1

The former residents of the Base Gagetown communities placed a high premium on education. Very soon after establishing farms, schools began to dot the newly developed area. Teachers ranged in age from 19 year old Margaret Kelly to 72 year old William Rennick and usually boarded in the communities in which they taught, unless a full time resident themselves.

2

Inchby School Sign, about 1950
1950
Inchby

Credits:
Queens County Museum Collection

3

The first school at Inchby was a log building which was eventually moved and used as a house. About 1875 a new school building appeared with improvements added as time and funds permitted. This sign was placed prominently on the front of the structure.

4

Inchby School, 1952
1952
Inchby

Credits:
Base Gagetown Community History Association

5

The last class at Inchby consisted of four students from two families who hadn't yet relocated in the spring of 1954: Clarence (Bobby) Laird, Bobby Johnson, Mary Laird and Thelma Johnson. Note the school sign that is visible on the front of the building.

6

New Jerusalem School, 1952
1952
New Jerusalem
AUDIO ATTACHMENT


Credits:
Base Gagetown Community History Association

7

Perhaps the earliest school in the area was at New Jerusalem and was simply constructed of logs. In 1826 settlers were petitioning for a grant to pay a teacher. A second frame structure was built in 1865 but later burned. The final building, pictured here, was built in 1915 on land leased for 99 years from the Webb Family. In a 1998 oral interview, Elsie Machum Inch recalled her school days:

"We went to New Jerusalem School. They had an old school house first, and a little box stove, you know, and we'd walk about, oh I don't know whether it was two miles or not, in the mornings. Summer and winter. And, no snow plows either, but we got there and had a good time. There was a great crowd on our road that we'd all go together."

8

Flag, about 1950 New Jerusalem School
1950
New Jerusalem

Credits:
Queens County Museum Collection

9

This flag was used at the New Jerusalem School. Its good condition and vibrant colours indicate that it was probably used near the end of the school's use about 1952 or 1953.

10

West Jerusalem School Sign, about 1950
1950
West Jerusalem

Credits:
Queens County Museum Collection

11

Like its sister schools in Inchby and New Jerusalem, the first school at Polleyhurst was built of logs. When it burned, it was replaced by a frame structure. Polleyhurst was also known as West Jerusalem, as noted on this sign which adorned the side wall of the school.

12

Polleyhurst School, 1952
1952
Polleyhurst

Credits:
Base Gagetown Community History Association

13

The Jerusalem area consisted of three school districts: Inchby, New Jerusalem, and West Jerusalem or Polleyhurst. Class size varied from year to year. The class of 1917 consisted of nine students; a later class had eighteen students.

14

Hibernia School Sign, about 1950
1950
Hibernia

Credits:
Queens County Museum Collection