CUMBERLAND HILL SCHOOL

The Cumberland Hill School, according to the 1880 Atlas, was first located on the property then owned by Peter Johnson. According to the School Visitor’s Report, the school was first opened in 1855. The Report said it was not furnished with proper desks but by 1859 it was stated that the school was comfortable and pretty well desked.

The school was later moved or rebuilt. Although we could not determine or seem to find out for sure which it was, it is known that the school was relocated on the opposite side of the road, on what is now Dundas Farms land.

One of the teachers in Cumberland Hill School was Mrs. Catherine Christian (nee Fitzpatrick) and she related to us a few things she remembered of her teaching days there. She taught the School terms of 1933 and 1934. She recalls it as being a typical one room school with a water fountain in one corner and a common drinking cup for everyone. Mice were a common sight in the old one room schools and Cumberland Hill was no exception. Mrs. Christian recalled one incident of a young scholar by the name of Boyd Livingstone grabbing the leg of his pants and yelling that there was a lizard up his pant leg. He had been to the cellar earlier in the morning at home and he was sure it was a lizard. Apparently this lad was quite mischievous and full of pranks but Mrs. Christian rolled up his pant leg and out ran “sire mouse”. She also had memories of a squirrel getting in the back porch and eating the children’s lunches. She remarked how co— operative the Trustees were and on the interest shown by the parents.

7 Among the notables who received their education of early years at Cumber- land Hill School were: Boyd Livingstone, geologist; Alexander MacLeod, bank manager; Burton Livingstone, bank manager; and Joseph Campbell, politician, along with several teachers.

The last teacher in Cumberland Hill was Pat Campbell, now Mrs. Pat Doucette. She taught the 1946-47 term. Mrs. Doucette composed an “ode” to the old Cumberland Hill School:

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