Harrington Schoolhouse
Home Women Inst Knox Presbyterian Inside_Tour Exterior

webmaster: M.H.Jensen       August 12,2004

 

 

 

Winter view of Harrington Community Centre, formerly Harrington Schoolhouse

 

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Summer view by the old maple tree

Take a tour...

Now a rare site in the 21st century, the Harrington schoolhouse is located prominently  on the main highway running through this hamlet. This two-room schoolhouse stands as a reminder of days gone by when schools were literally one of the "building blocks" of a communal society. ( See this excerpt about The Old Stone School from the Harrington Women's Institute, Book 3)

Through the next century, many of the surrounding settler families sent their children off to school with ambitious hopes for their future . As this was a community school, children were expected to attend on foot and so they would set out for their daily trek to and from school with neighbouring buddies, building friendships as they walked.

One such student, Charles William Gordon was to become one of Canada's most prolific writers under the pen name of  'Ralph Connor' in the early part of the twentieth century. His  adventure series included such famous titles as 'The Man From Glengarry ', and 'The Sky Pilot'.  It was noted that he  "attended high school at St.Mary's in Harrington, Ontario ".  (See Biography of Charles Gordon at http://www.umanitoba.ca/libraries/units/archives/ead/html/gordon.shtml )  Indeed, it was believed that some of the settings in his more well-known title, " Glengarry School Days, were to have been drawn from his experiences attending school and exploring the wilderness south of the schoolhouse in Harrington.

Read about other successful students as reported in 1935.

Around 1966,, the Ontario Department  of Education closed one room schoolhouses, replacing them with larger central schools like the West Zorra Highland School. (See the following link to find out  the fate of other rural schoolhouses: http://www.markham.ca/markham/channels/markhamhistory/ownedproperties.htm )

The Harrington schoolhouse was subsequently purchased by the community and has been maintained  by the Harrington Community Centre Association which became incorporated in 1985.

As well as continuing to serve local community groups like the Harrington Senior Citizens' Euchre Party held on alternate Thursday nights, it has  also been, at various times, the meeting place of other organizations like the Men's Club, and the Harrington Branch of the Oxford County Library and Womens' Institute quilting bees and other impromptu community meetings.  As well, some local families have taken advantage of this unique setting to host their annual "clan' picnics and reunions.

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