Sharon School, S.S.#9, Cramahe Township, located at Lot 17, Con. 3, on the Telephone road was built by James Stimers, on a one acre parcel of land donated to the trustees by William Ives in 1871. Sharon church, built in 1872 on land donated by E.T. Farrow’s father, was placed opposite the school to form the nucleus for community life. From the top of Drury hill, one could view the rolling picturesque landscape with the school, church spire, houses, barns, and Little Lake, nestled in its hollow.

In 1947, A. T. Walker, age 93, looked back some 85 years to contribute information about the school and community to then teacher Muriel McDonald Reddick, who typed a history of the school in an exercise booklet. According to Mr. Walker, Ann Irish, Henrietta Chatterson, Joel Williamson, and Sam Watson were among the first teachers in the early 1870s.

In pioneer days Factory Creek flowing from Little Lake. A blacksmith shop, cheese factory, brick kiln, fulling mill, two saw mills, apple evaporator and a general store flanked the creek. When Ed. Cochrane was a federal member of parliament, he named the settlement Edville. Trustees’ records survive the 1899-1920 period indicating the Miss Bessie Breeze taught at Sharon from September to December 1907, earning $200.00. Chas. R. Gummow assumed the teaching duties from January to June 1909, earning $250.00. Both became renowned educators. In that era, chalk could be purchased for five cents a box from F. E. Marshall’s drugstore in Brighton, foolscap was twenty cents a box from W. F. Griffis, Colborne, and a broom cost thirty cents at Tait’s general store in Castleton. The school bell was purchased for sixteen dollars, and A. Teal earned twenty five dollars for laying shingles and building the belfry. William B. Wright supplied wood at two dollars a cord, F. Pearson painted the porch for One dollar, and Eratus Cooper received thirty seven dollars annually as caretaker. The minutes of the annual school meeting in 1909 were signed by M. L. Drinkwater, chairman, and Cecil F. Gummer, Secretary.

In 1961 following the amalgamation of one room schools, Sharon Stone moved with the Sharon students to South Cramahe school, leaving within its walls 90 years of treasured memories.

by Carol Ring