The Historic Umpawaug One-Room Schoolhouse Hosts an Annual Education Day

Over 100 third graders from Redding visited the one-room schoolhouse on June 1st, 2023 for Education Day. The schoolhouse was built in 1789 on Umpawaug Road, the same year George Washington was elected as first president of the United States.

Representing the Redding Historical Society, Louise Wagner and Denise Jankovic collaborated with Redding Elementary School teachers and others planning the two day field trip aimed at highlighting our town’s history. Denise, as a former teacher, felt at-ease in front of the one-room classroom on Education Day. Society members Tegan Conlon and Helen Gore aided with student activities.

The past and future are inexorably linked with this historic schoolhouse. The children also toured the Lonetown Farm Museum and Zalmon Read Barn. The Umpawaug school is one of less than 400 such buildings left in the US. There were over 4,000 one-room schools in 1919.

Below is an exchange that took place between the students and Mrs. Jankovic:

”Where did the students put their backpacks?”
No backpacks.

”What if the boys misbehaved?”
Boys would have to sit with the girls.

“What if the girls misbehaved?”
Girls who misbehaved would stand in the corner.

”But there are ONLY FOUR CORNERS!”

RHS respectfully declined to identify the BOY who made that comment!