Sydenham School District No. 1869
Sydenham School, in its new location on the SW ¼ 30-45-6 W4, opened
in September of 1928. It was ahead of most rural schools in that it was
heated by natural gas brought in from a nearby refinery. The large
register at the front of the school was a popular place to warm up our
bodies and dry out our mitts. Also, the school had indoor toilet facilities,
almost unheard of in those days! A full basement with small windows to
let in light provided a place for students to spend out of class time on
bitterly cold winter days.
A red barn was situated at the back of the school yard. We arrived for school each day, travelling in or on various modes of transportation. Our mounts or drivers spent the day in the barn. Some were fed at noon and some were not – it all depended upon whether we had brought any feed with us or not.
Much of our clothing left a lot to be desired as far as warmth went in those days. Come spring, the horses would be about to stand on their heads in the barn. However, things levelled off with the warm weather and the barn had its annual cleaning during the summer months.
It was in March of 1929 that I entered Sydenham School to continue my education in Grade Two. Marjorie Fleming was our teacher and when she eventually married Clarence Alexander and became my aunt it was a happy occasion for me. Miss Marjorie Sinclair, Mr. M. Saville and Miss Willetta Armstrong also came to teach at Sydenham during my years as a student there.
The teachers usually boarded with our close neighbors, the MacKays. Consequently, they often accompanied the three of us when we drove a buggy or cutter. What stands out in my mind most about Mr. Saville (who eventually became a doctor of veterinary medicine) was the time he was driving our conveyance. My brother got out to open the gate and he almost drove over him. In trying to rectify this, he ended up backing over him! Fortunately, Allen ended up between the wheels so not a lot of harm was done.
Miss Sinclair directed us in our most outstanding drama production – “A Christmas Carol” when we presented the whole play for an annual Christmas concert.
Miss Armstrong was my teacher as I was getting older and she always seemed to have such good rapport with us. Eventually I met her brother and Miss Sinclair’s brother when they were doing their internship while I was in training for a nurse.
The highlights of the year were the Christmas concert and the school picnic, held the last day of the school term, at the school. These events served as a fine time for neighbors to get together and were looked forward to with great anticipation. Many were the old clothes made over or handed down for these occasions.
For some time an Anglican Pastor, Rev. Trendall, gave an hour of religious education after school every Friday for those who wished to remain for it.
Very occasionally, we would travel to another rural school for a softball game. This came about after the advent of some cars in the district.
The school is now in a state of disrepair, having been used for grain storage at one time. Now it stands – a reminder of time gone by – and a home for a flock of pigeons.
Sydenham School District No. 1869
Submitted by Jean (Dixon) Brower
76-77-78