SCHOOLHOUSE NEWS
News and updates from the Historic Sydenstricker Schoolhouse
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
The Historic Sydenstricker Schoolhouse is open the first Saturday of each month from 10 AM - 2 PM, or by special appointment. Please contact us if you would like to arrange a tour or other activity.
TRIVIA NIGHT WITH MIKE!
Please join us for a fun, educational evening of Trivia with host Mike Loos on Saturday, October 25 at 7pm. Teams of 2-6 players can sign up by sending an email to sharensheehan@yahoo.com with: team name (for example: "The Sheehan family," "The Burke Presbyterian Players," or "The Brainiac Squad"--get creative!) and the number of players expected.
A $25 donation to the school house is suggested per team. Light refreshments will be served and prizes will be awarded to the top team(s). SEPTEMBER 2025 OPEN HOUSE
We had such a special visit with the Lamb Mowers during our September Open House, and appreciated all the folks who stopped by to say "hello" and visit with the sheep. They looked perfectly at home grazing in the school-yard and we will definitely have them back again next year!
For more information about the Lamb Mowers, visit their web-site: www.lambmowers.com/ SANTA'S MERRY MARKET TO RETURN IN DECEMBER
Santa's Merry Makers Market will return to the schoolhouse on December 13th from Noon - 5 PM. Stop by to enjoy crafts, food and more all lovingly created by local vendors, plus a BY DONATION BAKE SALE hosted by the Upper Pohick Community League. Also featuring a Nall's Produce Pop-Up Farm Stand! Santa will make his annual appearance from 1-5 PM with his vintage red pick-up truck! Suggested donation $20 for visits with Santa, with all proceeds benefitting the schoolhouse.
We still have space available for both indoor and outdoor vendors. Please contact us if you are interested in participating! Learn more about HOLIDAYS AT THE SCHOOLHOUSE! EAGLE SCOUT PROJECTS AT THE SCHOOLHOUSE
The Schoolhouse has been the beneficiary of two outstanding Eagle Scout projects so far this year. In May William Sise (from the Church’s Troop 1518) tackled the repair and replacement of the fence rails. He also worked on the Sydenstricker Chapel fence, giving both a new fresh appearance.
In June, Ryan Lavander (also from Troop 1518), took on the challenge of defining the nature trail through the Schoolhouse woods. Using some salvaged leftovers from the split rail fence project and wood chips provided by Murray’s Tree and Landscape Service, Ryan defined a trail that easily leads to the nature plaques installed by Girl Scout Bella Percy several years ago. With the completion of Ryan’s project, the trail can now be easily followed and maintained. If you have not visited the trail please come by and take a relaxing stroll through the woods and use your photos scan function at each station for a wonderful nature experience. |
ANNUAL MEETING OCTOBER 2
Please join us on Thursday, October 2nd at 6:30 PM for our Annual Meeting. We will vote for our 2025-2026 Board of Directors, discuss our upcoming activities and events, and do some program planning for 2026. Learn more about the schoolhouse and the two organizations that call it home, and how you can get involved. All are welcome!
SCHOOLHOUSE FEATURED IN TD BANK MURAL
Make sure to peek through the window of TD Bank on Old Keene Mill Road in West Springfield (or stop in during business hours) to see the Schoolhouse featured in a huge mural on the wall.
We are so proud of this honor, and delighted that we can share our beautiful Little Red Schoolhouse with the entire community. We hope this will bring more attention to the Schoolhouse and the important role it has played in our community for almost a century. HANDS ON HISTORY: THE SCHOOLHOUSE BRINGS THE JAMESTOWN-YORKTOWN EXPERIENCE TO SPRINGFIELD
The Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation will be our guests at the Schoolhouse during our Open House on October 4th, presenting two outstanding, educational hands-on programs: Archaeology Discovery and Science on The James. These hands-on, interactive activities will be interesting and fun for the entire family.
The programs will be presented from 10 am until 2 pm and are open to the public free of charge. Donations will be accepted to defray the costs of these programs and help to maintain the Schoolhouse. SYDENSTRICKER PLANT EXCHANGE "GROWS" IN 2025
We are thrilled to welcome back the Sydenstricker Community Plant Exchange for the third year at the Schoolhouse. The Plant Exchange launched in early May and ran through July, with hundreds and hundreds of plants left at the schoolhouse and adopted by community members for their gardens. The Exchange is open now for the fall season, through early October. We hope you will stop by and share the bounty of your garden with the community... and take something home to grow!
Learn more here: COMMUNITY PLANT EXCHANGE SCHOOLHOUSE FEATURED IN VINTAGE QUILT PROMOTION
We were delighted to have Cardinal Quilt & Textile Trading Company use the schoolhouse for an advertising photo and video shoot of a collection of antique and vintage quilts for their "Schoolhouse Stack" quilt sale.
Visit them on Instagram to see the beautiful quilts and find out how to purchase! https://www.instagram.com/cardinal.quilt.co/?hl=en VISITS BY "TOT" IN MAY
This May saw a couple of activities at the Schoolhouse in partnership with the TOT Preschool at Sydenstricker United Methodist Church. The close association with the Church extends back to the very founding of the Church in 1908, so co-hosting events is always a pleasure.
On May 9 our School Marm, Shirley Edwards (also a past director of the Preschool), held class for the preschoolers that would be moving on to kindergarten for the 2025 – 2026 school year. The class focused on two primary objectives: Introducing the children to what it will be like when they enter kindergarten and giving them a taste of what class in a one-room schoolhouse would have been like for them in 1920’s and 30’s. Later in the month the Preschool invited the Schoolhouse to participate in a community open house. We welcomed some 35 -45 children along with parents and grandparents for a visit, story time and creative play. We look forward to participating in many future activities with the Preschool and Church. |