Grey's Mills School House

Grey’s Mills School House – Gray’s Mills

History and Style:

Greys School was known as School District No.10 in the parish of Kingston. The first school in this area opened circa the 1830s or earlier and was in operation in the 1860s. About one mile down the road, there was another early school, in Bradley’s Hollow on the Loyalist Bradley Farm. It is not known when the school began there, but it was operational until the late 1860s or, possibly, 1870-1871. At the time it was replaced by the Grey’s Mill School, built about half a mile further up the road. It is believed that the current building was built in the 1870s after the Common Schools Act of 1871. It operated as a school until 1944, as there were less than six students, and the trustees were unable to find a teacher. Arrangements were then made so that students could be transferred to Long Reach School by van.

Years later after the Grey’s mills school closed, the building was sold to T. Earl Johnston and has been renovated to become a private home. Today it bears no resemblance to a one-room, county schoolhouse. However, for many of whom have moved to far corner of Canada and the United States, memories of frozen slate cloths, green firewood and school yard prank remain as fresh and clear as if it were yesterday.

The teacher in 1902 was Ida Northrup, who received a salary of $130. There were 20 pupils, some of whom were Vera Lyons, Alban Patterson, Dora Bradley, Margret Bradley, Lilian Williams, Lilian Harvey, Fred Beeseley, Charlie Beesely, Velma Bostwick, Agnes Johnston, Lena Williams, Mildred MacDougall, Muriel MacDougall, Laura Williams, Percy Henderson, and Helen Johnston.

-     Doris Calder