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Texada Island Heritage Society Texada Island Heritage Society School Room - Teacherage Display Location: Texada Island Museum
“May I please go in there?”
The elderly lady walked directly between the rows
of empty wooden desks to the teacher’s desk at the front of the class and
sat down. Her smile told all.
She had travelled back in her mind to the scene of her first
teaching position in a remote one-room school. “It was a precious moment,” said Doug Paton, Texada
Museum curator, who was showing the retired teacher the museum’s latest
exhibit - a replica of a historic school classroom with attached
teacherage. Creator and designer Brenda Rairie had hoped to
evoke the feeling of going to school on Texada Island around 100 years
ago. She succeeded. “I was excited to do this project as I have five
generations of teachers in my family,” she said. Brenda’s craftsman husband, Dave, went right to
work. Two museum storage areas
were emptied, stripped down and renovated using local cedar to reproduce
the traditional wainscotting along the lower walls.
The prominent Union Jack now hangs above the
blackboard, the woodstove warms the corner and rows of wooden flip-seat
desks occupy the centre. “I had the floor plan worked out on graph paper but
the teacher’s desk was just too big,” said Brenda.
Her problem was solved when museum director Pete Stiles arrived
with his late wife, Monica’s, smaller writing desk. “It was just perfect.
It was the final piece of the puzzle.” Next to the classroom is the teacherage exhibit, a
tribute to Miss Emily Raper who taught the first classes in Van Anda in
1898. Simon, the cat, almost seems to purr as he naps on
the crocheted bedspread. Many
find it hard to believe that he isn’t real. The apple pie on the wood cookstove and pot of tea
on the small table are an invitation to visit.
On the other hand the wash basin, jug and below-bed chamber pot
remind us of the lack of modern conveniences in those days. The students of Texada Elementary were the first to
see the new exhibit. “I’m
surprised they could make it so realistic,” remarked 12-year old Ocean. Photographer Lorrie Pirart arranged the children in
the vintage desks. Dressed in
period costumes, they were excited to help bring the scene to life. “It was pretty inspiring,” said Jeremy, 11. Senior museum director Pete Stiles laughingly
commented, “It’s hard to believe that at one time I used to fit into one
of those desks!” Peter Lock for Powell River Living Magazine March 2019 ................................................................................................ Photos of the display
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Island Heritage
Society - Copyright
2019 |
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