Mahone Bay Old School_A Life and Times_Bob Sayer

• Old School Building
The Founding fathers also had an old school building being used, off School
Street. It was deteriorating and too small. It is clearly shown in the photo
below. It was behind, close to, and actually faced the United Baptist Church
and Church Hall on Maple Street. Following the establishment of free public
schools, it had been built in 1871-2, with a wing added later.
The minutes of the meetings have not been found. But the Lunenburg Progress
Enterprise reported on a course that was not clear sailing. The three
trustees must have had patience, persistence and the ability to compromise.
Public meetings of ratepayers to deal with new and expensive developments
usually have three main groups:
i the enthusiastic optimists, a minority, with a “Let’s Go For It” attitude,
ii the cautious and careful who want details and to make haste slowly,
iii the nay-sayers who “can’t afford it” and want to “make do with what
we’ve got.”
The Committee is a Wonderful Thing, Get People Involved
The Mahone column in The Progress Enterprise, 1913, reported as follows:
Wednesday, April 9, page 5
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At an adjourned meeting of the ratepayers of this town held in the Parish House on
Wednesday evening last, Messrs. F. Holloway, H.S. Lane and T.G. Nicol and Revs.
H.T. Roe and E.A. Harris were appointed a committee to act with the trustees in
connection with the proposed new school building.
Wednesday, April 23, page 4
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Photo: Courtesy Settlers Museum
The old school with its west wing is clearly visible over the roof of the
Baptist Church manse.
The Tasks and Achievements of ‘The Founding Fathers’
To their great credit, Messrs. Begin, Joudrey and Lohnes achieved the following
five objectives. It was not an easy task. The labours of Hercules?
Objective 1
Obtain support and vote At Annual Meeting
At public meetings of ratepayers in 1913, they persuaded
the citizens to vote in support of a new school that the ratepayers
would have to support through their local property taxes.
Another meeting of the ratepayers of this school section was held at the Parish Hall
on Monday evening for the purpose of hearing the reports of the trustees and the
committee which had been appointed at a previous meeting to act with them in connection
with the proposed new school building. Reports were presented by both bodies,
but as a unanimous one was required, the meeting was further adjourned, to
be again called when this was prepared.
Wednesday, May 14, page 4
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A meeting of the ratepayers of this school section to further consider the erection of
the proposed new school building was held in the Parish Hall on Monday evening. Dr.
Hamilton was appointed chair and Rev B. D. Knott secretary. The proposition to enlarge
the present site by the addition of the Ernst Property adjoining was carried
by a vote of 59-18. A sum not to exceed $13000.00 has been voted and a building
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