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The warm sand of the roadfelt good between by bare toes
as I walked that long way to school -
my first day.
It was early, the sun barely above the trees -
a lonely way to that one-room school -
I was given a book, a slate and slate pencils,
and I had remembered to bring
water in a bottle, and a cleaning rag.
With these I began a new life,
each succeeding day becoming larger
as I saw new horizons,
the only life I knew beginning
to close behind me.
Francis Dawson
Student at the Minudie School from 1923-5
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The school house in Minudie.1875
Minudie, Nova Scotia
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Amos Seaman built the Minudie School in the early 1850's, to be used by his children and those of his tenants.This photo shows the school in 1875 and the little boy is believed to be his nephew Willie Seaman.
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SCHOOL LIST 1863Names of scholars and daily account of attendance at the Minudie Catholic School commenced by Philip DesBarres teacher, On Monday December 14, 1863.
Students Attendance Fee Owed
Sylvine Burke 24 days $0.57
Paul LeBlong 21 days $0.50
Eustache Brine 18 days $0.42
Mack Lequire 19 days $0.45
Amos Burbine 20 days $0.47 ½
Joseph LeBlong 19 days $0.45
Jerome LeBlong 22 days $0.52
Thomas Kirk 12 days $0.28 ½
John Kirk 18 days $0.42
Louis Arseneau 19 days $0.45
L. Como 15 days $0.35 ½
Paul Brine 21 days $0.50
Alex Kirk 9 days $0.21
L. LeBlong 6 days $0.14
Date: February 1st, 1864
Total owed $5.24 ½
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A photo of the village of Minudie in the early 1900's1900
Minudie, Nova Scotia
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The first school house in Minudie is mentioned in Gilbert Seaman's diary in 1886, when he is decribing the village and the location of the homes and their inhabitants.Minudie February, 1886
Our first School House, situate on the old road leading towards the marsh where now is Rufus Seaman's pasture. This house was where I first attended school. This building was for a long time used as a meeting house where the Rev. Charles Tupper (Baptist) .... used to hold forth.
Our school books were "Dillworths" and afterwards the English Reader, etc. The schollars in winter set round the Big Stove with their books and slates - a long writing desk for those taking lessons in writing. The masters occupation was the making of quill pens for the writers....
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Emma Seaman's scribbler from the Minudie School in 1867.1867
Minudie, Nova Scotia
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This scribbler, used to practise penmanship, and dated 1867, belonged to Emma Seaman when she attended the Minudie School. Emma was a granddaughter of Amos and Jane Seaman.9
Exercise book belonging to Mary Symes, a student at the Minudie in the 1880's.1880
Minudie, Nova Scotia
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This Blue Bell Exercise book belonged to Mary Symes, a student at the Minudie school in the 1880's.11
A teacher's journal from 1881, which lists all the teachers in the Province of Nova Scotia.1881
Minudie, Nova Scotia
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This page is part of the Journal of Education for April, 1881. It lists all the teachers in the Province by; county, the number of days worked and their salary per term.Annie Logan was the teacher at the Minudie School in 1881. She taught for 108 days and was paid 29.72 , from the Provincial treasury, for the term ending October 31st.
Annie is mentioned in the Gilbert Seaman diary on several occasions:
September 1880
Wed. 1 Miss Logan, our School Teacher, had a picnic of her school children, and others in the hardwood hill at or near Downings Cove.
April 1882
Sat. 29 Miss Annie S. Logan, our past Teacher left to take a School, head of Amherst and Miss Vickery of Parrsboro arrived as far as River Hebert as her successor.
April 1884
Wed. 30 Our School Teacher, Miss Annie Logan had her school examinations.
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The agreement between Sarah Sproul, a teacher, and three Minudie school trustees.1881
Minudie, Nova Scotia
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This is the agreement between the teacher Sarah Sproul, (with a second class license) and the three Minudie school trustees. It is dated May 1st, 1891 and is signed by the trustees; Joseph Quigley, Alfred Brian and Fred Seaman. The term ran until October 31st and the salary mentioned in the agreement is $80 to be paid from the school funds. |
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