By:Brian Shappell
It was a cold, cloudy day on Dec. 21, 1944. Until recently, there wasn’t really any historic significance to that fact.
During the final stages of the Old School renovation project, two workers stumbled upon an old blackboard from the World War II era. It had remained hidden behind a pegboard/bulletin board since the 1940s.
On the board was a lesson plan, which never was erased. On the class day in which the writings were done, the Thursday prior to Christmas, it was 30 degrees. Students were learning letters, preparing to have their Christmas party and attend a program to which the upper class had invited them.
The artifact is being looked as a significant, interesting find in the already historic building.
“We thought it was so precious, we wanted to preserve it,” Committeeman Tom Gambino said. “It’s touching to see it. We want it to be there forever.”
Also on the board was a list of classmates, whom members of the school board and Historical Preservation Society are trying to find. The problem, however, is that there are no last names, only the first names — Henrietta, Elizabeth, Lou, Tommy, Irene, Joseph, Susan H., Patti, Susan and Joan.
The board lays out the assigned student’s classroom chore responsibilies, such as milk duty, attendance and blackboard clapping.
“We’re researching who the names on the board are,” said Don Jo Swanagan, a member of the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee. “We want to find out who Henrietta was.”
The blackboard was accidentally discovered when Jimmy Hutchinson and Jim McDaniels from the Scozarri Co. were working in the old court office.
“We pulled down the pegboards and saw all this stuff still written on the board,” Mr. Hutchinson said.
The workers immediately contacted members of the community and the board was covered in plastic to prevent the writing from being altered.
The board will remain in its current location, which is to become the construction office when the Old School reopens as the township hall. The board will be covered with tempered glass and likely will be accompanied by a commemorative plaque.
Mr. Gambino said he hopes that some of the students from the class are found so they can be in attendance for the formal dedication of the building.
“It would be so nice to have them if they’re still around the area,” he said.
