The Class of ’85

School house at Portaupique Mountain. -Heather Dau Collection
It never took long for pioneer communities to establish some kind of school. Even as far-sighted surveyors laid out townships, they allowed for a school and school master, a meeting house and minister.
The first classes were usually held in a family’s home and the curriculum suited the needs of the time. Reading, writing and sums were basic. The Classics were not required but Navigation was, at least in rural Nova Scotia of the 1880s.1
A school house at Portaupique Mountain first appeared in 1885. Mr. J.L. Corbett was the teacher and 107 pupils attended that year.
Among them are these names of Cook scholars:
Clarence Cook |
Charles Cook |
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Sarah Cook |
Beveridge Cook |
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Rebecca Cook |
Leander Cook |
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Annie J. Cook |
Joseph Cook |
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David N. Cook |
Charles H. Cook |
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David Cook |
John Cook |

In September 1914, the large class of Pine Grove School met outside for their class picture. Pine Grove was close to the intersection of Old Gays River Road and Cooks Mill Road. –Cheryl Kellett Collection
Sources:
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