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Dear Old Golden Rule Days
By James J. Allen
Any teacher will
tell you that a fall field trip is the key to beating the
back-to-school blues.
It’s no
coincidence, then, that when autumn rolls around, curators of the
Sound School House Museum in Somesville start readying this favorite
elementary school destination.
Curators of Somes School House,
from left, are Michelle Marks, assistant director, Megan Harris,
summer intern, Heather Sisk, interim director.
Staff Photo by James J. Allen |
It’s no
coincidence, then, that when autumn rolls around, curators of the
Sound School House Museum in Somesville start readying this favorite
elementary school destination.
The Sound School,
which was originally built in 1892 for the children of the quarrying
town of the sound, is transformed during the autumn months.
The museum element
is forgotten and the school is reborn when students from around
Mount Desert Island are taught 19th century lessons by a volunteer
playing the role of Miss Ada Richardson.
Richardson
was the real-life teacher at the school in 1894.
During field trip
day, young scholars (who are encouraged to dress in old-fashion
garb) sit in the school’s original bench seats, stand to repeat and
answer questions.
After lunch the
original school bell clangs and boys and girls file separately into
the one-room school through two doors.
Just as in the turn
of the century, “the kids come through the boys and girls entrances
and are taught separate things,” explained Heather Sisk, interim
director of the MDI historical society.
Sisk noted that the
Sound
School
is only one element of the MDI Historical Society, which restored
the schoolhouse through member and private donations in 1999.
Throughout the year
the original yellow clapboard schoolhouse and its recent green
camouflaged addition are open to the public.
The historical
society believes its foremost duty is historical preservation.
“We work often with
couples doing genealogy projects,” said Sisk.
Interested
municipalities and homeowners are offered resources to maintain the
historic character of their artifacts.
Residents and
visitors are likewise invited to visit the historical society’s
Somesville Museum near the famous white arching bridge in downtown
Somesville.
At the Somesville
Museum, artifacts of the first village settled on MDI are on
display. Topics there range from old-time tourism to bygone
Somesville industries.
During the summer
months, the
Sound
School
House
Museum
holds regular rotating exhibits.
The exhibit
currently finishing its summer season is titled “Not a level field
in town…yet to farming we were bound: The History of Agriculture on
MDI.”
The display
documents woolen, dairy and produce farms on the island from its
Native American beginnings to the farms of today.
Soon, though, the
museum will live as a school again as children travel through time
by rushing back through its doors this fall.
In their
restoration efforts the philosophy of the MDI Historical Society is
truly seen in its mission: to preserve the heritage and to protect
the scenic and historic integrity of MDI.
Special groups and
bus tours are welcome to the historical society but are asked to
arrange guided tours by calling 276-9323. |
