Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – In a scene reminiscent of “Little House on the Prairie,” children were recently running, playing and taking turns ringing the original James School bell that hangs in the historic one-room schoolhouse’s belfry.
The James School, located at 125 Niles Road in Presque Isle, hosted a Family Fun Day Aug. 8 under blue skies.
The event featured tours of the schoolhouse, live music, games for kids, a spinning demonstration and more.
“I’ve been representing the James School on the city’s sesquicentennial committee,” said Tammy Wheeler, treasurer of the James School board of directors, “and we wanted to do something as part of Presque Isle’s 150th celebration.
“We opted to have a Fun Day. We had some games that children played in the early 1900s, and had some yoyos and wooden tops that kids could paint because that’s what kids used to play with. We had someone doing a braided rug demonstration and one doing quilting, plus live music,” she said. “We wanted to have a little something for everyone.”
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 when the schoolhouse fell into disrepair. After 20 years’ of dormancy, a group of volunteers, led by the late Judge Julian Turner, began the restoration of the James School in 1985. With the tremendous drive, support and dedication of many volunteers and businesses, the James School Restoration Project returned the building to serviceable status by July 1987.
Since 1987, the buildings and grounds have been used for a “day in a country school” by grade school teachers and students. The James School is also a museum of sorts with much of the original tin wall covering, school desks, instruction books and bell still in place.
“There were a lot of people here who had never been before, and that’s what we were looking for,” Wheeler said. “It was a nice day and everyone enjoyed themselves, and now that they’ve been here and seen it, maybe they’ll come back.”
The James School is also used as a picnic area, meeting place for civic organizations, weddings, family gatherings and educational activities.
“We have a kitchen with two stoves and a refrigerator,” said Wheeler, “but you do have to go to the well and pump your own water.
“There’s going to be a big bridal shower here at the end of the month, plus the school has also been the site of a 50th birthday party, and a little girl’s birthday party this summer,” she said. “It has been a busy season for us.”
Directors are planning to hold an open house at Christmastime like they did last year.
“We’ve had a lot of people who were here for that asking if we are going to do it again. It was a fantastic turnout,” said Wheeler, “so we’d like to make the Christmas open house an annual event.
“We may make the Family Fun Day an annual event, as well,” she said, “but we might push it back to September when kids are in school and there isn’t as much going on in the community.”
The James School is open Sundays from 1-2 p.m. through August or by appointment. For more information, contact Wheeler at 227-0388 or by e-mail at twheeler2@maine.rr.com.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
EILEEN MORNEAULT, right, of Presque Isle, provided a spinning demonstration for guests at the Aug. 8 James School Family Fun Day. The event also featured tours of the historic one-room schoolhouse, live music and games for kids. Built in 1917, the James School was used as a one-room schoolhouse until 1948. It is located at 125 Niles Road in Presque Isle.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
ELIZABETH DYER, 8, of Presque Isle, expressed her creativity recently by drawing on an old chalkboard at the James School during the school’s recent Family Fun Day.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
SEVEN-YEAR-OLD Keegan French of Presque Isle gives it her all and rings the original James School bell that hangs in the historic one-room schoolhouse’s belfry. The bell could be heard ringing several times during the Aug. 8 Family Fun Day held at the school.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
AMELIA DYER, 4, of Presque Isle, sits at one of the old desks at the James School while enjoying a snack and reviewing an instruction book. The James School, located at 125 Niles Road in Presque Isle, hosted a Family Fun Day Aug. 8. The event featured tours of the schoolhouse, live music, games for kids, a spinning demonstration and more.
