By Helen Blackburn
The ability to work together and get things done has been a Creemore trait that began in the very early days and continues to this day. The story of the first log school comes from about 1850, some time before the school sections in Nottawasaga were organized.
The following article was written by F. E. Webster (also known as Frank), and appeared in the January 9, 1936 issue of the Creemore Star. Frank Webster was a son of George Webster, considered to be one of Creemore’s founders. George Webster had arrived in Creemore in the 1840s.
“I remember hearing my father tell me of the first efforts of the pioneers to provide a school. These early settlers felt it was their plain duty to make some provision to have their boys and girls taught at least primary education, that is, the three Rs. The old spirit of cooperation still prevailed among these brave men. They got together and settled the problem by all turning out and with help of a team of oxen and sharp axes, they built a log school in one day. Within a short time a fireplace was built to keep the children warm in cold weather, and other equipment provided. The school was then ready to function. This all happened before school sections were organized in the Township of Nottawasaga in the early 50s. This enterprise was accomplished, not by seeking doles or help from governments or other outsiders, but was the accomplishment of a patriotic community spirit.
“One Fair day I met an old revered friend, Mr. John Mackay. After the usual salutations our conversation naturally drifted back to pioneer days. He being the only man living who was a pupil who attended the pioneer school, I was anxious to learn something about it. This school was situated a few rods from the northwest corner of the north half of Lot 7, Concession 4 on the north side of what is known as Hench’s Hill. [Note from Helen: My guess is that this location is at the south edge of Creemore Union cemetery, close to the road.] At this date there was no cut through that gully hill, and the people on the Fourth Line travelled in an easterly direction missing the worst of the hill, from thence across the Powell farm [Purple Hill Lane is part of the farm], east of the cemetery, entering Mill Street below where the mill stood. Mr. Mackay travelled a different road when going to school. His home being on Lot 6, Concession 6, he travelled east until he came to the Steed farm where he crossed over reaching the Kendrick farm, and thence to the Fourth Line.”
Let us go back to the school. The desks in this school were fastened on the outer walls and the pupils sat on long benches facing the walls. There was a big fireplace that would take a block of wood five feet long. This big fireplace kept them warm in cold weather. Two different teachers, Mr. Hill and Mr. Monteith, taught while Mr. John Mackay attended. Among the pupils listed for the log school are Allan Flack, Solomon Millsap and Jacob Millsap, their families still among us.
“Mr. Mackay remembers spending happy days at this little log school and saw some stirring events. He recalled seeing one of the bigger boys and the teacher settling their differences by pounding each other’s heads. He related it was all bush from his home to the school and he had a horror of meeting Indians. One morning he met a man whom he thought at first was an Indian. He did not know at first whether to run for home or face him. He worked up enough courage, however, to face him, but it turned out to be one of the Leonard boys who offered to treat him with something a little stronger than soda water.
“The writer was extremely grateful to get this information from the only man living who could give it. Only for him, none of us would have any record of the first school, where it was situated, and its architecture. And, after all, we at this age can endure the fact that they turned out worthy Canadian citizens that were a credit to themselves and the community in which they lived.”