First Day of School

This time of year, I looked forward to going back to school and seeing all my friends. Sister and I had new dresses for the first day. My brothers had new pants (not jeans for school) and shirts. Even though money wasn't plentiful, Mother got us something new to wear for starting school. Getting a new "store bought" dress was something I looked forward to. (Mother made many of our clothes on her treadle sewing machine. But she purchased dresses for starting school.)

The school was about half a mile from our farm. Mother or Father drove us to school in the morning. But most days we walked home from school, carrying our bookbags and lunch boxes.

I've been trying to find a picture of the Poughquag Schoolhouse but have only come across one on a postcard that probably was an earlier version. The building seems somewhat different from what a friend and I recall. So we're wondering if the original school was distroyed or dismantled an a newer one built when we attended.

Some books available about one-room schools around the country. (Eventually I should compile my blog entries into a book with photos and sketches.)

Legacy of One-Room Schools
One-Room Country Schools: History and Recollections from Wisconsin
Northwest Indiana One Room School
(Image: sxc.hu)

Many Fascinated by One-Room Schools

• 
  
  Whenever I've written about one-room schools and my connection with them, I've discovered that others are fascinsted by them, too.
  
  They tell stories about their experiences or want to hear about my connection with these places of learning.
  
  
  Often they:
• Attended one


• Have parents who attended them


• Taught at one


• Have family members of the current generation or previous who taught at a one-room school


• Researched them


• Interviewed those who attended


• Took photos of those existing today, either as a school, home or historic building


• Sketched the schools


• Visited them


• Are simply fascinated with them as part of our American heritage
• Compiled stories about these places of learning

What is your connection with one-room schools?

(Image: sxc.hu)

Attending a One-Room School in Poughquag, NY

My first four years of schooling took place in a one-room schoolhouse, in the village of Poughquag, NY, in the 1940s. My sister and brothers attended, too. Gradually, there were so many students that the townspeople decided to "centralize." That meant becoming part of the Arlington School District.

At first, all students beyond the fourth grade were bussed to the Arlington Central schools on the outskirts of Poughkeepsie, about 15 miles away. However, the bus trip took about an hour and a half because the bus wound around on back roads. My sister, brothers and I were among the first to be picked up and last dropped off.

Eventually the Poughquag school was closed and sold to a family who converted it into a home.

There are many fond memories of school days in a one-room school house. I'll tell more stories about them, as well as my mom's as a teacher in one-room schools.

(Image: sxc.hu)

My One-Room School Heritage

I descend from a family with many generations of one-room school students and teachers. Whenever I write about my memories of those days (the first four grades of school for me) and the role one-room schools played in the lives of earlier generations of my family, I receive a tremendous response.

So....I thought I'd better collect some of these memories and write about them here...for my family and others to enjoy.

You're welcome to share your memories in the comments to my posts.

ENJOY!