MUSEUMS

THE EAST HALL'S HARBOUR SCHOOLHOUSE

Information was obtained from Shaun Kelly of the Kings Historical Society in Kentville. Through his efforts copies of the school registers were made available (the box was labeled 1881 – 1970, with some missing). Also, information was gathered from former teachers – Hazel (Hamilton) Roscoe, Faye (Hemlow) Steele, Thelma (Hartling) Boylen, Ruth Roscoe, Marjorie (Fisher) Wood; and students – Gerald Keizer, Cameron Jess, Morley Ward, Martha (Brown) Munroe, Mary (Brown) Fraser, Flora (Brown) Sanford, Harley Corkum, Victor Steele.

The East Hall’s Harbour School was the last one room school in Kings County to close. In its last 16 years of operation, the grades covered were Primary to Six. Beginning in September 1970, students went to Aldershot Elementary School.

In the book, “Villages and Towns of Nova Scotia”, it mentions that Charles B. Cox was schoolmaster during the last half of 1831.

The children from the top of the mountain and all of Hall’s Harbour went to the first school.

DeLancey Huntley (father of Donald) bought the old school house (on this present site), estimated to be at least 65 years old. He put sills under it and began to move the building. He got as far as Willis Keizer’s. The year was about 1900. It is believed that the students attended this building until the new school was built. Willis (father of Gerald) bought the building from Lance and later made it into a cooper shop.

The property for the school was donated by or bought from Alfred Brown (father of Vern).

This present building was built in 1905. Hadd Sullivan was a carpenter and it is believed that he was one of the men who worked on the school construction. It is quite certain that Vernon Brown attended the school the first year that it was opened. Ironically, the Register for 1905/06 is missing.
The building was wired in about 1949.

In 1920, the school boundaries were redefined. The boundaries for East Hall’s Harbour School District No. 32 were: Bounded on the east by Malcolm Jess’; south by the Advent Church; west by the Hall’s Harbour brook, north by Valerie Cody’s.

(In 1920, schools were established at Mountain Front and West Hall’s Harbour).

(In 1935, parents’ addresses were changed to RR# 3, Centreville)

School was held only in the winter months. Students were supposed to go until age 18.

The day started about 9 a.m. and went to 3:30 p.m. There was recess in the morning and lunch break was for one hour. The teacher stayed one-half hour later – until 4 p.m.

In November 1941, Dr. Harold Killam did inoculations at the school; this was for protection from diphtheria, smallpox, and scarlet fever.

Water was carried from Willis Keizer’s and later from Bert Steele’s across the road.

Wood was bought from Willis Keizer and later from Claude Misner.

Two annual events were the Christmas Concert and Arbor Day. The last fine Friday in May was usually Arbor Day. In the morning the girls came with pails and mops and cleaned the inside of the school while the boys cleaned the yard. Sometimes they even planted a garden. In the afternoon they all took a holiday and went fishing and picking flowers.

There was one row of small seats and two rows of large seats. There were about 20 student desks. In the years when there were more students on the roll than desks, often absenteeism took care of this. The teacher’s desk was at the front.

Trustees were responsible to see that the school was run properly. Some of the people who served as trustees were Vern Brown, Roy Fraser, David Jess, Ray Roscoe, and Gordon Steele.

Those serving in the capacity of secretary/treasurer included Charlie Watson, Rae Bennett, Walter Brown, Millie (Mrs. Tom) Roscoe, and Marjorie Keizer.

The Treasurer collected $30 to $50 per family to run the school.

Most, but not all, the teachers were graduates from the Provincial Normal College in Truro. Usually, the yearly salary was about $ 400.00. They boarded with Clyde and Annie Bezanson (now David and Sharon Watson), with Lloyd and Mertis Sheffield on the Al Bennett Road, with Cecil and Betty Jess, at Rae and Mrs. Bennett’s, and at Harry and Elsie Corkum’s.

In 1941,Violet Mossman became homesick in September; Genevieve Nichols finished the year.

Genevieve Nichols (1941-43) was from Nicholsville, Hazel Hamilton (1944 – 47, 1952 –53) from Noel, Hants Co., Beatrice Lee (1949-51) from Kingston, Joyce Forsythe (1953/54) from Kingston, Fay (Hemlow) Steele (1954-57, 1958-67) from Liscombe.

Some teachers, for example Hazel Dunham (Mrs. Ralph Keizer), Thelma Hartling (Mrs. Ralph Boylen), Hazel Hamilton (Mrs. Rae Roscoe), and Fay Hemlow (Mrs. Gordon Steele) found their husband here and stayed here.

It is thought that some students came from Ross Corner on horseback. There was a shed out back where the oats and hay were stored.

The winters were very cold; snow was deep. Some children skied to school. After a big snowstorm everyone with a team of horses would break a road through the fields where the snow wasn’t so deep. Thus the mailman, Jesse Thorpe was able to deliver the mail.

It was common to have to walk at least a mile each way to school. Some mornings some children would almost freeze their face and feet.

Roads were plowed once – in the spring; it was often necessary to travel through the fields.

In the summertime children would make up a ball team in the field beside the school. One side was the Red and other side was the Blue. If they broke a window they would have to pay for it themselves.

In the winter children had a great time skating on different ponds and coasting on the Lance Huntley Vault Hill. Sometimes they would go in the house after coasting and play cards for a while. Mr. Huntley sure loved to play cards with them.

Back in 1944, the students would put pepper on the stove – to get everyone coughing.

Sometimes a student had to quit school due to illness in the family; thus work often began at an early age.

A young lad was smoking in the toilet; he gave his two ‘friends’ an apple so that they wouldn’t tell on him.

A few students seemed to enjoy going to the field behind the school to chew tobacco.

Harley (Corkum) started school at the age of five. When school was called in, a schoolmate tapped him on the shoulder and said that he forgot his pencil. Harley said that he would give him half of his. When Harley broke the pencil in two, it made quite a noise. The teacher put Harley in the corner for five minutes. (He says that he sure felt embarrassed).

There were often 30 – 40 students per year. The school went to grade 10; then students went to school in Kentville.

Two of the inspectors were Colin Roscoe and Seymour C. Gordon (they made at least one visit per year). When Inspector Gordon entered the room, everyone shivered.

Millie (Mrs. Tom Roscoe) and Mertis Sheffield played the music for Sunday school and for church, which was held on Sunday afternoons. It was a five-octave pump organ.

Harley (Corkum) remembers the first time he went to church - upstairs. Rev. G. W. Sherman from Billtown was the minister. He was sitting in the back seat. Rev. Sherman was preaching very loud. Harley crouched down and said to his Aunt Elsie, “He sure is mad about something!” She never let him forget this remark.

In August 1945, Rev. Goldie Blakeney held services for one week (Baptist).

Cameron (Jess) recalls attending many a Jehovah Witness meeting in the upstairs.

I remember attending a concert by Country and Western singer J. B. Ham.

The upstairs was built as a community hall. It was also the site of weddings, showers, and pie sales [Georgie, Mrs. Russell) Jess was involved with these].

At Christmas the children all took part in the Christmas concert. This was by lamplight (this was before 1950). People came from all over the community. It was always a big success. The teachers would prepare the students with recitations and dialogues. A fishnet was hung on the wall at the back of the stage. It was weaved with fir branches. A nice tree was put up in the corner of the stage. Someone in the community would dress up as Santa Claus – everyone got presents, candy and an orange. Students drew names early in December.

Upstairs the Community Club met on Friday nights – games were played.

The children were expected to cooperate with teachers. Older students often helped in the early hours of the day with beginners. The teacher really had to have each day mapped out. Some of the advantages of the one room school became very clear:
Older ones looking out for the younger ones
Different ages mingling together, sharing and caring
Independent and thoughtful

The parents would always back the teacher up. The community was always interested in the school and fully behind it.

Prepared by David L Houghton
August, 2001