The following is an article written by Maxine McNamara, teacher at the Graded School, 1930's and 1940's. From her collection given to the Northfield Historical Society, date written, unknown. I believe these are her memories from when she was a graded school student.

THE NORTHFIELD GRADED

SCHOOL

THE BELL

"Once it was painted cream yellow with maroon trim. It had a bell tower that housed a BELL that tolled for school to start, recess time and special formation, like when to line up for MEMORIAL DAY MARCH to the cemetery. It was rope pulled and the heavy hemp cord had a hook on wall of the lower floor of the Northfield Graded School. The janitor had complete charge of this bell. No one else touched it, probably because it was so heavy to pull. The janitor rang the bell fifteen minutes before school started and it could be heard for at least a mile in all directions, North, South, East and west. Many a youth could be seen running to get inside the building before the bell rang again, which was called the last bell. If you didn't make the last bell, you would be considered late and remained after school 15 minutes to remind you to start earlier next time. This is a sketch about the Northfield Graded School, now called the gray Building. It was built in 1876.

"I am thinking back when it had just eight grades, 1940- 1955. There was a Teacher Principal, who was paid $75 or $100 extra for being in charge of the building. The Principal was a SHE. She took care of announcements and discipline, if need be. She did not have a degree but was chosen on her prior performance as a teacher and disciplinarian. Each teacher was supposed to take care of her classroom discipline but if she had a difficult boy (girls seldom needed to be reprimanded) she could send the child to the principal who administered punishment.

"There were eight teachers, one for each of the grades and no aides. There was a wonderful freedom throughout the building, as each teacher maintained her own class and supervising. Anytime anyone entered the building they would notice the disciplined quiet that prevailed, as students were busy preparing and reciting their lessons.

"The lower floor had four classrooms, grades one through four and the upper floor grades five through eight. You felt really big, when you were promoted to grades five through eight and you could climb the stairs.

"The janitor, the kids named "Green Cheese". I never knew why. He never talked to the kids. He performed his duties which were routine work. He put the flag up on the pole every morning and took it down around four o'clock in the afternoon, folded it properly and took it into the graded school building and placed it on a radiator and would repeat the same procedure day after day.

"Another of his duties was to have complete charge of ringing the bell which was located in the cupola. The bell would be rope pulled, when it was time for recess. The bell would ring to usher you outdoors for 15 minutes of bliss, with no supervision. Many an argument or fight was settled at this time, when the bell ringing ended the recess period.

"Fire drills were controlled by this bell. There was no warning that a drill was going to take place. No time for putting on your coat or hat. The janitor pulled the bell with great force, scaring everyone. The kids poured out of their classrooms white as sheets heading for the main door of the school. You didn't wait to line up or put your coat on, you just ran as fast as you could. If you stopped or fell over someone, or if someone fell over you, you got up and forced your way into the moving herd and continued out the door and down the walk to the stopping point, which was designated for your grade. With no coat or boots on and sometimes in below zero weather you were glad to march into the building when the janitor tapped the bell that all was clear. He reported immediately how many minutes the fire drill took. I might add it was seconds. It was fun even though you thought you were going to die of a heart attack.

As you drive by the school and look up at the cupola, see if you don't recall some pleasant memories.

*The original old bell was removed from the cupola and relocated to the high school in the '90's. It was returned to the Gray Building after the restoration and is now in storage.