The Raymond-Casco Historical Society held its annual open house during Casco Days at the 1849 Friends Schoolhouse. It is the one day of the year that visitors can see what the schoolhouse looked like on the inside, and actors wear period garb.
Members dressed in costume of that era to lend an atmosphere to the occasion. Holly Ihloff and Anne Miller served as teachers for the day. Homeschoolers from Casco Theo Dean, 7, Ansell Critchfield, 9, and Sarah Vincent, 6, of New Jersey, pretended they were in school in 1849.
Among the many Casco Days visitors to the school was a New York fashionable lady of 1890 complete with sunshade to ward off the sun. Visiting children were interested to know that children in those days attended this school for eight years.
Back when the Casco school was operating, the youngest ones sat in the front row, the eldest children sat in the back. The boys were responsible for bringing in the wood for the stove and fetching water from the well. One metal cup was used for all the children to drink from.
Holly Ihloff showed visitors a few of the society’s vintage clothing collection. Many were impressed by the fine needlework used in making clothing. Many stories were told by 81-year-old Emma Tenney, of Windham, and her younger brother, 71-year-old Marshall, of Westbrook. Marshall wore the costume of a Casco gentleman of 1869. As children they actually attended this school when it was on its original site on Quaker Ridge. It was moved to its present home in Casco in the early 1970s.
Casco Days visitors to the schoolhouse enjoyed a close-up inspection of Phil Cole’s collection of 100-year-old engines. One engine was used to make soda water in the old Casco Inn. Cole has lovingly taken care of these ancient mechanical workhorses for many of his 88 years. He says that keeping them in running order is quite a challenge. Phil has had his engines in the Casco Days Parade since its beginning in 1935.
On hand throughout the day at the schoolhouse to answer questions were historical society members Joseph Webber, president; Carmen Lone, secretary; Frank Veirling; Adam Grant and Cole.
The next society meeting will be a pot-luck picnic on Hacker Hill, Casco on Monday, Aug. 21 at 6 p.m. If raining, it will be held at the Raymond Safety Building on Route 302.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
