Owl Vision 2018: Hemlock School
by Tawn Feeney
“I am the School in Hemlock”
1928 – Concrete and bricks rising layer on layer; neighbors marveling at the strong, proud structure in their midst; children excited to have a brand new school; teachers wondering how they will adjust to their new classrooms…
1935 – sounds of the piano from the kindergarten as the teacher plays “Skip to My Loo;” third grade students reciting their times tables in unison; strange smells from the chemistry classroom – today’s experiment; girls by their lockers whispering about the boy who just moved to Hemlock….
1943 – music from band practice in the gymnatorium for the upcoming Memorial Day Parade; boys joking around while they ready for cross-country practice; students from the fourth, seventh and tenth grades and their teachers behind the school planting the Hemlock Victory Garden….
1962 – worried parents wondering if they should send their children to school during the Cuban Missile Crisis; custodians readying the bomb shelter in the basement with food and water for its impending occupation, which, thankfully, never came….
1987 – only five classrooms occupied now with overflow students from another school that didn’t have room for its ninth-graders; sweet smells from the kitchen in the basement, from the cupcakes the Home Ec. Class is baking for their teacher’s birthday…
1990 – Silence. The building is closed…
1998 – I have a new name now. I am the Jack Evans Community Center. I hear artists humming in their studios busy with their creations; footsteps in the hallway as some folks arrive for their appointment in the office upstairs; shouts and laughter from the gymnatorium as the girls play basketball; the sweet sounds of hymns being sung by the church group on Sunday mornings…
2016 – the sounds of Om coming from the yoga studio; dancing and fun in the gym at Halloween with this new group called the Little Lakes Community Association that says they will save me; then… silence again, where have they gone? I am alone.
2017 – the sounds of live music, games, laughter and the smell of wonderful food wafting from my front yard at the Barn Fest; 18 people of different ages, interests and political persuasions all meeting around a table, working to plan my future. I will have a life again…
_____
…and other LLCA Members
LLCA collaborators reflect on time spent, moments shared
Bringing the Hemlock School out of the silence has come about due to the time spent by members of the Little Lakes Community Association. I asked the members to share with the Owl what their time spent has meant. Here is a small glimpse of what some of the LLCA collaborators shared.
Rick Osiecki:
I see the LLCA and the Hemlock School historically as a “Time Capsule”. They will be the mechanics that will bring this area’s history clearly back into view for us all to enjoy. Community is made up of people and it’s their history that adds texture and substance to our connections with each other.
Carol Williams:
All of us (LLCA members) brings human capital of life experiences, some (more or less) expendable time, willingness to keep learning and navigating technological interfaces, eagerness to reshape and retain direct social experiences for ourselves and for this rural region. Persistent and determined must be adjectives ascribed to our Steering Committee.
This rural region in many ways reflects what is NOT sustainable in America…as it is without creative partnerships, positive visions, and relentless desire to rebuild a social fabric/network of living, working, and playing together like small communities once did.
Seeing the smiles on event participants’ faces. Witnessing the joy of memories flood back into the heart of those who have lived in this area a long time when they walk through the building or see an art rendition of the “old Hemlock 15A hamlet”. This one soul especially came to mind as I surveyed, invited, and debated the feasibility much less the worth of the quest to save a community anchor!
We are so eager to share the strengths and untapped potential of this region.” If we keep doing kind, genuine work, the rewards are untold and will reveal themselves in the most unexpected ways.
Melissa Carey:
I am a local Realtor that would love to see growth in this area. I use all the trails and lakes for my own personal use and love the land and connecting with people. I am huge on networking and work with many committees and would love to see everyone working together to improve other people’s knowledge of the opportunities in the area.
Linda Auble:
I have been thinking about what the building means to me and my time involved.
Here is my vision of the future:
A community/ gathering center for just hanging out with friends meeting new friends and expanding my world. I love the time I spend (yes it is alot) but it is worth so much more than words can say. This wonderful old building has so much character and so much potential that I truly believe we will always be able to have something for everyone no matter what they like to do. Some day we will be able to say that because of all our time and effort (gratefully given by all) every single person of all ages and all types will have visited our building. They will come from all around to enjoy what has been and is being created for the people of the little lakes area. So keep watching we have just touched the very tip of the iceberg.
As for me I love meeting and working and playing with all the people involved in the school. You couldn’t find a better blend of personalities and talents if you tried. All that is lacking is more people to join our work. (We promise there will always be a spot where they will fit in perfectly). I also love the fact that whatever talent you have is a talent that we will use. All are welcome to join and contribute to our community.