Schools Museum

Please Visit Us!

2009-07-07T14:32:00.002-04:00

Our new blog site is up and running (how exciting)! Please visit us at http://schoolsmuseum.wordpress.com.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

2008-08-15T15:42:00.002-04:00

Here's an anecdote from someone who came into the museum today. She commented on the wooden darning tool that we have in our collection:

"My mother Eva didn't have one of these. She used to use an old, broken lightbulb for darning her socks" - C. Bauder

Andrew

A pair of ice skates for Christmas

2008-08-12T08:55:00.002-04:00

One of our recent visitors had this story to tell about his schooldays:

"I went to a small one-room school just north of Belleville, and I can recall one winter it was so cold that a layer of ice had formed on top of all the snow. We could slide half of the way to school, making the two mile trek a little less long"

Andrew

Memories and Reflections

2008-08-07T10:15:00.004-04:00

Part of the goal of this blog is to post interesting stories and memories that visitors who come into the museum share with the staff at the museum. To begin, we have an interesting story from a former teacher at Sydenham High School:

"The first principal at Sydenham High School in 1873 was a woman: Miss Truscott. I'm really impressed by this fact, considering the attitudes towards women at the time." - S. Gammon

There you have it. Keep checking the blog for more interesting tidbits like these.

Andrew

Afternoon Tea - Comments from Our Guests

2008-08-07T10:08:00.004-04:00

Here is what some of our guests had to say about our first ever Afternoon Tea Social:

"Thank you for the delightful old-fashioned afternoon tea. We enjoyed the atmosphere in the old museum, and your friendly hospitality!" - Jim Reynolds

"What a lovely idea to have Tea at a schoolhouse. I thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon here!" - Margaret-Anne Wojcik

"What a delightful afternoon! I love the new music display. The museum is so 'alive,' and on top of that - goodies and tea!" - Carol Rogers

Be sure to come out to the next one!

Andrew

Afternoon Tea at the Schoolhouse

2008-08-06T10:26:00.004-04:00

The Schools Museum is hosting a Tea Social every Wednesday afternoon for the month of August 2008. Come and enjoy a cup of tea and some cake while perusing the collections, or have a conversation with the schoomaster. For more information, give us a call 613-544-9113 or visit the website, www.fcsmuseum.com.

The Writing Centre

2007-09-14T14:50:00.000-04:00

The writing centre was a great experience for the children. They dipped the old fashioned straight pens avidly into the ink bottles. Some actually decided to purchase some for home use.

What a wonderful way to realize some of the difficulties there pals from long ago had to face.

The activity was certainly enjoyed by all.

Frances Cristoveanu

Museum September Hours

2007-08-28T17:40:00.001-04:00

Frontenac County Schools Museum is located at 414 Regent Street in the historic section of Kingston, Ontario called Barriefield. Telephone contact is 613-544-9113.

The visiting hours:

August Tuesday to Saturday 9:00 to 4:00

September to June Monday and Wednesday 9:00 to noon
Thursday afternoon 1:30 to 3:30

Groups by appointment!!

Year-round Museum activities include:
A classroom experience with the "Schoolmistress"

Special Events Heritage Interpretation through viewing and discussing exhibits in the Gallery

Identifying Artifacts used in Pioneer Schools

Enjoying the books used in early school times

Research Facilities

School Groups, interested groups, and individuals interested in school history are welcome to visit. We look forward to your comments.

Photograph Study

2007-08-25T15:01:00.000-04:00

Small groups of students looked at three large photographs -- one of a class from Verona in 1923, a photo from Picadilly in 1903, and a photo of a class from Rideau School in 1915. Our guests chose a student, imagined a name, described the clothing and thought about how the student arrived at school.

they then thought about what was in the friend's lunch and whether or not they had brothers and sisters in the class.

Why wee the students all so sober-looking--no smiles. It probably had to do with the serious business of having your picture taken--a formal activity. Quite different from today!!

Jim Reynolds

Out of Retirement as a Teacher

2007-08-25T14:57:00.000-04:00

(August 23, 2007)

Today I came out of retirement and went back to the classroom. what a pleasure to introduce the 35 young people from the explorer Camp of queen's University to the routine of a 1900's school room. they learned how times have changed.

Grade Eight Entrance Exam - 1904

2007-08-25T14:53:00.000-04:00

A Grade Eight Entrance Exam from 1904 was quite a challenge for a group of young people who visited one of the centres in the museum gallery. They tried one of the questions from the "Drawing" exam and we looked at the Geography question about the winds affecting the climate in India!

The enthusiasm of the students is infectious. There is so much pleasure in chatting with kids about the early 1900's!!

Carol Rogers

A visit to The Schools Museum

2007-08-25T14:36:00.000-04:00

Please come out soon to visit The Frontenac County Schools Museum.

While working here for two weeks, as an "Interpreter" I have learned the value and need for such a museum as this.

For example:

When a school class visits the 1899, classroom comes to life and the students are transported back to an earlier time.

There are many artifacts to examine, books to read, friendly volunteers who are happy to assist you.

Please do come to see us soon.

W. L. Collette

Writing at the Museum

2007-08-22T20:59:00.000-04:00

Have you seen a pen rest like this one?

When you visit the Schools Museum, you will have the opportunity to try your hand at writing with a straight pen and ink. The black iron pen rest holds the straight pens while they dry.

Visiting the Museum and sitting in old style desks!

2007-08-22T20:37:00.000-04:00

This week, several children visited the Schools Museum to explore the wooden desks and trying to find the best place to sit in the class. It appears the single seats are the most loved. One young girl found the slate board and chalk to be fascinating.

Dedicated Volunteers

2007-07-31T10:10:00.000-04:00

Here at the museum we are fortunate to have acquired many faithful volunteers who are not afraid to work hard and tackle unfamiliar tasks. They seem to appreciate the great effort and forethought of the founders when items were collected and the Museum was established in 1979.
However, there is always need and room for another volunteer--or many more. Along with this there is always a project which appeals to individual interests. We are also looking for help to start a Fund Raising Committee. Our goal is to raise $20,000 to help with monthly expenses such as rent, utilities and insurance. If this sort of work appeals to you please contact us at the Museum at 613-544-9113.

Year-round Museum Archives

2007-07-23T21:55:00.000-04:00

The Museum has extensive archives. These are available for research purposes by appointment only.

The Museum is air-conditioned.

Short History of our Museum

2007-07-19T10:05:00.000-04:00

The Frontenac County Schools Museum began as a project to celebrate Kingston's Tercentenary in 1973 (Kingston, Ontario, Canada). a small group of retired educators spent many hours researching schools, photographing sites, collecting books and artifacts, and microfilming hundreds of school records.

In 1977, the Museum Association was formally established and by late 1979 the museum was ready to open to the public in Sydenham Public School in the center of Kingston. In 1993 it relocated to Robert Meek Public School but the school was sold in 2000 and the museum was forced into storage.

In 2006, it moved to its present location in historic Barriefield Village and in December hosted an opening Christmas Tea for members and guests.

Our location now is:

414 Regent Street,
Barriefield, Ontario
Canada
K7K 5R1

613-544-9113

The Gallery

2007-07-17T13:30:00.000-04:00

Experience social and educational life in the pioneer years through the displays of school textbooks, artifacts, memorabilia and photogrphs. you may even identify a great-grandparent!

The Schoolroom

2007-07-17T13:26:00.000-04:00

Bring you family to our schoolroom set in the style of a one-room rural schoolhouse in the 1900 to 1930 era. The desks and artifacts were collected from the schools which at one time dotted the countryside.

Sit at a wooden desk, write on a slate with a slate pencil. Browse through old Ontario readers. Try your skill at some arithmetic fats and problems encountered in the past!

Welcome to the Frontenac County Schools Museum

2007-07-17T13:17:00.000-04:00

Frontenac County Schools Museum is located at 414 Regent Street in the historic section of Kingston, Ontario called Barriefield. Telephone contact is 613-544-9113.

The visiting hours:

July and August Tuesday to Saturday 9:00 to 4:00

September to June Monday and Wednesday 9:00 to noon
Thursday afternoon 1:30 to 3:30

Year-round Museum activities include:
A classroom experience with the "Schoolmistress"

Special Events Heritage Interpretation through viewing and discussing exhibits in the Gallery

Identifying Artifacts used in Pioneer Schools

Enjoying the books used in early school times

Research Facilities

School Groups, interested groups, and individuals interested in school history are welcome to visit. We look forward to your comments.