TRURO - A little over 30 years ago, it was still a dream envisioned around an aging old building.
Now, three decades later, an open house is planned for today to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Little White Schoolhouse Museum, located on the grounds of the Nova Scotia Community College (NSTC), Truro campus, which formerly served as the Nova Scotia Teachers College.
"We realized that we were going to be 30 years as a Little White Schoolhouse," said Bill Canning, president of the Friends of the Little White Schoolhouse Association, citing the reason for acknowledging the anniversary.
"Of course the building itself is much older because it was an actual one-room school in Pictou County."
In its days as an actual school, the building was situated in Riverton, Pictou County.
In 1974, a group of faculty members from the teachers' college in Truro wanted to find a way to preserve the history of early education in Nova Scotia.
"And some staff faculty at the college realized that this important era of education, both teacher education and student education, public education, would be lost if there wasn't some way of preserving the notion of the one-room school," said Canning.
Their search for a suitable building ended on July 3, 1975 with the conveyance of the title of the Riverton School from the Municipality of Pictou County for $1. The school was split into two sections and transported through the back roads from Riverton to Truro.
It arrived at the NSTC on Oct. 7, 1976 where it was stored on the campus for the next several years. On Aug. 9, 1979 it was moved for the last time to its permanent position.
A grant in 1977 from the Nova Scotia Department of Recreation assisted in the school's restoration while the support of numerous individuals led to the donation of a collection of desks, books, photographs, and other memorabilia. The official opening of the Little White Schoolhouse Museum was held on Sept. 4, 1982.
The museum is now open during summer months from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. There is no admission but donations are accepted.
Wednesday's open house is planned for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Refreshments will be available.
Quick facts:
- In 1974, a group of faculty members from the Nova Scotia Teachers College in Truro began searching for a one-room schoolhouse to help preserve the province's educational history
- July 3, 1975 the title of the Riverton School was transferred to the group from the Municipality of Pictou County for $1
- The school was school was split into two sections and transported to Truro
- Arrived at the NSTC on Oct. 7, 1976 placed in storage
- Moved to permanent location on Aug. 9, 1979
- Official opening held on Sept. 4, 1982
