Rebuilding the Batteaux Schoolhouse
Peter and Diane Millsap may have bought an empty lot but to them it was so much more. They had big plans to rebuild an old schoolhouse in Batteaux, insistent that it be constructed to the exact dimensions and specifications on the outside, while creating an airy open space on the inside.
The one-room school, Nottawasaga SS 20, served the community from the time it was built in 1893 until the 1960s, when it was closed. The school is located in the hamlet of Batteaux, which is sometimes spelled with an x and sometimes not. The French word for boat, it is pronounced batta by
locals and the moniker is said to have been chosen in reference to the flat bottomed boats that were once used as part of the fur trade and shipping corridor that connected through the railway that once went through there.
The original brick school was torn down in 2019 because an oil tank had corroded and leaked into the soil and the Ministry required the site to be remediated before it could be sold.
Since the early 1990s, the Millsaps said they would take long drives in the area and always found themselves looking at the old schoolhouses that dot the townships, one for every settlement back when there were lots of children in every farmhouse and travelling a great distance to school was not an option.
They were partial to the schoolhouse in Batteaux because the footprint is a bit bigger than some of the others, and it is on a quiet road in a picturesque area. Peter has fond memories of attending Christmas parties and gatherings at the schoolhouse in the 1970s with his parents Dorothy-Ann and Glenn, who were members of the Collingwood and District Square Dance Club. At that time the school was privately owned and rented out as a community dance hall. In the 1980s Peter attended stag-and-does hosted at the venue, which he recalls being pretty rough at that point. Over the years the building had fallen into disrepair and in recent years the school was hidden behind a veil of vegetation, barely visible from Batteaux Road to those who didn’t know to look for it. On their drives they would always see a sign posted out front that read “Private property. Not for sale! No trespassing.”
Then, in the spring of 2019, Diane and their son Adam drove by and saw some activity at the school property. Hopeful, they got in touch with their real estate agent who was able to confirm that the school was going on the market. But it had to be demolished before the deal was finalized, and it was unavoidable because the foundation was compromised, there were structural issues, there were big holes in the roof, and the issue of the oil seepage.
The Millsaps said, their only option was to rebuild.
Using old photos and measurements taken before the demolition, they were able to map out the exact dimensions of the school, paying attention to the spacing of the windows, the design of the doors, and the brickwork.
The said they never wavered from their plan to replicate it because the whole point of moving was that they gravitated toward it because it was a school.
It is very fitting that the two math teachers who have taught at Stayner Collegiate Institute and have recently retired from Collingwood Collegiate Institute now wake up in a school every morning with the bright sun cascading into the main floor bedroom.
The rounded wooden doors, windows and bricks were all carefully procured to be as close to the original as possible, using natural materials that would have been used in the original construction.
“That was the fun part,” said Peter. “Sourcing out all the authentic pieces.”
The only remaining original fixtures are three pendant lights that have been installed above the kitchen island.
Although the school had been stripped of all of the original accoutrement associated with old schools, the Millsaps have been able to collect chalkboards, old sinks, a water fountain, and even lockers for the cloakroom, all of which make it feel very much like a school.
Community members have gifted them with photos, stories and even the odd thing that had been salvaged from the old school over the years, including an ink well, a wooden pencil and yes, the strap. These items are being displayed in ‘the museum’ inside the front door.
The Millsaps say the project has been a source of curiosity for many but once they become aware of the goal to resurrect a part of the past they seem appreciative.
Peter said he is sure that if his parents were alive today they would be pretty happy with what they have done.
The Millsaps have shared their journey on Facebook, search for Batteaux Schoolhouse Rebuild. People are welcome to get in touch through the page to share stories and information.
Hello Diane and Peter
I sent you an email which may have gone to your spam. Please call me at 705-293-0693 or email me at boblu3@yahoo.com. I live in Collingwood. I am a board member of the Collingwood and District Historical Society. I want to speak to you regarding your Schoolhouse Project. I think it would be an interesting topic for the Historical Society .I really want to talk with you. Please call me. Thank you
Mary Lou Dunn