Historic Umpawaug Schoolhouse: Open house is this Sunday

Thursday, 05 November 2009 12:27

The historic Umpawaug Schoolhouse will be open to the public this Sunday, Nov. 8, from 1 to 3. The event is sponsored by the Redding Historical Society.

Visitors will be able to take a step back in time and see what education in a one-room Redding school was like several generations ago. Children can sit at school desks used by the Class of 1920. All can look through some very old books and enjoy the picture history of the school displayed in photographs. The old wood stove will be providing a warm glow to the school. Refreshments — donuts and hot cider — will be available.

The brick schoolhouse was erected sometime before 1787 and served many Redding youth until its closure in 1939. The schoolhouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1965. Restoration work at the time was lead by Redding natives William Ryder and Herb Bronson. Renowned photographer Edward Steichen also assisted in preservation efforts and viewed the school as a unique photographic subject.

The schoolhouse is located on Umpawaug Road, a quarter mile south of the West Redding Firehouse and not far from the entrance to New Pond Farm.