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"Scugog"s Community Newspaper of Choice" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, October 30, 2001 -11 Former Greenbank teacher has class photos from 1945 to 1949 Here's your chance to grab a little piece of history By Heather McCrae Port Perry Star Calling all students who attended Greenbank Public School from 1945 to 1949... Here's your chance to get a class photo- graph from 'back when' and recapture what school was like in the 40s. Three weeks ago Joyce Howsam (nee Clements) received a surprise visit from Mossom Madill, a former teacher at Greenbank Public School who had taught Mrs. Howsam and her sister, Isabel, at that time. It was Mr. Madill's first teaching job. Born and raised in Gooderham and after graduating from Normal School in Peterborough in 1945, he began his teach- ing career that September in the two- room Greenbank PS, teaching Grades 5 to 8 from 1945 to 1949. Mr. Madill still has the contract from when he was initially hired. "I was hired for the grand sum of $1,200 a year," he recalls. "That was the starting rate of a new teacher back then." Fresh out of Normal School and just 18- years-old, Mr. Madill says he was just four years older than some of his students. At the end of his four-year term his annual salary had increased to $2,000. Although he taught in a rural school, Mr. Madill came to know several of the teach- ers in town. He can recall when Sam Cawker and Roy Cornish came by to pick him up, taking him to a Teacher's Federation meeting in Oshawa. He says those four years teaching in Greenbank were the best. "I don't have any bad memories of Greenbank PS," he says. "They were four of the best years | had in my teaching career." During his tenure in the rural school- house he lived with Elwood and Annie Clements and their family who owned the farm across from the school. "Mrs. Clements was just like anothe mother to me," he says. Mr. Madill recalled the day he was out for lunch and students got into his desk and stole the strap, cutting it into little pieces, and later burying it in the Phoenix' straw mow. How did he ever find out? "Oh, some kids squealed. That was too good a thing to keep secret," he laughs. "And, you know what? I never got anoth- er strap." Winters were harsh, and coal was used to heat the two-room country school. But Ed Till, the custodian, did a great job stoking the fires to keep everyone warm. School trips were an event looked for- ward to. Mr. Madill recalls the day they closed the school and the kids went by bus to the plowing match in Lindsay. Mr. Madill also played hockey on a bush league team and remembers playing the OPEN HOUSE NOVEMBE Mossom Madill and Joyce Howsam display two of the class photographs taken of the students at Greenbank PS. in 1945 and 1949. Mr. Madill taught at the two-room country school during that four-year era, and one of his students was Mrs. Howsam. He has made copies of the class pictures from that era so all former classmates can have one for their own personal archives. Uxbridge Junior Farmers team, as well as another team from Uxbridge as well as squads from Sunderland and Port Perry. After Mr. Madill left Greenbank in 1949, he spent the rest of his teaching career at Etobicoke schools until his retirement in 1984. For many of those years he served as principal. And now he wants all former pupils from that era to have a copy of the class pic- R 9- Pe Until November 18, 2001 save 15% on custom ordered upholstery and leather orders from Decor-Rest, Design Works, Sklar Peppler, Lane and Action Lane. A. - A RETURN TO OUR OLD FASHIONED OPEN HOUSE * Gift with purchase weekdays. * Daily draw for a gift bag of candles $50 retail value visit the shop to enter. * Dozens of our best ever in-store specials. * Enjoy cider and cookies every day during Open House. * Enjoy live musical entertainment Saturdays and Sundays, November 10-11 and 17-18, 2001. Foon oN FRIDAYS Both Fridays during Open House sample Ken's soup, chocolate sauce, citrus drizzler and peanut sauce from our Gourmet Selection. tures that identifies every student. "After | found the photographs | made significant copies for everyone," he says. "These photographs were taken over 50 years ago. Some of these people would be pleased to get them, I feel." Former students who would like copies can call either Joyce Howsam at 905-985- 1059 or her sister, Isabel Somerville, at 905-985-4399. 18 2001 CREATING WITH FLORALS Saturday, November 10, 1-4 pm. A demonstration by Elizabeth, representing our floral supplier. BeautiFy YOurR HOME wiTH CANDLES Saturday, November 17, 1-4 pm. A presentation by our in-store display staff. OUR RELAXATION CORNER * Features new musical selections and candles, ironing water, bath salts and body-wash in soothing lavender. Samples of lotions and incense. STORE HOURS Monday - Thursday and Saturday 9:30 am - 5:30 pm Friday 9:30 am - 9:00 pm Sunday 11:00 am - 5:00 pm Settlement House Shops 183 Queen Street Port Perry, Ontario 905-085-8234 www.settlementhouse.com