One room, but many lessons

By Gloria Schmidt

PORTSMOUTH — What was it like to go to a one-room school in Portsmouth?

When the new Fort Butts School (now part of Portsmouth High School) was dedicated in 1961, Chester Carr, chairman of the Fort Butts Building Committee, shared his memories of going to Vaucluse School around 1900.

In those days, there was no danger of water freezing, as there was no plumbing. For drinking water, there was a bucket and one dipper. There were two small buildings behind the school. One would be for an outhouse and the other a coal and wood shed for heating the building.

One room accommodated the pupil, whatever their grade. Mr. Carr’s memories reflect those of other Portsmouth residents who were interviewed by my students at the former Elmhurst School. My students were horrified at th