Adam Prudhomme
Beaver Staff
Long before the brick building on School Street opened its doors, a very different Enterprise Public School served as the community’s education centre.
From 1871 to 1965 a white wooden structure was also known as Enterprise Public School, located where the current Enterprise fire hall stands at 2861 County Rd. 14. Some 53 years after its final bell tolled, a group of former students are planning a reunion for any student who attended the original school house.
Scheduled for May 26 from 1 to 7 p.m. at the Enterprise Community Hall, the event will feature old photos, stories and reminiscing with old classmates, some of which may not have seen each other in decades.
“There’s never been a reunion,” said Shirley Leighton (nee Detlor), one of the event organizers. “Everybody I talked to say they’re so glad we’re doing this because there may not be a lot of us left if we don’t hurry up and do it.”
Also helping to organize is Betty Graham (nee Vannest), Beverly Bromfield (nee Bruce) and Sandra Both (nee McKenna).
The event will feature a light lunch followed by dinner while guests catch up with old friends and share their stories of the old school.
“We’re asking people if they have pictures of when they went to the school or of classmates to make a copy and just bring them with them,” said Leighton.
Among the oldest living former students is Graham, who is 93. She was on hand for the official planting of the ‘royal oak tree’, which still stands on the lot where the school once stood. Planted in 1937, the acorn was grown from the Royal Park at Windsor Castle and planted to commemorate the coronation of King George VI.
“My grandparents were caretakers at the school for many years because they lived across the street,” recalled Graham. “I was looking through a book the other day and she got $15 a month.”
She plans on sharing several other stories, including the planting of the historic tree, during the reunion. Although the fire hall bares little resemblance to the school, a group of residents were able to rally together to preserve the tree, which at one point was at risk of being cut down. It’s now protected by a fence with a historic plaque.
With little evidence left of the school itself, the reunion takes on an even bigger importance as they look to preserve its history with memories from the past students themselves.
“We’re trying to get somebody from every 10 years to say a speech of what they remember about the school,” added Leighton.
The former students that do attend are sure to compare stories of how different the times were back then, when teachers weren’t afraid to use a ruler or a strap when students acted out. A few times in its history the school was at risk at being closed down due to a lack of teachers willing to teach at the school.
So far interest in the reunion has been high, with people from as far west as Alberta planning to make the trip to attend. Anyone who went to the original school from 1871 to 1965 is welcome to attend with their spouse, through organizers asked that they confirm they are planning to come to help give them an idea as to how many guests to expect.
For more information or to confirm attendance call Leighton at 613-354-0033 or Graham at 613-384-4146. The organizers are also seeking volunteers who would be willing to help out on May 26.
The hall is located at 2 Prince Street in Enterprise.