S.S. #4 Nichol School, 50 years since closure

On May 29, all past students of S.S. #4 Nichol School, formerly located on Concession Eight  of Nichol Township are invited to a reunion at the Ennotville public library.
The event marks the 50th anniversary of the school’s closure in 1964, when the new Ponsonby School was opened to accomodate all students in Nichol Township.
Palmerston resident Mary Anne Elgie Connell attended S.S. #4 Nichol from 1950 to 58, and says she has been working hard to track down the addresses of other former students— some having moved as far away as Japan and England. For the most part though, she says people live within a two-hour drive of the area in Fergus, Guelph or Toronto.
The stone school house, first opened in 1859, and according to Connell, “It started out as a one room school, and then classes got so big they had to build a second room, and the same teacher stood in the doorway between the two classrooms and taught about 100 students,” she said.
For those interested in attending the event, it will be held from approximately 11:30am until 2pm. Participants should bring a lunch, and an item to share in a small potluck. Connell also suggests bringing a donation to go toward rental of the library, and any relevant photos that can be tracked down.
For more information about the event, or S.S. #4 Nichol School, Connell can be reached at 519-343-2668.

 

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