HomeMy WebLinkAbout226Article fom the Pickering News, June 26, 1959.
Shown above is caretaker W. C. Willson, winding the school clock which is believed to be
over 100 yrs. old. Mr. Willson belongs to one of four generations of the Willson family that
attended Brougham School. Below are the oldest ex-pupils attending the celebration Mrs. N
Hubbard 78, and Mr. Frank Brown 83.
Over 1000 persons turned out last weekend for the centennial of Brougham public school,
situated on No. 7 highway.
It was a good day, all around, and everyone enjoyed themselves. The afternoon got started
with a parade of floats, made up by various local organizations and merchants.
Dr. N. F. Tomlinson, former teacher was the chief speaker. He told of driving with horse and
cutter when he applied for the job, and how he asked for $400 per year and compromised at
$375.00. He said he taught at the school for over 2 years and never had any trouble with the
board or pupils. Dr. Tomlinson said the little school had produced its quota of doctors,
teachers, engineers and even a poet. He noted that in the past 100 years the school has
been served by 47 teachers.
Inspector A. Archibald paid tribute to Dr. Tomlinson who he said had contributed much to
the community, both as teacher and physician.
Fourteen of the former teachers were on hand and presented with souvenir plates. They
were: Dr. Tomlinson, Miss May Brown, L. R. Pipher, Dorothy Scanlon, Mrs. Ethel
MacWhirter, Roy MacWhirter, Mrs. Jean Knox, Mrs. Fairservice, Mrs. Crozier, Mrs, Isabel
Annis, Mrs Carson, Miss Isabel Greig, J. Bush and Mrs. Harry Jermyn for her husband.
On Sunday a large crowd gathered for the annual memorial and decoration service of
Brougham cemetery Rev. C. E. Fockler, last living minister of the Christian Church was the
special speaker for the day.
Special music was provided by the Whitevale mixed quartette. At the service in St. John's
United Church, Rev. A. E. Cresswell assisted with the service.
The first decoration service at Brougham Union cemetery was held in 1932.
The committees from the school and church are to be congratulated for their untiring work in
making the centennial such a success.
Many former pupils attended the oldest being Mr. Frank Brown of Toronto who is 83 and
Mrs. N. Hubbard of Simcoe who is 78. Coming from a distance were Frank Harvey of
Vancouver, Clare Scott of Montreal, Mrs, Lillian Arlidge of Victoria and Dick Wannop of
Saskatchewan.
One of the highlights of Saturday's centennial was the antique display in the school house.
Robert Miller of Brougham is to be commended for arranging this. There was a great deal
of comment by many of those while viewing the display and afterwards about what a fine
exhibit it was and the work that must have gone into arranging it.
Following the supper there were musical numbers by the band, the Walter Pascoe family
and the quartette. Old type dancing followed in the township hall.