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Rockland Township’s Famous School Bell

Because of its historical importance as the first bell over a rural consolidated central school in Pennsylvania and the second one in the whole United States, the bell was saved along with its cupola when the old school was demolished in 1968.

The school directors who had the foresight to consider a consolidated school were President John Crum Lusher, H.P. Mays, J. H. Schreffler, F. L. Borland and James Potter. The structure was built in 1915 by Joseph E. Ludwig, a contractor from Oil City. A horse was used to pull the pallet of bricks up to the second and third floors. Since many of the students rode to school on horseback, a barn was built next to the school where horses could be stabled during class hours.

H. V. Linn was the first principal in the new consolidated school and taught there for two years for a salary of approximately $90 a month.

The old bell was dedicated in 1977 and presently resides in front of the Rockland Elementary School. Miss Edna Potter, a retired Rockland school teacher discussed her memories of attending schools in the area. She attended Collingwood School in second, third and fourth grades. She remembered getting water from a spring across the road in a bucket with a tin dipper. During classes she had spelling bees and recitations; oral reading from Baldwin and Bender; math and mental arithmetic; diagrammed in grammar and studied history and geography. Then there was talk of the new central school and how there would be only two grades to a room rather than 8 and children would be transported. This was built and a new bell was purchased and Willis Lusher transported it from Kennerdell with his team. In 1950 times changed and the high school went to Emlenton and the elementary grades continued on here. In 1954 the school area joined the Cranberry Township School District and in 1960 a new school was built. In 1968 the old building was torn down.

Transcribed by Penny Haylett Minnick
minnick862@verizon.net

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