South Bristol Historical Society

The formal re-opening and dedication of the restored S Road School took place on Saturday, June 26. Located at the intersection of Route 129 with the S Road, the one-room building was constructed in 1860 and was an elementary school until 1943. It has not been used since then except for a brief attempt at restoration in the "70's"; all the furnishings were discarded or given away many years ago. The Historical Society expressed appreciation to all those who contributed to the S Road School Restoration Fund, to the many individuals who donated furnishings and supplies, to the contractors who worked with care on the building and the site, and to the Society members who directed the effort. More than $93,000 was raised in donations from over 210 individuals, 9 Foundations, and the Town of South Bristol at its Town Meeting, a sum sufficient to complete the restoration and establish a fund to assure the future of the building and the educational program.



	S ROAD SCHOOL RESTORATION
	The formal re-opening and dedication of the restored S Road School took place on Saturday, June 26. Located at the intersection of Route 129 with the S Road, the one-room building was constructed in 1860 and was an elementary school until 1943. It has not been used since then except for a brief attempt at restoration in the "70's"; all the furnishings were discarded or given away many years ago. The Historical Society expressed appreciation to all those who contributed to the S Road School Restoration Fund, to the many individuals who donated furnishings and supplies, to the contractors who worked with care on the building and the site, and to the Society members who directed the effort. More than $93,000 was raised in donations from over 210 individuals, 9 Foundations, and the Town of South Bristol at its Town Meeting, a sum sufficient to complete the restoration and establish a fund to assure the future of the building and the educational program.
	Though there is still a way to go to meet the goal of $100,000, enough funds were on hand in September to allow contractor Kenneth Lincoln to get started on the foundation and exterior reconstruction so that the building would be secure before another winter sets in. A number of the large trees that were encroaching on the roof were also removed, and the first coat of paint applied. What a transformation - and we have just begun!
Now that the restoration is complete, the only remaining one-room schoolhouse in the Town of South Bristol is ready for use as an educational and historical resource. The environment experienced by students and teacher in a small fishing village in the 1930's has been re-created, opening a window on life during an important but often overlooked period in our town's history, the Great Depression. Present-day students will spend several days at the school just as it was in 1930; no central heating or indoor plumbing, no computers or audio-visual equipment, no water fountain or gymnasium. Lessons will be taught by one teacher for all grades using the same textbooks some of their grandparents used, many of which have been found on site and still bear the names of those who used them in the 1930's.
In addition, a small portion of the building is devoted to exhibits and documents related to education in South Bristol over the years. The building is open to the public from 1 to 4 pm on Friday during July and August. The Thompson Ice House Museum, located within walking distance from the Schoolhouse, is also open at that time, providing visitors with two unique opportunities to experience what South Bristol was like more than 65 years ago.
RESTORATION WORK on the ACTUAL STRUCTURE will include at least the following: Jacking and raising the building in order to repair the foundation Repairing a portion of the sill, replacing girts, resetting the foundation Roof and window repairs Interior painting Clapboard replacement and exterior painting Installation of electric service and outlets Additional doors Removal of trees Constructing privy building RESTORING the schoolroom will include obtaining at least the following: 8 to 10 student desks (each seating 2 students) Light fixtures Teacher's desk Teaching materials such as maps, pointer, pencil sharpener Student supplies such as pencils, pens, paper Flag and flag pole Wall clock Display cases or shelves Additional PRESERVATION equipment: De-humidifier and humidistat Fire alarm A FUND to assure that SBHS can operate and maintain the building without detracting from its basic goal of preserving the history of South Bristol: S Road School Restoration Fund Goal: $100,000
Download a printable form for donation submissions

HISTORY OF THE S ROAD SCHOOL
The S Road School, also known at various times as District 5, the Neck, Main, or Roosevelt, was constructed in 1860 for the sum of $600. This building replaced a "poor schoolhouse" that was on the 1857 Map of Lincoln County. The present building was originally located on McFarland Cove Road but at some point was moved to the eastern side of Rt.129 and from there to its present location on the corner of Rt. 129 and the S Road. "By 1895, enrollment was about 16 but rose to the mid-twenties after other schools closed in the early 1900's. The place was fixed up in 1901 and again in 1918. Upon the death of the teacher in 1943, the school was closed due to lack of a replacement and never reopened." from Woodstoves & Backhouses, by Philip Averill.
Sarah Emery taught at the S Road School in 1906 and possibly 1907, then at the school on Rutherford Island in 1908, '09 and '10. She received a degree from the Eastern State Normal School at Castine in 1912. As related by Sarah Emery in interviews with Richard Hawkins in 1975, she attended Castine Normal School in the summer of 1914 and learned how "to make teaching rural children more interesting. They studied such things as how to operate a Victrola." Upon returning to teach at the S Road School in 1915, Sarah recalled in the 1975 interviews that "electricity had been in. I went to the [Thompson] hotel down here and they gave me lamps to go around, probably a half dozen maybe not too many, but it would light the room." Before electricity, "there were no lights. When it was a thunderstorm we couldn't see to study." Miss Emery continued teaching at the S Road School through the 1935 school year, with the exception of 1923 when she was on leave.

THE 1930's SCHOOLROOM
Help us re-create the 1930's schoolroom. The following is a list of what students saw everyday - their desks, what was on the walls around the room, on the teacher's desk - start searching your attic and flea markets and antique shops! If you have an item that was actually in the schoolhouse and are reluctant to give it up, please give us a photograph of it so we can try to acquire a similar item. We need:
8 to 10 two-person wood/iron student desks with shared inkwell from early 1900s (see image) (as of 9/15/07, SBHS has 4 such desks and one single desk, thanks to the Francis, Faust, Kornahrens, and Weiss families) Early 1900s teacher's desk Large color print of George Washington for the wall Small child's table and chairs or bench to seat several students Crank-type pencil sharpener Rulers Clock Dunce hat & stool Pencils Dip pens, pen nibs, pen wipers lunch boxes 48-star U.S. flag and flag staff Chalk Water dipper and bucket Roll-up hanging map of world/U.S. Bible Globe showing world of 1930 Pitch pipe Window shades - buff one side, green the other

S Road School Restoration Fund Committee
The Committee and the SBHS Board of Trustees would be most grateful for your support of this important project. If you would like to make a contribution, please send your check, made out to “SBHS – S Road School” along with the form below to: SBHS S Road School Fund, P. O. Box 229, South Bristol, ME 04568
Download a printable form for submissions
Chairman: Donna F. Plummer Honorary Co-Chairman: Barbara T. Hamlin Committee: Lois C. Drukker Bruce A. Farrin Ramona T. Gaudette * Betsy C. Graves Linda B. Johnson Margaret Macy-Peterson Judith Manchester Alden McFarland Katherine Poole Norwood * Amy Rice Poole * Ann M. Sears Grant W. Wheeler
S Road School Gradute