Pequea Valley townlively.com
JULY 19, 2023
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LIX • NO 30
New book highlights local one-room schools BY FRANCINE FULTON
or the past eight years, Leona Baker, president of the Historical Society of Salisbury Township, has spent time interviewing people both in person and over the phone, gathering photos and completing research about local one-room schools. The result of her work is a new book, “How They Learned Their ABC’s.” The book, which features contributions from former teachers and students, will be unveiled at a book launch on Saturday, July 22, from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the annual White Chimneys’ Living History Event. Baker will sign and read from the book in the bridal suite at White Chimneys. There will also be a display of one-room schoolhouse photos at the event, as well as memorabilia. Baker explained that the idea to compose a book about one-room schools came about after the annual Pequea Valley Alumni Association dinner in 2015. At that event, the
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Historical Society of Salisbury Township featured a display about public one-room schools in the Salisbury Township area, which included photos of the schools’ teachers. “Those who saw the display began sharing their memories as they looked at the pictures,” Baker explained in the book’s introduction. “I was intrigued and began asking for interviews. Some people told their friends, and more names entered my notebook.” Baker conducted most of the interviews in people’s homes. Recognizing that some of the interviewees felt uncomfortable with a recorder, she wrote notes by hand. In most cases, she returned to the contributors’ homes to check for accuracy. “I wrote the notes and typed them out and took them back or mailed (the notes) to them,” she explained. “Each time I went, I took a gift of some kind. (Sometimes) they thought about other things to add while they were waiting for me to come back.” See One-room schools pg 2
Historical society members include (from left) Brett Snyder, Leona Baker, Anna Mary Groff, Wanda Smale and Leonard Groff.
First Back to School Extravaganza! planned PEQ
BY ANN MEAD ASH
Backpacks, school supplies, and clothing are available to Pequea Valley School District students at the Back to School Extravaganza!
“Last year, we did a back-to-school supply shop at one of our Lunch & Learns,” said Lisa Eckert, director of early learning with Pequea Valley School District (PVSD). “This year, it has evolved into something bigger and much different.” Eckert and Karla Beiler, director of Pequea Valley elementary advocacy, are currently planning the first Back to School Extravaganza!, which will be held in the gymnatorium at The Factory Ministries, 3293 E. Lincoln Highway, Paradise, on Wednesday, Aug. 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event, which is open to all children in See Extravaganza! pg 5
Freedom Life holds groundbreaking ceremony BY FRANCINE FULTON
Freedom Life Church congregation members and church leadership gathered on June 25 at a vacant property along Route 41 and Zook Road in West Sadsbury Township to officially break ground for a new church facility. The building plans include an auditorium with 630 seats, a gymnasium, an indoor playground, six classrooms, a cafe and meeting spaces. The day began with worship at the church’s current main campus, located at 447 Noble Road in
Christiana. The group then traveled to the new location for the groundbreaking ceremony, which was led by Sam and Michele Masteller, senior pastors. “It’s been the current leadership’s desire to move out to the main highway for many years,” said associate pastor Chad Fisher, project manager. “(The new church) will be more centrally located right on Route 41. Where we are currently is off the beaten path. It’s only a few miles from Route 41, but not many people drive by. There will be thousands of cars driving by, and See Freedom Life Church pg 6
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