CHRONOLOGY OF THE NORTH WAYNE SCHOOLHOUSE PRESERVATION PROJECT
1962 North Wayne School closes, completing 108 years of service to community.
1970s The Triangle Club, a social and service organization with members from Wayne, Readfield, and Kents Hill, occupies unused schoolhouse building. The coat closet is converted to a kitchen, and running water is added, as well as a bathroom with a chemical toilet (in old broom closet near entry on right). A rear door on the first floor is put in, possibly for evacuation purposes or for the accommodation of supplies. An additional doorway to the classroom from the right entry is created.
Late 1970s—1980s The Wayne Grange moves from its central location by the millstream to the old schoolhouse. (The village Grange building is dismantled.) The organization installs a large oil furnace in the front entrance space. Large aluminum ducts carry hot air to the first floor. Selectmen donate the school bell to a church in the Greenville area and remove the belfry.
Early 1996-97 With diminishing membership, the Grange disbands, and the State Grange closes the building. Its future is uncertain. However, during the early 1990s while the nearby North Wayne Church (1851) is being restored, many members become interested in the possible restoration of the schoolhouse too. With the demonstrated interest of citizens, the Town of Wayne asks the State Grange to sell the building to the town for one dollar. The purchase is approved by the town and sets the stage for interested individuals to propose a future use for the building.
1998 During the Wayne Bicentennial celebration in August, interested citizens conduct a public tour of the schoolhouse with inside exhibits of school pictures and memorabilia. (The historic hand-painted stage curtain from the school is displayed at the North Wayne Church during the tour.) Students in the fourth grade at the Wayne Grade School had studied the school during the previous year and with the help of Paul Gould and others construct a large table model of North Wayne Village and the North Wayne Tool Company. A well-publicized reunion of former pupils of the school attracts 30-40 students. This event spurs growing interest in the preservation of the building. (Ry and Laura Criss spearhead efforts to repair all the windows in the building and to have the outside of the building painted before the event.)
2005 Formation of the North Wayne Schoolhouse Preservation Steering Committee in January: Chair, Linda McKee; Members, Lois Ault, Betsy Bowen, Mary Farnham, Audrey Goucher, Bob McKee, Bob Stephenson, and Joan Stiehler. Board of Selectmen approve and officially appoint the committee in fall 2005.
2005 Initial committee efforts are numerous: meetings with Maine Historic Preservation Commission, introductions to the National Historic Register process, a general physical assessment of the building, beginning of collection of oral narratives of former students, cleanup of poison ivy around building, cleanup of cellar (removal of old furnace, toilets, boards, debris), general cleanup of interior, removal of massive oil furnace in entry area, removal of kitchen in coat closet. Plans begin for a major fund-raiser to prepare for the stabilization of the foundation. At the annual town meeting, the town votes to appropriate $6000 toward the project. The first fund-raising campaign begins in November and a campaign brochure and solicitation letters are sent out to approximately 400 households. Charles Barker Company of Leeds completes foundation work for $10,000 (interior cement retaining wall constructed to hold massive granite foundation).
2006 Fund-raising campaign raises approximately $12,000. (In-kind donation of six original Grange tables is made to the project, and two sold for $400 each. Four are still available.) Plans for a new roof begin, and bids are solicited. A large tarp is put in place to protect the leaky roof for the winter. Dave Harriman completes the roof in mid-July for $9500. Town appropriates an additional $10,000 at town meeting in June. A Department of Environmental Protection representative for the Lead-Smart program assesses both the interior and exterior condition of the schoolhouse and determines the locations and presence of lead-based paint in preparation for repainting in 2007. Also, a representative of the State Fire Marshall’s Office, Steve Dodge completes an assessment of the building for fire safety and makes recommendations for the project. Chimney assessment is also completed in preparation for the exploration of heating possibilities. Dense shade trees along the western side of the building that were blocking light to the building are felled by a local forest products logger and removed by a volunteer. An advisory group from Maranacook Community School spends a morning at the school cleaning windows and removing debris. A group of men, led by Eric Morrill, begins jacking the building and installs an I-beam for support. Deric Tripp, a local contractor, agrees to assess costs for the restoration of the bell-tower. A search of the Greenville area (open letter sent to the Moosehead Messenger) and a long series of telephone calls are conducted to locate the old school bell that was given to “a church in the Greenville area” when the school closed. (No success as of this date.) A group of women volunteers strips wallpaper from the upstairs room, and Eric Morrill begins to re-plaster the room, using the robin egg’s blue that is the original color. CMP comes out and does an electrical assessment and informs us of our requirements for electricity. A licensed electrician then is hired to install the basic electrical service and minimum access. Four oral interviews with former students are conducted. Town Reports from late 1870s to 1962 are reviewed for changes made to the North Wayne School over the years as well as other information, in preparation for an application for the National Historic Register.
2007 Windows for cellar window replacement are purchased. New framing will be built at time of installment by volunteers. The remainder of electrical work will be completed by Skip Strong, a local licensed electrician, and two volunteer assistants.
2007 At our March meeting of the Steering Committee, the group plans the following efforts (italics indicate projects not yet completed)
* Scraping of building (lead abatement) in preparation for Central Maine Pre-Release to paint exterior. (Eric Morrill will submit bid for work.)
*Completion of downstairs classroom painting, including repair/painting of windows
*Purchase of paint and supplies for Pre-Release Center painting of exterior
* Ditching around the building (seeking volunteers)
* Repair of left front corner of building
* Completion of jacking (need a more powerful jack)
*Concrete or granite foundation for the iron escape ladder from 2nd floor (already inspected and deemed safe by State Fire Marshall’s officer, Steve Dodge)
* Installation of basement windows (purchased—will be installed by volunteer)
* Interior painting (volunteers)
* Reconstruction of the entry area (contractual work plus volunteers)
* Rebuilding/redesigning (?) of basement stairs (volunteer)
* Installation of a furnace or other heat source to provide heat to the building during the spring and fall (now seeking bids)
* Dismantling of the downstairs bathroom (volunteers)
* Reconstruction of the coat closet and the restoration of the coat closet window (volunteers)
* Purchase of crushed stone to cover the cellar floor (unloading by volunteers)
* Construction of new front steps and stair railing at left and right entry doors at front
* Painting of exterior of building by Central Maine Pre-Release prisoners in Hallowell
* Purchase of a school bell similar to one lost (searching e-Bay and in-state antique dealers)
* Installation of belfry tower (bids to be solicited)
* New right front door (volunteer)
* Restoration of the stage curtain to the renovated stage (Stage curtain has been in storage for last 40 years; is in excellent shape)
* Moving of piano into the school
*Location of old desks and chairs for the classroom as well as old schoolhouse globes for the upstairs light (partially completed)
* Construction of outdoor bathroom facility by Central Maine Pre-Release (materials provided by project)
*Plaque listing all donors
*Outside plaque on schoolhouse with name of school and years of service to community
*Flagpole and flag
*Outside swing set (donated, not yet installed)
*Outdoor sign on road for school
* Accessibility Ramp at rear of school (contracted/completed)
July 2007 – Eight prisoners from the Central Maine Pre-Release Center, along with a guard, donate a week and a half to painting the exterior of the building. Volunteers from the Steering Committee provide lunch each day and enjoyed getting to know these generous volunteers. They do a spectacular job, and we are grateful for this program that assists communities in public projects.
August 2007 – First Open Doors weekend held in early August. Featured are tours of the building by guides who share the school’s history, a display of historical photos and mementoes, and a documentary film by Cathy Cook of interviews conducted with former students. (This DVD is available at the Wayne Library.)
September 2007 – Students of Steve Saunders’ advisory group at Maranacook Community School volunteer a day of community service at the school, painting windows, cleaning up the grounds, and assisting with repairs. The group is featured in a photographic essay in the Kennebec Journal following their service. We also launch our second general appeal for contributions during the late summer that is successful.
2008 Coming Events
~Meeting of Steering Committee June 1, Plumgood Farm, 201 Walton Rd., Wayne. Anyone interested is invited to attend and participate. Linda McKee, 685-4385
~Open Door weekends in July and August (dates to follow). Come and tour the building to see what we have done!
~ Help us plan for the summer and for school programming for the school year 2008-2009 at our June 1 meeting!
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