Indian Rock Schoolhouse prepares for annual picnic

AMENIA — In the days of the widespread use of one-​room schoolhouses in rural areas before centralized schools, there was one schoolhouse every few miles. The children walked to the nearest school every day.   There were no snow days and very few school vacations.

All students, regardless of age, attended school in the one room … with only one teacher.
Since there was no cafeteria, children brought lunch from home, carried in a lunch box. Water to drink was obtained from the nearest farm in a bucket and shared by all students using a dipper.

End of the year picnic

The end of the school year was marked by the much-​anticipated school picnic, sometimes held in the schoolyard, sometimes at Rudd Pond. The whole family came, bringing a basket of food — homemade bread and jam or cheese was supplemented with fried chicken or sausage. The basket also included vegetables from the home garden, with pies or cookies or an apple for dessert. Everyone brought apple cider since bottled beverages had not been invented.

Indian Rock (called District 7 at the time) had an end-of- the-year picnic right in its school-​yard. Cider to drink was readily available at Morgan’s Cider Mill just next door. Visitors can still see the big red barn that housed the mill, which is no longer operating.

Beginning in 2001, the Webutuck Country Schoolhouse began to hold an annual celebration to celebrate the progress of the restoration. It was held in September rather than the spring and was a party to thank the community for its help with fixing the old schoolhouse.

Schoolhouse Picnic 2016

This year, to mark the 15th year of the schoolhouse picnic, a new flagpole and the National Register historic marker will be dedicated. The schoolhouse association will be thanking community members who have continued their support over the last 15 years.
     Always a favorite, Corey Bush and Friends will fill the air with good old tunes. The pie baking contest, run by Leslie Rohan  and Freshtown and sponsored by the Harlem Valley Chamber of Commerce, will yield delicious pieces of pie; several bake sales by Amenia organizations like the Amenia Historical Society will provide the best in homemade treats. Chicken dinners made by the Amenia Lions Club will be available,  and a free piece of cake will be served by Freshtown.

There have always been interesting learning displays at the annual picnic, the most popular being visits to the schoolhouse. There this year again, Library Director Miriam Devine will read a story to children and adults. Spinning, weaving, stencil making, collecting honey and other crafts will be demonstrated. The Bank of Millbrook will have money games for old and young

Other important attendees will include the Amenia Fire Company and the Wassaic Fire Department.
     Cheryl’s Critters will provide everyone, especially children, with animal fun. Ken Hale will welcome all “farmers” to his now-​famous potato garden to experience digging real potatoes.

What’s new at the 

schoolhouse this year?

Picnic attendees will be delighted with the new “Conversation Circle,” a circle of real logs on end, arranged  around a fire pit. For use as a story-​telling venue or as a great site for music and singing, the new installation was made possible by a grant from Northwest Lawn and Landscaping.

The new flagpole in the front of the schoolhouse was constructed and installed by Julian Strauss, DVM. It is a gift from friends in the “After-School Boys’ Club.”   

The old garden under the first two trees planted in the schoolyard on Arbor Day years ago has been remade in memory of  Debbie Downey, a board member who passed away this year. The re-​design of this area was also donated by Northwest Lawn & Landscaping.

Special displays by the Artists of the Harlem Valley will include demonstrations of easy home art projects as well as a demonstration of spinning. The artists will be displaying their paintings and greeting cards, which will be for sale.

The giant raffle, most popular with everyone, is a great  example of the community’s generosity. The variety and value of the prizes shows how businesses and individuals get involved with fundraising for community educational and historical projects at Indian Rock.

The picnic will be on Saturday, Sept. 17, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.. For details, go to
www.indianrockschool.org.

Ann Linden is a Indian Rock Schoolhouse board member. Glen White is president of the board.