FOCUS - MAY 2017 29 hose were the good old days,’ when Faye Ashton (Asling) and her husband Keith Ashton were kids at the one room schoolhouse in Epsom before the larger, new school was construct- ed on the site. Faye shares childhood memories of being allowed to sleigh on the hill to the north, or skate on a patch of ice to the west, during school lunch hours. Summer fun was play- ing baseball. All the kids walked or rode their bikes to school. There were no buses or yard supervisors! Keith started school in 1943 and he says that the kids had a wild time in the schoolyard playing Red Rover and Crack the Whip, with the little kids on the end, flying around. He recalls riding bicycles over the teeter- totters and even going over the fence to a neighbouring farm to ride the donkey! During the big three-week snow- storm of 1947, Keith says that a horse and sleigh transported the children to school through the fields. “But we walked back home.” He says, “It was only one and a half miles.” There were no snow days! All of the lessons were written on a blackboard and a woodstove pro- vided heat in the winter. Faye has fond memories of her teacher Hilda Bailey, who would organize the chil- dren to perform Christmas programs, put on at Epsom church. They were two hours long! Other students who attended the one room schoolhouse in 1954 will remember when their classrooms were temporarily relocated to the church after a structure fire, allegedly caused by “a big round furnace which sat in front of the entrance door.” But progress was made. A second structure, the brand spanking new four room Epsom school, was offi- cially opened on November 12, 1964, by Dr. M. B. Dymond, the provincial Minister of Health. He was quoted in a newspaper article as saying, “The days of the little red schoolhouse have gone and consolidated areas will soon be everywhere. This is nec- essary to meet the growing demands in the educational field.” The larger new Epsom school facil- ity, built 141 years ago, was considered to be very modern at that time. Here’s a description from the newspaper archives: “The clever use of texture and colour plus an excellent floor plan make it both beautiful and functional. The four classrooms are in the north end. Foyer, offices, washrooms and a kitchenette complete this modern building.” The one-room schoolhouse on the site was retained and it has con- tinued to be used over the years for assemblies and special events. The Ashton/Asling families of Epsom have a long history of connec- tions to Epsom schools. “Our roots are here,” commented Faye, who entered grade one in 1948. Faye’s great grandfather Chester Aslingtaughtattheoneroomschoolin the 1800’s. Her grandparents William and Allie Asling and her father Don Asling all attended school at Epsom. New ModerN sChool BUIlt 141 years ago! ‘ EPSOM SCHOOL: Celebrating decades of memories…. Sunday June 11, 1-6 p.m. ...................... Please turn to page 30 Epsom School in 2017. The original school remains on the property. 1950