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OCTOBER 2003 One report had a small boy pinned to the wall with only the strength of two bigger boys pulling him away. Dictionaries were seen moving unaided while school maps would fly off the walls, all accompanied by mysterious tapping sounds. On later occasions a voice could be heard warning off anyone approaching the small school house. At times the voice would even give visions of the future. Days and weeks passed. and the teachers taught and the children listened while the spirit became more aggressive. Long ago, in l9l3. everyone was talking about the haunted school on the 6th Concession in Uxbridge. Wood stove doors would fly open and the stove pipe was said to lift itself from the stove. Once. the stove lld flew off and came crashing down by the seat of an unlucky and stanled student. Without massive amounts of street light or brilliant store fronts, it is not only pitch black in many rural areas, but also the perfect setting for Halloween and hauntingly strange occurrences. Local folklore of unexplained happenings are heard more often as the nights grow longer and the tales unfold to wide-eyed listeners who cluster tightly together. Fall is also the time of year when strange and wondrous things can happen. Take a walk down many rural streets past sundown and darkness will surround you. The night brings een‘e shadows cast by half-bare tree branches. with the crunch of fallen leaves beneath your feet. All kinds of thoughts can cross your mind. Fall in the country is beautiful, with the changing colours of the leaves and fresh, cool air making it one of the favourite seasons for many rural dwellers, Things That Go Bump In The Night If you haven't guessed already, this was the same school house that over 80 years ago was the site of the ghostly events related above, Happy Halloween everybody Another evening a loud thud was heard, and on investigation the startled couple found a large and cumbersome wooden chest had been moved from a wall out into the room. No one was there but the couple themselves and possibly an unseen guest. Years later I was at a party in a renovated school house on the 6th Concession As the night progressed it was only natural that the unique home was discussed. along with its history. The owners told of a bowl of potpourri that was lifted and flung across the main room, scattering flower petals across the floor. When school began the next (all, there were no more reports of spifitualistic mischief‘ It was decided the teacher had practised ventn'loquism and had been aided by some unknown helpers Some trustees reported witnessing chalk rolling and desks moving while a voice mocked them. They were convinced that this was a seriOus situation and the story of the ghost spread far and wide. The local newspaper reported "a large number of people including doctors. preachers, druggists, lawyers and editors, drove out to see, but the spirit did not perform". At first the incidents were dismissed as the work of children‘s vivid imaginations. but when some children became too frightened to attend, they were finally taken seriously by school trustees. After a thorough search of the building. however. they could find nothing to explain the strange occurrences. by Ruth LeBlanc Those who wish to register are asked to send their full name (and maiden name if applicable). postal address. years they attended the high school and e-mail address to $055 50th Anniversary and The weekend will be filled with special events, entertainment, and opportunities to reconnect with classmates and staff. Anyone who attended. taught or worked at SDSS/SDHS in any capacity is welcome to attend. The organizing committee is looking for people to help co-ordinate efforts to find former classmates and to provide contact information to the committee. so that as many people as possible can be invited. WM». ohm mm m by (“whom It 905456-0530 at and us on mail I! WWW-yam. Fov move IMom-mlon about Stouffville District Secondary School, formerly Stouffville District High School, has established a website to provide infor- mation on its 50th Ann- iversary and Reunion, on luly 2-4. 2004. High School reunion website wmmm umsmmbyomcw ngndmndflothmbymn mummmmm Mmmmmm “MM"... ”Minn"! mum-n Mill-Cum- Mannheim 0mm bun-I'm mummw mmmcmaem matwmb’m MOMMA.“ "WHITCHURCH-STDUFFVILLE THIS MONT H" - 25 Th£§¢bs 3W. Emma Iy: Stouffville, Ontario L4A 8A3, or via e-mail to sdssSOth@hotmail.com. m- What‘s a hm to do? IMO" and (NH CPR Int sun II NC]! to Choosing-nut”