Thomson, Arthur Thomson, David J. Thomson, Elayne Thomson, Russell Thomson, and Adelaide Wood. Wellie Thomas served as secre- tary-treasurer for many years; Ethel Thomson was the last secretary- treasurer, and Heath Chisholm, the last recording secretary. 17

Heath Chisholm, besides being recording secretary, was also a Justice of the Peace. In this eapacit , Heath signed the annual teachers report before it was sent to the Department of Education. A former teacher recalled her first visit to the Chisholm home to present her report to Heath to be signed. The Chisholms owned and operated the community funeral home. Ruby Chisholm, who assisted her husband in the undertaking business, met the teacher at the door and explained she had just finished preparing a deceased community member for viewing and undertook to give the teacher a tour of the funeral parlour, explaining all the steps involved in the process. Ruby, who was very devoted to her profession, did not realize the impact her tour was having on the teacher! The next year, one of the school children was happy to have the time out of class to go to the Funeral Parlour to have the report signed by Mr. Chisholm. The teacher never again had the time or the inclination to deliver the report in person!

There was always a janitor at the North Tryon School.Jim and Nettie Arbing, Norman Wood, Lloyd and Penzie Howatt, Eleanor Tremere, and Blanche and Hillus Cairns all served in this position. They were responsible for chopping the wood and lighting the fires each morning, sweeping the floor each evening, and cleaning the outhouses. The students cleaned the blackboards and carried drinking water from the neighbours until a pump was placed in the school yard. Snow shovelling and grass cutting were unheard of. The woodshed, the outhouses, the pump and a flag pole were all part of the school yard scene. The outhouses disappeared when indoor chemical toilets were installed as part of the school renovations in 1949. The woodhouse remained in the school yard until 1965 when oil stoves were installed. It was then moved across the east line by Boyd MacDonald to be used as a horse barn and later moved to Gerald Dixon’s paddock where it is still used as a horse barn. The pump is still in the school yard and was enclosed in 1977. The first flag pole was in the center of the yard and was supported by guide wires. All school yard activities, including softball, took place around the pole, over and under the wires, until finally a wire let go and the pole fell hitting Ernie Lord on the head! The present flag pole is of the free standing type and was put in place by Lester Perry for the Women’s Institute.

When an addition to the school was being considered at the annual meeting in 1948, concern was expressed by some residents that this addition was unnecessary and would serve no useful purpose but to raise poll taxes. Jim Arbing was opposed to the change and felt that North Tryon did not have enough children for two classrooms and two teachers. In response toJim’ concern, Frances Ives Roberts assured the

147