1800’s- The Wheeler School, also known as The District 7 School, was located on a stone lane to the left of Terra Firma Farm , at 340 Al Harvey Road. According to author Grace Denison Wheeler, it was called this because the majority of students were Wheelers who lived within a mile or two of the school. Both Grace and her author father, Judge Richard A. Wheeler, my ancestors, attended there.
In 1826 parents paid 1 cent per pupil to attend school plus $1 per year for building maintenance. The teacher was paid $10.99 a month. In 1844 Cyrus W. Noyes received $53 for teaching there for 4 and a half months. See receipt below.
1860’s– In Grace Wheeler Memories, Grace describes walking three quarters of a mile through the woods to school from her home on Wheeler Road, on a wooded path known as the Wheeler Pentway. This path can still be seen on old town maps. ( I often walked it in the 1950’s below what is now Dawley Drive.)
Grace’s school memories include : carrying her “dinner” in a pail, “coasting” on a hill in the snow at recess across Al Harvey Road, spelling bees and being hit by the teacher with a stick on her arm. School ended at 8th grade. Grace then boarded in Mystic so she could attend Mystic Bridge High School where she graduated in 1877. Here is Grace’s Reward of Merit from the Wheeler School.
1942 – 1990’s- The William Petty family owned the schoolhouse located a little north of their 1800 home, Penny Pitch. They used it for extra house guests and for their 6 children to entertain friends. I was fortunate to be a friend of their daughter, Barbara, and spent many delightful afternoons and “overnights” in the old schoolhouse. I remember the 6 seater outhouse the best!
The land on which the schoolhouse sat was sold in the 1990’s to a neighboring farmer, John Groton, who had no need for the building. However, he realized it was an important part of history. After some research, Groton chose to give the building away but have it stay in the neighborhood.
2005-Present A Post and Beam Company was hired to move the schoolhouse about a mile down the road to 44 Al Harvey Road. The building was taken apart and each piece was labeled. Only about half of the old structure was used in rebuilding the present structure. As of 2005 restoration was not yet completed, but the new owner, a furniture restorer, was still optimistic The Wheeler School would be completed in the not to distant future!! (See picture above)
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Jeannie, This is fabulous! Aren’t you good to keep the memories alive! Keep ’em coming. It was John and Betty Groton on the north of Penny Pitch and Charles and ? Berry to the south (now Terra Firma). best, Barbara
Virginia or Ginny Berry and their farm used to be called Forge Farm.