Brocksden School Museum holds annual meeting near Shakespeare

Members of the Brocksden School Museum gathered for the annual meeting. Front row, from left: Joan Scott, Gloria Priestap, Pat Eidt, Ruth Hart, Hugh McDermid, Jessie Campbell (program co-ordinator), Roger Cook and Elaine Cook. Back row: Scott Campbell (president), John Campbell (recording secretary), Leonard Neeb and Darryl Herlick. Gary West photo

By Gary West

One of Ontario’s busiest country school museums, the Brocksden School Museum, held its annual meeting Saturday just outside Shakespeare.

Operated by the Easthope Historical Group, the museum reported another active and successful year filled with educational visits, special events and community engagement.

Throughout the year, Brocksden hosted 17 visiting school groups, where classes were taught by four volunteer retired teachers. The lessons give students a hands-on glimpse into the past as they learn how pupils once studied in a single-room schoolhouse with eight grades and one teacher.

In addition to student programs, Brocksden has welcomed Girl Guides, seniors’ groups and hopes to soon host members of Stratford’s Probus Club, who have expressed interest in visiting.

The year also featured a variety of special events, including a June piano recital on the school’s recently tuned piano with hopes for more to come, and a successful Teddy Bear Picnic, which organizers plan to make an annual tradition beginning in 2026.

A highlight of the summer was the “All Classes” reunion in July, which drew more than 100 former students, teachers and friends. The day was filled with games, storytelling and plenty of memories from years spent in Brocksden’s historic classrooms.

Looking ahead, the museum plans to host an All Teachers Reunion in 2026, as well as a Blacksmith Day on Saturday, Aug. 29 featuring demonstrations in leatherworking, beading and woodworking by Roger Cook.

Organizers are already planning for a major milestone – Brocksden School’s 175th anniversary in 2028, which will include a series of special celebrations and community events.

Before this year’s annual meeting, retired teacher Gloria Priestap, dressed in period-appropriate clothing, gave a lively presentation on how the traditional “three R’s” (reading, writing and arithmetic) were taught during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Priestap, who spent 20 years teaching visiting classes at Brocksden and 33 years at Shakespeare Public School, shared her passion for education and her fond memories of teaching history through experience.

Those wishing to support the museum’s ongoing programs and preservation efforts can contact Jessie Campbell at brocksdenschool@gmail.com or send donations to Easthope Historical Group c/o Jessie Campbell, 4482 Road 110, Stratford, ON N5A 6S2.