TEMPLE – The Temple’s Historical Society is hosting an Open House at the Intervale School House on Saturday, August 22. Doors will open at 10 a.m. to displays of Temple school memorabilia and DVD presentations of oral histories by Temple residents, past and present.
Schoolmarm Norma Boothby of Washburn-Norlands will conduct class in the school room, 1880’s style, beginning at 11 a.m. Deportment and manners were as important in the early classroom as learning to read, write and do arithmetic. Here is an opportunity to learn what going to school felt like before the development of modern teaching aids such as pencils and inexpensive paper.
Members of the Western Maine Blacksmith Association will be on hand with their Rolling Smithy from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to demonstrate 19th century metal working skills. The Smithy, equipped with two coal-fired forges and anvils, is capable of turning out nails, hinges, and all manner of equipment that were in daily use at the time the School House was built in 1811.
Also throughout the day, the Temple Boy Scouts will be on hand with hotdogs and cold drinks available for a small donation.
The Intervale School House is currently undergoing restoration, funded in part by a matching grant through the Maine Historic Preservation Commission from the Maine State Cultural Affairs Council’s New Century Community Program, a statewide initiative funded by the people of Maine. The classroom is being restored to its 1880s appearance, the deteriorated clapboard is being replaced and other steps are underway to make sure that the building will last well into its third century.
Temple’s School House is the fifth oldest one-room school house in the state of Maine, and the one that was in longest continual use. The last classes were held in the building in 1953, still without the benefit of electricity or plumbing.
The School House is located on Temple’s Intervale, approximately 1 ½ miles beyond the Temple Post Office. Follow Route 43 West from West Farmington to the foot of the Day Mountain Road.
In addition to new visitors, the Historical Society is looking forward to greeting former students and hopefully a few teachers among the visitors during the Open House. Recording equipment will be on hand to captures stories about earlier life in Temple, including first hand experiences from the perspectives of students, parents and teachers.
For more information, please call Melanie Farmer at 899-9995.
