HARROLD SCHOOL #8

The School Bell Once Again Announces the Start of Class

Harrold School No. 8

As you drive down Baltzer Meyer Pike, you may see school children dressed in costumes of the 1800s marching into Harrold School #8. It is not your imagination. It is part of a unit of study featuring history and literature about life in the 1800s implemented by the Hempfield Area School District.

"Schoolmarm" Donna Eicher greets her class of third graders. The period clothes the children are wearing were made by students in the family and consumer science department at Hempfield Area High Schools.

Baltzter Meyer Historical Society acquired the historic schoolhouse in 1996, and began renovating the building that same year. It has long been their goal to restore the building so that it could function as a museum, as well as a place for contemporary students to peek into the past.

In keeping with that goal, BMHS has rented the schoolhouse to the school district to aid in their program of demonstrating what it was like to attend school in a one-room schoolhouse in the 1880s. The building served as a schoolhouse from 1881 until 1928.

During April and May, each of the twenty-three third-grade classes in the school district's six elementary schools will spend a full-day at the schoolhouse. The district has retained retired Hempfield teacher Donna Eicher to serve as schoolmarm. The students' regular teachers accompany them to class.

The Pledge of Allegience starts the day, and it is followed by such classroom activities as:

• a spelling bee
• reading from McGuffey Readers
• history lesson
• math studies
• paper folding

A poem emphasizing good behavior and attitude is prominent on the front blackboard.

During lunch break, the students eat paper-bag lunches and recreate outdoors, weather permitting.

Modern restroom facilities are located in a separate building behind the school.

Click here to see more pictures from A Day at Harrold School No. 8.

Many thanks to all who made this dream a reality.