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12-The Canadian Champion, Friday, June 27, 2003 ~EORGTOWN Emotions run hi*gh as sehool closes %fili-mmo By STEPHANIE THIESSEN /T\ 235 GUELPH STREET 873-1999 Thie Champion I-I LK G j Keith Menry was so choked up H Û L'K she could barely speak except to Oaiy 645pm. &915 pz Wed. Sat & Son. 2:00p.m. 6 get out one phrase. "He was my father." OTHE FAST & FuRlous A Saturday moming's open bouse at Percy W. h Merry School embodied the word 'bittersweet.' Daiy645p.m.&900pm Sat& Sun. 2:00 p.m. WiIe elsewhere the roads were stili mosîly *BAKWednesday ernpty and the rest of the world hadth era Sponsored byBel Worid&Imagne Tha i in Wks school's parking lot and spilling over int the FIN I ~ [ NE O : adjoining field at promptly 8:30 ar.m FINDNG EMO ý - By 9 arn., the auditorium was already bursting ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ _ M_ _ M friends of the school who couldn' t let the school Theatre Parking Avaiable at Rear close without saying a final farewell and celebrat- ~ **,~. . . ing ils 45 years of existence. wriit Ourui DUOSPEÀCIAÀLSI Jin stoie& icues - e as -e, art euo Air Liquide 310A Steeles Ave. Miton .905-693-19211 Whiie quantities last. Particlpatlng locations Oniy Photo Sp GRAHAM PAINE Keith Merry and Lois MoDougall, son and daughter of the late Percy Merry - a school trustee whomn the school was named after - remninisce while sitting on one of the school's original benches. Mr. Menry - son of tht uchools namesake, who was a local scbool board trustee for 16 years - was far front being tht only emotional ont in tht auditorium. On. fact, it was tht odd occasion to sec someone wbo didn'î strongly display some emo- lion or other, whether it be delight at seeing old hriends, teachers or students or sadness at saying goodbye tu a schoul that seemingly meant so much to 50 many. "Tht Percy Merry community was home to me, even though 1 lived in Campbtllvillt," said Jim Watson, who taught at the school for îwo years when it first opened in 1958. "Il was a collection of rural farm residents who were tager to leamn and appreciative of tht simple things. Its a shame this bas to close. 1 guess il's tht modem times." Mr. Watson said he recognized some of bus for- mer students even 45 years later. and even recog- nized ont by name. Wbtn asked about favourite memories, Mr. Watson told a sîory about the school's caretaker, Wally Simpson, wbo was there for tht two years Mr. Wason was icaching. "(Mr. Simpson) was a retired farmer. He kept arrowroot biscuits in the fumnace room and 1 used neyer found out." On tht auditorium, visitors browsed through var- ious mnemorabilia, including old school class pho- tos and newspaper clippings. Frequent yelps of joy rang out as friends reunited. For Jessie Waite, who had just met up with a for- mer teacher, the open bouse was ail about saying goodbye to the old life and welcoming her new life as an adult. "This brings a bit of closure. I'm 25 years old now, and now 1 get to start my life and have my kids," said Ms Waite, whos engaged to be married. She said she camne to the open house out of curiosity, wondering what tht people she remem- bers are up to now. She said atsending a country school creates a special kind of bond between stu- dent and school that city kids cant understand. "This is a country school, so kids dont have the opportunities to play (with other kids) on the street like city kids. These are the kids the kids know. My fiancé was asking me why this is 50 important to me. But this is al 1 had," she said, referring to lier friends at school. Kathie Course agreed. She said because she lived so far away from ber friends, she always looked forward to going back to sebool in September. Ms Course was in the kindergarten class the first day Percy W. Merry opened and attended the school until the end of grade 8. She bas a few memories from ber first day: riding the scbool bus for the first time, baving to take a nap in class and playing games. "A big cbunk of my life was spent here. 1 bave no bad memories of scbool - 1 always liked com- ing," she said. Poignant comments were made during an emo- see SMOOTH on page 16 The Milton District Horticultural Society wishes to extend I.. 5e* e*4 lwC45eet744" *eCp, To ail of the following businesses for their valued support of the plant sale on May 15, 2003. A &P Landscape Gardens Andrews Scenic Acres Langholm's Nurseries Arbor Garden Centre & LaRose Italian Bakery TOTS & FILIERS FRE~E Cou., CDOzone MCpsfiai ime opurdm. eNt vl5d Stmpe ta p , $ 3 wIiS aytoi rleExpreJiai 539 5 ' 2000 Appleby Lino (Nexita oLCBG) Millcroft Shopping Centre QUM Burlinigton ~ r~ è~i ~.r, 905-315-7800 Nursery Canadian Tire Corp. Clembrooke Country Depot Crawford 's Country Gardens D&G Nursery The Flower Shed Harrop House Gallery Home Hardware Jade Hardens Kalena Flowers Karen's Flower Shop Loblaws Imc. Lumberville Milton Greenhouses PAO Horticulture M. Putzer Homby Nursery Spice O' Life Card & Gift Shop Springridge Farm Taylor Nursery Teresa's Gardens Van Dongen's Tree Fram geo«w CIe44W4e/ DEUl] IndutrIal gansa 1 pýWallng prodluatu wwariud.o www.airliquide.com