A look back at the old Liverpool Academy

Sadly, the building was demolished, unlike the old Lunenburg Academy, which is presently being restored at a cost of $2-million. That suggests there is something wrong with our handling of historic properties. It is evident that our Town Fathers in years past had no desire to preserve our heritage; or we would still have the Old Academy, the Post Office, Chestnut Hall, Russell MacLeod’s old house, and many other buildings of historical significance. The present Region Council is now very late, I might add, in considering a heritage by-law for our Region. The report of the committee set up at council’s request has handed in its recommendations and awaits council’s decision.

On with the story.

February 1898, after the fire of Feb. 3, the principal and teachers carried on their classes in rooms that had been secured throughout the town. The different departments continued without any loss of time.

Classes were held at the Gorham Academy with teacher J.D. Sprague; Chapel school room on Church Street with teacher Miss Janet Mullins; Jubilee Hall, with teacher Miss E. Marshall; Temperance Hall, with teacher Miss Blanche Harrington; Hemeon’s Hall, over E. Hutchin’s drug store with teacher Miss N. Hemeon; Room in Miss A. Harrington’s dwelling, formerly International Hotel with Miss Georgia Harrington as the teacher; and Temperance Hall with teacher Miss J. Dauphinee.

June 29, 1898 – The tender for heating, ventilating and plumbing was awarded to Mulhal brothers for $875. Mr. Dexter was given the tender to supply 2,240 Acadia lump coal at $4.28 a ton.

The drainage for the new school presented a considerable problem. An arbitrator was appointed between the town and Mrs. Eva Patch to settle the question of claimed damage to her field, west of the Academy, resulting from drain construction. The council notes of Sept. 8, 1899 noted that John Millard was reserved payment of $100 on contract until the problem was corrected.

October 1898 – New Academy with seven classrooms, a chemistry room and library was completed within four months.

April 1899 – School Board decides the practice of keeping children confined to school rooms during morning recess and noon hour to be abolished. The Board also decided that a tuition fee of $2 per head be charged on all pupils attending the public school.

September 1899 – Resolved that teachers be paid quarterly instead of bi-annually. Salary scales differed for male and female teachers. Depending on the class of licence held, males received from $243.31 to $385.53 yearly, while the wage scale for females ranged from $144.93 to $278.38 yearly. Miss Josephine Dauphinee, a teacher of the primary department for nine years, moved to British Columbia and went on to become one of the leaders in the field of Special Education in Canada.

In 1900, Superintendent H.H. Macintosh wrote in his yearly report: “Mr. J. Sprague, Principal of the Academy for the last seven years and connected with the school for the last 209 years, was of splendid physique and hardy constitution. He withstood disease for years, but finding his strength unequal to another years work, he handed in his resignation remarking: “his life’s work was done, and so it was, he died the same day.”

Children in the lower grades sat in double desks that screwed into the wooded floors. Single desks were only for the high school students upstairs. Slates were used by the younger pupils while the older ones had scribblers, pens and the infamous ink wells.

Miss Blanche Harrington’s teacher’s bell was still alive and well. Many people may recall the ding of the bell followed by her words, “Class, come to order.” A great compliment was paid to Miss Blanche Harrington and her sister Miss Georgia.

It was said if Miss Harrington taught you something, you never forgot it. (I remember well one of Miss Blanche’s teachings. In explaining the proper use of lie and lay, she always stated, “Remember only hens lay”).

1920s – The new school was known as the Town School and County Academy. Children began in Grade 1 and continued through Grade 11. County students, who wished to further their education, left their local community and traveled to County Academy for Grades 9, 10, and 11. Some, who lived too far away to go home after school, would board in Liverpool during the week.

At the beginning, the upstairs housed the higher grades, usually starting at Grade 6. For some reason, during the 1930s the older students moved downstairs, while the younger ones climbed the long stairway.

The original building had been constructed in the shape of a Maltese Cross. However, because of increased enrollments, two new rooms were added in the 1920s, filling in part of the cross.

Do you remember the boy’s and girl’s doors? - the ladder to the attic that you were warned not to climb? The woods behind the school that were off limits? The severe methods of discipline that were used?

1930s – The Congregational Church used to be sited on the property where the Liverpool Curling Club is situated. Although it was not used as a church at this time, it did house a class that had overflowed the Academy. As well, many Christmas concerts and school exhibitions were held there.

1940s – This time period produced many changes in the physical appearance of the school. The bell tower was taken down, as water was leaking down into the entrance and the wooded floors were beginning to sag from the weight. For awhile, the bell was stored in the attic until it became the property of a newly constructed church in the county. The dormers were removed from the roof and most of the cloak rooms were taken down to make the hallways wider. When the main post at the foot of the stairs was removed, a dime bearing King Edward VII’s face was found. The other side of the coin had been worn smooth from many years of movement within the building. Up until this time, all the hardwood floors were polished by oiling. This practice had to stop as it was a fire hazard.

Do you remember when the Army Cadets were moved from the present day defunct Junior High School to the Academy basement for their target shooting? To accommodate them, the coal bin had to be removed. Unfortunately, when stray bullets began to go through the windows, the cadets had to move again. This time, to the attic. All went well until people reported bullets coming out through the roof and going into the woods. This put an end to target practice at the Academy.

1950s – How many people remember starting Grade 1 in a newly constructed classroom in the basement?

As you can see, the Academy School went through many changes. It must be admitted it was a grand old school that is filled with memories for many of our citizens. It is hoped this brief article has helped you re-live some of yours!