MEMORIES OF HANSLER SCHOOL SS NO. 2 PELHAM

Lot 6 Concession 6

[Pelham Historical Calendar 1991]

There was a Hansler School in active existence from 1821 until 1970, when the third school building was closed. The first school was built in 1821 on Hansler property and served its purpose until 1860, the second one, built on Martin De La  Matter’s land in 1861 was of brick construction with a bell and belfry. It was unique in that it had a wide porch across the front, providing a fine place in which the children could play on rainy days. The pupils sitting beside it in the picture could not foresee its destruction in 1958, the building of a new school on the same property that same year and its closing in 1970. After one hundred and forty-nine years, there was no longer a  Hansler School.

It is very important and also difficult to gather memories  from a seventy-year old picture, but one thing is very clearly remembered—the love and respect in which the pupils held their teacher, Miss Mary Bowman. They agree that she was strict but always fair and genuinely interested in them. Good discipline prevailed because the clear rules were meant to be followed. Phoebe Cook (later Mrs. David Benson) remarked, “I always loved school and especially my teacher. He was one of the best. If there  had been a Teacher of the Year Award at that time, she would have won it.”

However, children being children, some of them were tempted to stray across the road to an empty lot to play football at noon hour and had to pay the penalty—a strapping which in truth seemed to hurt Miss Bowman more than it did them. Two of the boys better left unidentified, enjoyed fighting each other  in the schoolyard whenever they thought it safe.

The older children often helped to clean the school after hours, washed blackboards and brought in fuel for the stove, all as willing volunteers. There were special events , of course, to brighten the school year. The whole classroom attended the Fenwick Fair, and George Hicks remembers them performing a drill as part of the entertainment. Arbour  Day in the spring meant a full afternoon in Sulphur Springs, appreciating the scenery with its bubbling spring and greening landscape. The very best event of all was the Christmas Concert in which all the children took part. Year after year, Reginald Rowcliffe played a very satisfactory Santa Claus for them. When a duet was required, Ruth Hicks (later Mrs. Edmund Kline) and Bill Rice were expected to sing. Ruth has mentioned how very special the teacher made every experience for them. With her enthusiasm, Miss Bowman left a legacy of precious memories as well as lessons learned.

Regarding the picture, it is interesting that Ruth Cook and George Hicks are side by side in the front row. George says that they were often placed together in the same double seat. Years later they became husband and wife.

Some of the children in this photograph became members of the Literary Society when they were older. It held its meetings at Hansler School and was a thriving concern. There were sing-songs, often by Hansler Swayze, and one of the  favorites was The Grandfather Clock”. One of the memorable plays was founded on the Biblical story of Lazarus and Abraham. Taylor Beckett, who took the part of Lazarus, played it most dramatically. There were special nights when children were included and entered contests. Dorothy Cook (later Mrs. Ken Dunton) remembers receiving third prize for singing a solo, with Mr. Harry Daboll handing her the award. She also recalls one night when Mrs. John Andrew Daboll engineered a taffy pull on the stage, much to the delight of the audience.
Bill Rice mentions that when he was about eight years old, Harry Daboll brought a moving picture machine to the meeting and projected the film “Lorna Doone”. It was the first moving picture  most of them, including Bill had seen, and it was very exciting Bill also recalls that the whole Daboll family were exceedingly kind to the children of the Hansler School.

Mrs. Marion Guinn, the last principal of the school, has a few memories to share. As a  bit of history, two of her grandparents and one great-grandparent attended this school in their own time. Mrs. Guinn  remembers that “the trustees were helpful, the students diligent and respectful and the parents very supportive,”– a satisfying conclusion to our “Memories of Hansler School.”

Catherine B. Rice