Former students revisit St. James school

Many of St. James’ students stopped by on Sunday at the invitation of homeowners Daniela and Ray Albrecht to tour the school on Huron Road, where they received their early public school education. Gary West photo

By Gary West

Many one-room schools (with eight grades) closed in the early ’60s, and students were sent to the newly built central schools in the area.

Such was the case for S.S. #5, St. James one-room school, south of New Hamburg, and not far from Punkey Doodles Corners on the Huron Road.

This country school was never torn down like some; instead, it was remodelled and made into comfortable living quarters to become a family home.

Ray and Daniela Albrecht invited many former students and neighbours back to the school on Sunday to have a look at what the inside and outside of the former S.S. #5 looked like today.

This large crowd of former students could be heard saying, “I remember when we played ball or soccer over in this part of the yard,” and the next remembered going downstairs to the basement where the big furnace used to be, and where they put their boots and coats to dry out on cold winter days.

It was a well-appreciated day, and the Albrechts were congratulated for inviting so many memories of past students back for a look.

Most in attendance are now grandparents and even great-grandparents, and the story told to the next generations is that of “walking to school in six feet of snow where it was uphill both ways!”

As we age, this line is always worth a smile from those long-ago generations.