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Schoolhouse Restoration Project 1988-89
Schoolhouse Restoration Project 1988-89
The Center School operated from 1793-1937. It was the first of twelve schools built in Bradford to provide education within a mile distance of every family in town. After the Central School (currently the Bradford Area Community Center) was built on Main Street in 1937, the district schools were all closed. This building is the only remaining school structure to be restored as a museum, following years of vacancy, displacement and a period of residency by the Bagley and Heselton families.
Walter Heselton, Jr. donated the Schoolhouse to the town in preparation for bicentennial events in 1987. The 3R’s Society, an affiliate of the Bradford Historical Society, was formed to make the most of this generous gift. The Society’s name recalls the traditional tenets of elementary education (Reading, ‘Riting & ‘Rithmetic) changed to Relocation, Restoration & Refurbishment.
Josephine Erickson recalled leaving notes for classmates in the big dictionary in the back of the classroom. When asked to relinquish a note to the teacher, she chose to swallow it!
Richard Cressy taught his friends how to split bullets, remove the powder and then jam it into the logs in the woodstove to make thrilling popping noises. And discipline was harsh!
The Schoolhouse had been moved on logs across Rowe Mountain Road to where it was altered and used as a 4-room dwelling during the 1940s-50s. In 1988, the 3Rs Society had the building moved back to its original site and placed on a new foundation. The following year, they used town archives, testimonials from former students, and many hours of volunteer work to restore the building back to its historical oneroom design.
The 3rs Society held a wide variety of fundraising events (melodramas, reenactments, dinners, concerts, a spelling bee and magic show, games, socials, auctions, etc.) to celebrate Bradford’s Bicentennial and to create a museum for the community and school groups to relive Bradford’s historical commitment to public education. Since then, the Bradford Historical Society and now the Friends of the Bradford Center Meetinghouse have provided stewardship of this cherished landmark.
For more information about education, see A Primer on Bradford Schools: BHS Calendar 2015.
3Rs SOCIETY 1989: Dick Whall, Glen & Luanne Mayo, Amy Blitzer, Lillian Frey, Ailene & Ray Hamilton, Nancy Hibbard, Polly & Dave Henderson, Louise Clark, Beth Bell, Edna Herbert, Bernie Lamach
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