The past comes alive at the Red Brick Schoolhouse in Elgin
RIDEAU LAKES — Across Rideau Lakes, generations of children once learned their lessons in one room schools where the air smelled of chalk and coal smoke, and the walk to class could mean a mile through deep snow. Sometimes uphill. Both ways.
Two stories recently published in The Agrarian magazine capture what that experience was like in the 1950s, when rural schools were the heart of their communities and the teacher often doubled as principal, nurse, counsellor and referee.
Bill Murray reflects on 1950s school days
Bill Murray remembers his school days at Pine Grove Public School near Chaffey’s Lock. There was no phone, no running water, and no bus. Just long walks, outhouse breaks, and the joy of Christmas concerts that brought the whole community together.
“We had no means of communicating with anyone because there was no phone locally anywhere,” he wrote. “Everyone used the same metal ladle to quench their thirst.”
He recalled trudging through snow to the washrooms, hauling water from the well, and learning alongside classmates of all ages. “I can’t help but admire the teacher who was given the job of educating, nurturing, and looking after the safety of students with different levels of maturity,” Murray reflected.
Mary McCarty shares a special Dancy School Christmas concert
Mary McCarty shared her brother Mike’s memories of Dancy School in South Crosby and one unforgettable Christmas concert in the early 1950s.
Teacher Miss Mainse, later Mrs. Vivian Perrin, surprised everyone by announcing the concert would be held in the evening even though the school had no electricity. On the big night, lanterns lit the tiny classroom and Miss Mainse’s fiancé, Frank Perrin, secretly installed lights that afternoon before donning a Santa Claus suit.
“It was an evening of laughter, music, and wonder,” McCarty wrote. “A night none of the children ever forgot.”
These stories may come from different schoolhouses, but they echo a shared experience across Rideau Lakes: a life of simplicity, resilience and community warmth that still resonates with anyone who grew up in a small town.
Step into The Red Brick Schoolhouse in Elgin
For those who want to experience that history firsthand, Elgin’s Red Brick Schoolhouse offers a rare chance to step back in time.
Built in 1887, the two-room brick school replaced a smaller wooden structure and became a symbol of progress in local education. With its tall windows, polished floors and tidy desks, it stood as a point of pride for the people of South Crosby.
Today, the Red Brick Schoolhouse is maintained by the Elgin and Area Heritage Society. The Junior Room is furnished as a period classroom complete with slates, maps and a wood stove. The Senior Room hosts local heritage displays and educational programs throughout the year.
The building has seen recent interior improvements and digital cataloguing of its archives thanks to dedicated local volunteers. It continues to be part of the Doors Open Ontario tour, with public hours during summer weekends and heritage events.
Visitors can explore at their own pace or take a guided tour that explains how lessons were taught, how recess was spent, and how one teacher managed multiple grades in a single space.
The Red Brick Schoolhouse stands as a living example of that legacy, a place where local children once studied, sang and learned by lamplight.
According to the township’s website, more than 70 one- and two-room elementary schools were located in the areas of Bastard and South Burgess, North Crosby, South Crosby and South Elmsley.
Reprinted with permission from The Agrarian magazine (October 2025 issue). Original stories by Bill Murray and Mary McCarty. Shared courtesy of the Elgin and Area Heritage Society.
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