One-Room Schoolhouse Reunion Weekend is here! Two events this weekend!

Once again, it's time for all the former Exeter One-room Schoolhouse alum to get together and catch up on what's been going on.

Woody Hill School, as it appeared in June 1941

This year, the Exeter Historial Association is showing off the newly-restored Woody Hill School on the day before the Reunion.

On Saturday, July 9th, the  school will be open for viewing from 2 PM until 4PM. Woody Hill School is located on Woody Hill Rd, near the intersection of Ted Rod Rd (Rte 165). Come and see the progress of the restoration. It's almost done!!!

Invitations have been sent to all those who come to the reunions, so hopefully some of the former students will be able to stop by and see the progress while they are in town.

One of course, on Sunday, July 10th, from 1 to 4pm, it's the main event - the 6th Annual One Room Schoolhouse Reunion, which will take place as always at the Exeter Public Library, 773 Ten Rod Rd (Rt 102) in Exeter.

So come on out and enjoy some refreshments and reminiscing about old times in Exeter! No matter what your age, or even if you don't have any connection to the One Room Schools at all, it's always a very interesting time. There will be lots of old photos and other memoriabilia on display to look through!

Hope to see you there!

6th Annual One-Room Schoolhouse Reunion - July 10, 2011

Once again, it's time for all the school chums from yesteryear to get together for the annual One Room Schoolhouse Reunion! It will take place on Sunday, July 10, from 1:00 to 4:00, at the Exeter Public Library, 773 Ten Rod Rd, Exeter. Additional details will be forthcoming!

Woody Hill School - again! But this time, restored!

On May 18th, three members of the EHA Board had an on-site visit with Brian Patch, who has been working on renovating the  Woody Hill School.  The desks are back inside; the stove is about to be reinstalled; windows and doors almost completed.  The outhouses were inspected to see if they could be salvaged.  Plans are being made for the opening in late June or early July - hopefully along with our annual One Room Schoolhouse Reunion event! (Many thanks to Gary Boden for taking these pictures!)

Sheila Reynolds-Boothroyd, Karen Colberg, and Gary Boden
discuss the renovations with Brian Patch (far left)

...maybe we can even restore the outhouses!

Do you remember what Exeter looked like before Interstate 95 was built?

It seems like just about everyone on the East Coast takes Interstate Rte 95 for granted. Whether you revere it or curse it, or do a bit of both, the road has become part of our culture.

But how many remember what was there before the highway? What homes or business existed before the construction? Which intersections are no more, and which roads were rerouted or cut off? 

If you lived in Exeter before the highway came through, consider gathering your memories and photographs of life before I-95 for a joint project with the Richmond Historical Association, to be published in an upcoming book.  RHA is currently gathering stories about Richmond and Hopkinton, and they would very much like to includes stories about Exeter too.

Check out the Richmond Historical Association web page for a short explanation about the project! And email us at exeterhistory@yahoo.com if you have recollections of life in the slow lane to share.

Of Schools and Town Halls

EHA members came out of hibernation on  Thursday March 3 for an update on our current projects!

Woody Hill School Sheila reports that all the interior work is finished, and the original furnishings have been put back in the building. The windows have also been redone, but will not be re-installed until the doors are refinished and replaced. She also reported that shutters were made for the windows as well! We are all looking forward to seeing the completed work once the nicer weather arrives. We're hoping to have a Woody Hill School restoration ceremony on the same weekend as our annual Exeter One Room Schoolhouse Reunion, sometime in June.

Pictures of Woody Hill School, taken December 2010 by Gary Boden:

..waiting for restored doors.

We hope to restore the outhouses too!

Town Hall Project Wouldn't it be great to turn the never-used old Town Hall  back into a hub of activity again?  The building was the center of town activity in the 1800's, and was used as a schoolhouse until 1952,  but now is all but forgotten. EHA members are currently working on securing a grant to move the old Town Hall building, currently located at the intersection of Ten Rod Rd and Town Hall Rd.,  onto a new foundation near the Exeter Public Library.  Not only would we save and restore a historic building, but we could also use it as a public meeting place, as well as a museum to house and display Exeter's treasures. Stay tuned for updates!