Gray: Dry Mills Schoolhouse
My visit to Gray, Maine did not live up to its name. The day I stopped by, it was sunny with a gorgeous blue sky. I had the privilege of seeing a special landmark that has a bright future: the Dry Mills Schoolhouse. If you’ve traveled to the Maine Wildlife Park in the past couple of decades, you might have glimpsed this one-room schoolhouse located on the left before the park’s entrance.
The Dry Mills Schoolhouse was built around 1857. It was one of a dozen constructed in the town of Gray; this is the last one standing. The Dry Mills area was located around Dry Pond which is now known as Crystal Lake — a significant name upgrade, if ever there was one! According to The Gray and New Gloucester Register of 1905, one of the local mills, built in 1845 by Joseph Libby, manufactured 450,000 feet of lumber each winter. Saw and grist mills were the main industry in town during this period. Twenty-five men were employed. As they worked, their children — and others in the local area — attended class together. School was in session in this wooden building for just over one hundred years, encompassing several generations.
In 1990, the entire schoolhouse, including its original granite slab foundation, was moved from its busy location on Route 26 to its present — and much quieter — home. Visitors were able to tour the building and see the original blackboard (aka boards painted black!), woodstove, and desks.
However, settling into a new neighborhood sometimes brings unexpected challenges. Over time, some wood-eating beetles found the Dry Mills Schoolhouse to be a desirable snack. They began chomping away at the floor. By 2015, they caused enough damage that the school had to be closed to visitors due to safety concerns.
Happily, repairs are expected to be underway late this summer/early fall with a grand opening intended for Spring 2020. The schoolhouse will literally be “up in the air” as it is lifted about 6 to 8 feet off the ground. New supports will be built underneath. Once it is lowered back down, the inside floor will be reconstructed. As much as possible, the old floor boards will be salvaged. Some of the work required to re-open the doors will be completed by teens in The ExCEL program at the Gray-New Gloucester High School. How appropriate that students will have hands-on involvement in this project. Will they wish they attended a one-room schoolhouse?
Early in the twentieth century, there were over 4,000 one-room schoolhouses in Maine. But don’t assume this chapter in our story is only to be found in the history books. Today, in six of our island communities, classes take place in a one-room school. With remarkably good timing, the Portland Press Herald featured one of these in their Sunday newspaper the day before I wrote this blog post. It tells of a NYC teacher who came to Maine to teach in the Cliff Island school: New York City teacher spends one year in a one-room schoolhouse – on a Maine island.
While the Dry Mills Schoolhouse is currently shuttered, it won’t be long before you can step inside for yourself. Be sure to follow the committee’s Facebook page so you can get the date for the official opening as soon as it is set. My thanks to Sandy Carder, Gray Town Council Chair and Dry Mills Schoolhouse Committee Liaison, for generously giving of her time to show me the building and share its history.
I’m on a mission to visit every town in Maine. Check here to see if I’ve featured yours yet: All The Visits. To learn more about this adventure, see the about page.
