Back to school

    It was a wonderful day in the neighborhood July 20th in Littleton. Ag Museum volunteers welcomed Ruth Watson Williams a former teacher at the Ross School, several students, and guests to the grand opening of their most recent project — the Ross School.
Contributed photo/Karen Donato-Duff
ROSS SCHOOL REVISITED — The Treston and Ivan Bubar families donated the Ross School to the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum in 2004 — since then volunteers have worked to restore this piece of history. Viewing the restored one-room schoolhouse during an open house Saturday were Treston's daughter Melissa Allen of Farmington and his wife Priscilla of Littleton.

Contributed photo/Karen Donato-Duff
SIGN FOR SCHOOLHOUSE — Vice President Jay Clark and President Colby Shaw, of the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum, display the new sign for the restored Ross School made by Larry McCarthy.
    Mrs. Priscilla Bubar was honored with a framed dedication to be placed in the schoolhouse for her generous donation of this building to the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum. This gift was given in 2004 on behalf of the Treston and Ivan Bubar families and with the assistance of Carl Crawford from Crawford Mobile Homes the structure was moved three miles from Ross Ridge to the museum yard on U.S. Route 1. Frank Burtt of Monticello rebuilt the rock foundation with the rocks used in 1872.
Contributed photo/Karen Donato-Duff
ROSS SCHOOL REUNION — Several former Ross School students attended the opening of the school July 20 along with one former teacher. They included, from left, front row: Irene Bubar London, Lois Williams Haney, teacher Ruth Watson Williams, Donna McCordic King and Joyce Crawford Shaw. Back row: brothers Erlon and Albert Williams, and sisters Freda Floyd Casey and Maxine Floyd Cone.
    Over the last four years volunteers have rebuilt the roof, made new windows, cleaned and sanded the floor boards, attached slate chalk boards and given it a new coat of paint inside and out. Guests are amazed at the transformation and volunteers themselves can hardly believe the final outcome. Looking at the photos of before and after they all recalled the second guessing of whether this project could be successful.
Contributed photo/Karen Donato-Duff
EARLY EDUCATION — Priscilla Bubar, whose family donated the former Ross School to the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum, looks at photos and other school memorabilia.
    Looking at the building today there is no question it was the right decision. There is still an addition to be built on as funds are available. This piece will have the girls and boys outhouses and an area to store wood for the stove in the classroom.
Contributed photo/Karen Donato-Duff
SCHOOL DAY MEMORIES — Visitors to the restored Ross Schoolhouse, from left, front row, Lois Williams Haney and Joyce Crawford Shaw, and back row, Maxine Floyd Cone, Freda Floyd Casey and Albert Williams, enjoyed looking at photos albums made by Dot Shaw Campbell and donated school books that were common when the school was operating.
    Visitors enjoyed a short program in the Ag Museum gym that included the history of the school, a presentation of a framed dedication to be placed in the school, the unveiling of a new sign made by Larry McCarthy of Houlton and refreshments.
Contributed photo/Karen Donato-Duff
FAMILIAR – The Williams family, from left, Albert Williams (in back) with his older sister Lois Haney and brother Erlon stand on the steps of the restored schoolhouse where they attended in the 1940s until it closed in 1951. They all still live in Littleton.
    After the program the new sign was installed and guests made their way to the school. Several historic photos are displayed in the school along with items unique to the school. Dot Campbell, museum historian has completed two albums filled with history and photos that added to the day’s events.
Contributed photo/Karen Donato-Duff
FAMILIAR –  Retired teacher Ruth Watson Williams felt right at home sitting at the desk in her former school where she taught in 1945
    Museum volunteers are looking forward to showing visitors this nostalgic building. The Ag Museum is located eight miles north of Houlton on U.S. Rt. 1 and is open Thursday thru Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. or by appointment. For further information please call the museum at 538-9300 or Jay Clark at 532-7125.
Contributed photo/Karen Donato-Duff
FAMILIAR –  The Treston and Ivan Bubar families donated the Ross School to the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum in 2004 — since then volunteers have worked to restore this piece of history. Viewing the restored one-room schoolhouse during an open house Saturday were Treston’s daughter Melissa Allen of Farmington and his wife Priscilla of Littleton.
    Editor’s note: Look for Part II of this article in next week’s edition of the paper.