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Continued from page 15 Greenbank, S.A. Cawker and Prince Albert. Fortunately, of the four, only one was singled out for closure. Registration figures at Epsom Public School dipped to 36 students in October 2013, far short of the 75 required to continue. Public meeting about Epsom Public School to be held at Greenbank PS. on May 28 Now the year-long process of closing the school begins. Later this month the first working committee meeting is scheduled for April 15 from 4-6 p.m., in Room 2007 in the DDSB Education Centre, Whitby. The first oportunity for Epsom and area residents to be heard will be at a public meeting to be held on Thursday, May 28 from 7-9 p.m. at Greenbank Public School. More information about the process, and future meetings of the Durham School Board is available on their website at: www.ddsb.ca. Follow the link “DDSB Establishes ARC Process For Four Township of Scu- gog Elementary Schools”. BRIEF HISTORY - Archive records indicate the first school in the vicinity of Epsom opened in 1845, just north of the village. But the school most familiar to the ity is the red brick schoolt which sits in front of the present school on Reach Road. In 1876 the “little red schoolhouse” (S.S, #11 Reach) was built on a piece of land purchased from Adam Earchman, at the corner of King St. (Reach Rd.) and Brock St. (Marsh Hill Road.). The school measured 40’x30’x28’ and was equipped with a globe, box stove, five rows of double seats, an armchair and a few maps. Over the years the old schoolk underwent vi hi includ- ing a new lobby in 1922, indoor toilets in 1926, 5 black: boards and a teacher’s desk in the 1930s. By the 1940s a new stove was added and single desks were replaced with double seats. Hydro was in- stalled during the 1950s. In 1954 the old landmark was damaged by fire and it was at this time the belfry was removed from the school roof. The old woodshed was later torn down and replaced with a basketball court. In 1964, Dr. Matthew Dymond of Port Perry of- ficially opened the new four-room Epsom school. Dr. Dymond was the Ontario Minister of Health at the time. In his address, Dr. Dymond stated, “The day of the ‘little red school house’ had gone and consolidated areas will soon be the standard everywhere. It is nec- essary to meet the growing demands on the children of the educational field.” The new one-storey yellow brick school was constructed for about $90,000 and it featured four 16 FOCUS - APRIL 2015 = s iS 3 y N N ac § al 5 a7 LOoTé % % § S a y Ttrothy %, Munroe 7 S E 8 sr saa wm Se Ta]? x 2 1% Q |rs|rate. Q ? Ea be Jtowance G&7Con, KING ST. | This 1877 map of Epsom, from the Ontario County Atlas, shows the property on which the red brick public school was built in 1876. classrooms, office space, staff room, three storage areas, furnace room and washrooms. After opening, the school board purchased additional land just east and adjacent to the school to expand it’s playground area. By 1971, rumours of the school being closed began to circulate and more than 100 parents and residents of the area gathered to! discuss its future. They were addressed by Area 4 dent Howard ip who said the school would remain open as long as there were a sufficient number children attending the school. He explained that would mean about 90 students in Epsom. Not long after that meeting, Epsom students from both Grades 7 and 8 were transferred from the school and bussed to Port Perry or Prince Albert. The future of the two buildings which make up Epsom Public School is unknown at this time. No doubt when the school is closed the property will be sold. The next year of debate by Durham School Board trustees and the public will determine the future of the school and the property on which it sits. This 1876 schoolhouse is a landmark historic building for the residents of Epsom and a visual reminder of the early days of education in the village. Whatever happens, the Epsom’s little red schoolhouse should be saved. Closing the school will be bad enough, but the thought of it being razed, would tear the heart out of those who love their community. By J. Peter Hvidsten Focus on Scugog