Residents saddened by former schools destruction

BRULE - A suspicious fire that destroyed an old one-room schoolhouse in Brule has left members of the community upset and wondering who is responsible.
The old Tarbot School on Brule Shore Road erupted in flames just before 9 p.m. Friday night, destroying most of the building. Tatamagouche RCMP said the blaze is suspicious in nature.
Brule Shore resident Doris Elliott was at the schoolhouse Saturday morning helping to salvage anything possible from the charred remains.
"Oh, I'm sad," she said, about seeing the badly burned front wall of the school she had attended from kindergarten to Grade 8.
"This is terrible."
Well-known Colchester County residents Betty Murray and Dr. Jane Norman taught her there, and she has fond memories of her childhood friends as they played in the schoolyard at recess.
"I feel very bad about it ... that somebody would do that," added Tatamagouche resident Jessie Laurie.
She estimated the building is about 100 years old. Laurie attended the school as an elementary student about 60 years ago and her siblings also went to the school before her. She estimates the school was closed at least 20 years ago.
Area resident Sylvia Ross was also disheartened to hear of the news Saturday morning.
"I couldn't believe it ... I feel it's very unfair," said Ross. "It hasn't been used lately a lot but the community feels bad about (the fire). I hope they find who has done it."
Ross said she used to vote at the building many years ago and it was used as a meeting place at times for events such as entertainment and card parties.
Tatamagouche Fire Department's deputy chief Ian MacDonald told the Truro Daily News Saturday that a member of the fire brigade noticed the porch of the building was on fire Friday night while they were driving through the community.
"The front was fully involved when we arrived ... it's a total loss," said MacDonald of the building that did not have any power. "It didn't spontaneously combust."
Tatamagouche RCMP are investigating the fire that required about 25 members of the Tatamagouche fire brigade to fight. They were on scene for about three hours and River John fire crews were on standby at their hall.
If anyone has information on the fire, call the Tatamagouche RCMP or Crimestoppers.

mchiasson@trurodaily.com