Treasurer of the James School board of directors
Special to The Star-Herald
Built in 1917, the James School was used as a one-room schoolhouse until 1948. The building was later used as a non-denominational church by the Hillside Gospel Mission until the early 1970s. With the sun shining brightly through the southern “wall of windows,” the bell would ring from the belfry calling local children to school and worship.
Dawn Sylvester Moirs was the third teacher at the James School during the 1926-27 school year. The first teacher, Irene McLaughlin, had resigned after four weeks to marry. Elizabeth Hanson, who planned to marry that year, substituted until Dawn finished her practice teaching at the Training School.
There were eight grades at the school and some teachers found it difficult to plan lessons for a wide range of ages and grade levels. A typical day started with a Bible reading, the Lord’s Prayer, flag salute, and stories, poems or book reports. Often the students sat near the stove to warm themselves. The woodstove was the only heat in the building. Each grade was to have one subject, besides arithmetic, passed in as written work. The teachers were expected to correct and grade the papers during the evening. The rank book was to record one weekly rank, which was the average of five days’ ranks.
The upper grades had recess while the lower grades had classes. Lower grades had recess while the upper grades were reciting. The children were friendly and agreeable and according to Mrs. Moirs, there were usually no recess time quarrels.
Children either walked to school or came by horse and sled. The sled was usually open with no protection from the weather. In the winter, students were often very cold when they arrived. Cecil Niles would go to the school hours early to start the fire so the school would be a little warm when the teacher and students arrived.
There was no indoor plumbing or electricity when the school first opened. At recess time, a kettle partly filled with cold water was set on top of the stove to warm for lunch. Families brought a jar of whatever was leftover from supper – soup, beans, etc. – which was put in the kettle of warm water to heat. One often brought cold pancakes rolled around cooked blueberries.
During the winter months, teachers often boarded with families who lived near the school during the week. If they lived in town, they would go home on the weekends. Most teachers did not have their own horse, and hiring one every day was too expensive.
New elementary teachers were expected to teach for two years in a rural school, starting at $20 per week. After their time in a rural school, they could apply for jobs in town. A weekly raise in pay of $1 was given for each year’s experience, plus 50 cents more if they attended six weeks of summer school. The maximum pay for elementary teachers was $900 per year until 1930. In 1930, two teachers who had college degrees and no experience were hired for $1,000 to teach at Gouldville.
In 1926-27, there were two special occasions once a month at the James School. The most popular was Mr. Howes, the music teacher. He was young and jolly. He traveled to schools in the area with a horse from Taylor’s Livery Stable. When his mother in Boston found out he was traveling by horse, she sent him a beautiful coonskin coat. No one wanted to be absent on music day!
The other monthly event was a Saturday rural school teachers meeting. They were expected to attend to collect their paychecks for four weeks. They also took lists of supplies they would need for the next month. During the meetings, they discussed problems of methods, ranks and discipline. They were not paid for these Saturday meetings.
A box social was usually held to raise money for the schools. The music teacher was paid from proceeds of the box social. They also bought a secondhand phonograph and some records. Mrs. Moirs and the students enjoyed the music during lunch hour and for special opening exercises.
At Christmas, Mrs. Moirs’ students used the cold, back blackboard to make a life-sized Santa with colored chalk. The students were enthusiastic and helpful. They spiked the Christmas tree to the floor to keep it from tipping over. There was a special Christmas program and exchanging of gifts.
Four local schools including the James School, Spragueville School, taught by Annabel Allen; South Presque Isle taught by “Nubbie” McGill and another school where Mable Todd was teaching had a combined eighth-grade graduation at the South Presque Isle Grange Hall. Mr. Merriman was principal of S.S.N.S. and a member of the school board. He presented the diplomas. He was pleased that four schools worked together for a graduation program.
There were 29 enrolled at the school in 1927-28. They were members of the Bonville, Farley, Higgins, James, Lathrop, Niles, Ricker and Rose families.
During the year of 1936-37, there were 42 students registered at the James School and the teacher was Eunice (Bean McCrossin) Hemingway. Every grade was represented from kindergarten through eighth. One of the highlights for the students was still music. The teacher came every two weeks. She taught a music lesson and left an assignment for the students to finish before she returned.
At this time, the students got to school in a vehicle known as a school hack. It was made by loading a shelter on the body of a wagon. When the snow was too deep, the shelter was moved to a sled and a stove was installed. The hack was pulled by a pair of horses. David McCrossin was the hack driver at that time. Sometimes in the winter he would take the neighbors to town for shopping with the school hack. It was a social event and helped to break up the monotony of the winter.
In June 1937, four students graduated from eighth grade in a ceremony held at Cunningham Middle School. Eighth-grade students from all the rural schools, as well as those from urban Presque Isle took part.
In 1944, the James School was used on Sundays for Sunday School. Mrs. McCrossin and her sister, Doris Rose, were concerned about the children and adults in the neighborhood not getting Christian education or training. They met with the Rev. Grant at the Methodist Church in Presque Isle. He helped by giving them outdated but unused Sunday School papers and hymnals that were no longer in use at that church. They then recruited neighbors for Sunday School teachers. So, in January 1945, the first Sunday School class was held at the James School. The first Sunday there were 13 children. Over the next year or so, more children joined until there were 40 in all. By 1947, the membership increased to 67 people, including both adults and children.
Later the Sunday School was turned into a mission with many different ministers coming on Sunday afternoons to preach. Some of those included the Revs. Reed Blackstone and Danny Pike. Clarence Keegan and his wife used to come and sing.
The James School continued as a school until June 1949. Then the children were all transported to the schools in town. It was used as a non-denominational church by the Hillside Gospel Mission until the early 1970s. The James School was vacant for over 20 years, falling into disrepair.
In 1985, the school was scheduled to be burned when Paula McCrossin and Julian Turner convinced the town council to reverse their decision. On April 13, 1985, a group of volunteers, led by the late Judge Julian Turner, began restoration of the James School. With tremendous drive, support and dedication of Turner and many, many volunteers and businesses, the James School Restoration Project was under way. By July 1987, the original bell could be heard ringing from the belfry and the sun was again shining brightly through the southern “wall of windows.” The James School is now a museum with much of the original tin wall covering, school desks, instruction books and bell still in place.
Since then the school has been used by many elementary teachers for “a day in a country school.” It has also been used for birthday parties, anniversary parties, church services, and meetings.
The buildings and grounds have been maintained by the James School Board of Directors and a small endowment fund since 1987. Much of the maintenance is done by volunteers and materials have been donated or discounted. A nominal fee is charged for non-education purposes and gatherings. Memorial funds have been put in an account along with endowment fund contributions. However, due to yearly insurance, ground maintenance expenses, and utilities, the income from the endowment fund is dwindling. Your support can help build the fund so that the income will cover our expenses.
To reserve the James School, please call Teresa at Harding’s Law Office at 764-4762. Donations can be mailed to Tammy Wheeler, treasurer, 49 University St., Presque Isle, Maine 04769.
There will be an open house at the James School, located at 125 Niles Road, Saturday, Aug. 8 from 1-3 p.m. There will be live music, tours of the school, quilting and braided rug demonstrations, and games for children. There will also be a drawing for a boy’s and girl’s bike. Tickets are 50 cents each and you must be present to win. For more information, call 760-9363.
Photo courtesy of Tammy Wheeler
RUN DOWN AND DILAPIDATED, this is how the James School looked in March 1985 before the restoration project began.
Photo courtesy of Tammy Wheeler
WITH TREMENDOUS DRIVE, support and dedication of the late Judge Julian Turner and many volunteers and businesses, the James School Restoration Project began in April 1985. Here, a crew from Buck Construction works on reattaching the bell tower.
Photo courtesy of Tammy Wheeler
LANE CONSTRUCTION was one of the many businesses and volunteers that helped with the James School Restoration Project in 1985. Here, crews working on pouring a new foundation.
Photo courtesy of Tammy Wheeler
BUCK CONSTRUCTION provided equipment and labor to help restore the James School, located on the Niles Road in Presque Isle, back in 1985. Built in 1917, the James School was used as a one-room schoolhouse until 1948. The school now serves as a museum.
