson well -taught at home! He also refer- ing of this school, the memories of Master red to the large cards "R -a -t" spells eltll Page 3c, Baird would be forgotten in time. When his "Dear School Mates of Long Ago! How I would love to be with you today at the farewell to Baird's school picnic. You will have such fun recalling old memories! When Fall comes, I always think of the wild grapes on the vines high up in the maple trees of our school yard. And how the old Master used to warn us that we were not to eat any of them until after frost. "Well, the first frost would find us at school extra early next morning, and the boys climbing the trees, to drop big bunches down. Never anywhere did wild grapes taste as good as those! " My mother, Ellen Kearns, attended the Baird's School, as a girl, too. But I am sure her school mates are long gone and no one present today will remember her. "My sister Cela passed away last Fall, and my sister Fern now lives in Vancouver, B.C. "Though our dear old Master has gone to the Great Beyond, the school of our childhood days may pass out of existence, the principles he taught, and the lessons we learned within its walls will be passed on through the years from our children to our children's children and on and on. "May God bless each one of you and may the rest of your years be happy ones. Sincerely, AZI NOTT JENTS. Hillcrest, Apt. 92, Bozeman, Montana." © For supper the food was put out smorgasbord on a long table at the east side - of the school. People were advised to hold on to their dishes. Then the children and former teachers were piped around the school yard, and past the food to help themselves. The adults followed suit. And what food!!! The district is noted for its cooks and the best came forth for this occa- sion. It was well-nigh impossible for Lucy to stick to her diet. People who couldn't juggle a e up or plate were invited to sit down at a long table — and these included Lucy and Carl. He was hungry and Lucy restrained him, thinking that Grace would be said �r suntg.o and t too so many other people were hungry, they began to enjoy the victuals. Lucy does not think Master Baird would have approv- ed of -this omission. Lucy was pleased to renew acquaintances with Mrs. George Baird, a daughter-in-law of the Master who resides on the Baird homestead. "And now we are aged and gray, Maggie. The trials of life.nearly gone, Let us sing of the days that are gone, Maggie. When you and I were young. With Mrs. George Henderson at the organ and Mrs. Fred McGregor giving a capable lead to the Community Singing which was part of the informal program at Baird's School Reunion, SS 1, Stanley on August 27, 1966, this first number: "When You and I Were Young, Maggie" brought a lump to Lucy's throat. If she'd had tears they would babl have roe ow •