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The village of Sesekinika has the prestige of hosting a one-room school house. This is located in the village almost directly behind Lois and Ken McGregor’s homestead.
The building was erected from 1929-1930 and at that time cost three thousand, five hundred dollars cash.
It served as a school house, a church, and community centre; a political arena and dance hall until the school closed in 1964.
At this time the building was sold to the Mitchell family who still owns it and frequently visits Sesekinika.
The school house was constructed of wooden planks and painted a neat white with green trim and the windows offered a view of Sesekinika Lake.
Inside one enters a vestibule just before the school room and it’s storehouse of educational treasures from days gone by.
The blackboards still remain on the far wall at the front. A row of desks complete with ink wells bring back memories. The cloakrooms and washrooms are also preserved in their antique condition and add to a visitors most wonderful feeling of nostalgia.
Our own Eva Killins and Lloyd McGregor served on the school board for many years. The board kept records of expenditures, paid the teachers’ salaries, bought the books and supplies. Eva still retains much of the school boards ledgers. She recalled that Box Socials were a popular event. The boxed lunch was raffled off and you ate the meal with the highest bidder. These made money for children’s outings and special events.
Many residents; former and present have some fond memories of a one-room school house. Education had an entirely different aspect at that time.
Marion Stroud was a teacher and a former student at the Sesekinika Schoolhouse, She had come here to the village with her parents' vaudeville show while they were entertaining at the various small communities. Residents and cottagers filled the schoolhouse to the doors. Doc and Rae Hamilton were Marion's parent’s. Her mother played the piano and a bass silver drum (folding drum). Her father played the bagpipes; he was also a fancy paper-tearer (which meant he created art forms with paper cuttings). He was a standup comedian and Marion too was a vital part of their performances.
Marion's parents settled here in Sesekinika and after completing her early education Marion went on to teacher's college graduating in 1947 just after the Second World War.
Upon receiving her teacher's certificate she wrote a letter of application to the local school board who accepted her and Marion had her first teaching position. She was twenty-one years old.
Marion boarded upstairs at the current Klockar's residence during her teaching days in Sesekinika and greatly enjoyed the wonderful multi-cultural village life. She taught here for a total of three years.
The school children’s parents contributed notably to the picnics, skiing parties and Christmas concerts. Social times in the village were always well-attended. Hallowe'en parties included students, parents and even grandparents in costumes.
Every occasion inspired many different artistic projects which in turn also became part of a pupil’s education. When it snowed; paper snowflakes soon decorated the classroom. Discussions were held on the varieties of snowflakes, formations and numbers of snowf1akes etc. The themes would then be geared to science, math, reading arid writing.
So many memories of a different era. |
