For the Barrie household, the Dickie Settlement Schoolhouse is a spot of fond recollections and long-lasting friendships.
Becky Barrie attended the Cambridge, Ont., college in 1967 along with her siblings. Her father and his siblings in addition to her grandfather and his siblings additionally went there
“There’s lots of household historical past that goes manner again to the early Nineties,” Becky stated throughout a CBC interview on Wednesday in her house.
After the varsity closed in 1999 and went up on the market, she jumped on the alternative to maintain the property not solely inside the household, however the group. She moved into the varsity in November 1999.
The unique Dickie Settlement Schoolhouse in Cambridge, Ont., a photograph now within the schoolhouse-turned-home owned by Becky Barrie. (Karis Mapp/CBC)
Her father, Dave Barrie, initially questioned her choice to purchase the constructing.
“I believed, ‘Becky, what on Earth have you ever received in thoughts? Are you loopy? That faculty is outdated and all the things’s outdated in it,” recalled Dave.
After transferring in, Becky stated, the one gadgets remaining have been the chalkboards.
Throughout renos, pencils present in plumbing
Whereas sustaining the unique school rooms the place Grades 1 to eight have been taught, she has since ripped up the tile flooring and changed the home windows.
Barrie held an alumni open home Jan. 8 at her house, the previous Dickie Settlement Schoolhouse. (Karis Mapp/CBC)
Virtually 26 years later, Becky believes she has actually turned the schoolhouse into a house. Her father agrees.
“That is completely superb. The environment of the varsity remains to be right here as a result of the unique room is what’s so vital — she’s stored that,” Dave stated.
Over time, Becky additionally found some gadgets from the years the schoolhouse operated.
“Exterior, I’ve discovered quite a few ink wells and bits of pottery. Within the plumbing, we discovered pencils shoved down there and a sock shoved down a sink,” she stated.
“Going up into the attic, I’ve the ladder on show downstairs that went as much as the bell tower.”
Dozens of former college students and employees of the Dickie Settlement Schoolhouse attended the open home. (Karis Mapp/CBC)
Open home for former college students
As a solution to reconnect alumni whereas permitting them to see the updates she’s made to the constructing, Becky held an open home on Wednesday, with dozens of former college students and employees attending.
“It is type of an honour that they might come again,” Becky stated. “I am actually hoping that college students and employees who hadn’t seen one another for years could make that connection once more.”
That was the case for Kate Cressman (nee Brown) and Robert Hanna.
Cressman attended the varsity in 1952 when Hanna was the principal. He was additionally a trainer at simply age 19.
“It is so great assembly so many individuals that have been youngsters in my class,” Hanna stated. “I’ve passed by this place many instances and each time I might go by, it jogs my memory a lot of being outdoors taking part in with the children at recesses and midday hours.”
Kate Cressman (nee Brown), Robert Hanna, Mary Doerfling (nee Wilson) and Rosemary Phillips (nee Rife) are alumni who confirmed up on the open home. (Karis Mapp/CBC)
Cressman added, “The largest thrill is to have that image with our Grade 7 and eight trainer. Truthfully, that is unimaginable.”
Becky’s uncle George Barrie was additionally on the open home. At 94, he’s the oldest residing pupil from Dickie Settlement.
“It is actually incredible to have such an event as this and so many individuals have turned out. I nonetheless see just a few that have been in my class however not many,” George stated.
A visit down reminiscence lane
With so many alumni underneath the identical roof for the primary time in many years, many reminisced about a few of their favorite recollections on the college.
Ron Sage, a pupil in 1976, remembered successful a trophy for the silver plate assortment competitors at the varsity truthful.
“It was an occasion that your mother and father helped you and also you realized loads. [School fairs] introduced households collectively,” stated Sage. “I nonetheless have that silver tray.”
George Barrie recalled how a lot enjoyable he would have throughout recess.
“Within the winter, we might construct forts and throw snowballs, and in the summertime we performed soccer.”
Becky’s father has fond recollections of the alternative ways he would get to the varsity.
“There was no street on to our place, it was throughout the fields,” David stated. “We walked by farmers’ fields, fields of turkeys, sugar bush, and within the winter we had numerous snow, so I might ski or snowshoe.”
David Barrie, Becky’s dad, is seen with a map he created outlining the assorted methods he travelled to the Dickie Settlement Schoolhouse when he attended in 1939. (Karis Mapp/CBC)
