Look At What We've Done!

It's the third year into the project. After a long, cold winter, we've finally been able to resume work on the building. In the upstairs room, the tedious job of repairing the plaster is complete, thanks to Eric Morrill. The room now has a fresh coat of close-to-historically accurate blue

This is the second floor stage now, with the new blue paint showing.

paint mixed to match a chip of the original. The stage is coming along also, and we hope that by the first of July the striking hand-painted curtain painted by local artists E. L. Crosby and Lura Wells can be hung. The second story floor has been cleaned and is ready for a treatment of preservative.

Skip Strong has volunteered to restore the lighting of the room, similar to the lighting in the downstairs classroom. Chase Morrill has also installed the long handicap-access ramp that leads to the back door.

And, at last, a sign for the historic project will go up very soon!

Currently, the downstairs right entry is being renovated to match its original floor plan. The wall that had been removed for the oil furnace that heated the building when the Grange occupied it is being rebuilt. The restoration of the coat closet off the left entry and the hallway will remain unfinished until later in the year.

One of our most successful recent efforts has been the Adopt-A-Desk project. When the school closed in 1962, the school desks were sold. We are now trying to furnish the room with similar antique desks in anticipation of providing an historic classroom for school groups wishing to experience how earlier Wayne students learned. For $50 per desk, participants underwrote the expected costs of the 25 desks plus a teacher's desk. Now the challenge is to locate desks of varying sizes to accommodate a room of mixed ages from kindergarten to eighth grade. If you know of any available desks, contact us. Here are examples of two types of desk that we have found.

Our sincere appreciation to all of you who enthusiastically helped us fund this project!

We have recently acquired two U. S. flags with 48 stars, and are seeking a 1930's globe, framed George Washington and Abraham Lincoln prints, and of course VOLUNTEERS! This summer, volunteers will complete interior painting of the upstairs windows, help with spreading gravel in the cellar, install a swing set donated by the Crosby family, landscape the front yard for playground space, and do other smaller but important tasks. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU CAN HELP! Call Linda McKee at 685-4385 or email her at Plumgoodfarm@aol.com.

The Committee remembers with great appreciation the enthusiastic contributions of Audrey Goucher to the Schoolhouse Project and extends its deepest sympathy to her family. Bob Stephenson, a former CPA, will take over her responsibilities as Treasurer. She is missed.

Our thanks also go to Cathy Cook, who this past year produced an amazing video documentary of interviews with former students at the school (available at the library), to Betsy Bowen for her collection of historical photographs and documents, and especially to the so very many men and women who over the past year have said, "Sure, I can help!"

The Schoolhouse Committee (left to right, photo above: Bob McKee, Mary Farnham, Linda McKee, Betsy Bowen, Lois Ault, Bob Stephenson. Photo credit Bob McLaughlin.)


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Here are a few views of the schoolhouse over the years:




The North Wayne Schoolhouse, 1890's.



The North Wayne Schoolhouse, early 20th Century.

The North Wayne Schoolhouse, Spring 2008