Our History

1851 Building opens as second schoolhouse in Union, replacing first schoolhouse built in 1842

1885 Children of the school put on a concert to raise funds for a bell; the bell was later dedicated and set on display by the Hon. John Wise, MP, and Ron McNeil, MPP, to commemorate the efforts of the students from 1885 - 1951

1944 A group of young people from the Union area formed a club and organized softball games, box socials (box lunches are auctioned off), house parties, picnics, skating, hockey, etc.; meetings were held in Jim Hindley’s garage; Don Lanning was the first president and Jean McPhail was the first secretary; membership cards were issued for $1

1946 Funds were raised to purchase 5 acres of land for a ball park from Kenneth Russ for $1250; adjacent schoolhouse was purchased as a clubhouse / community hall, to which a stage, kitchen and new entrance were added

1951 Union school closed (students bused to new school in Sparta) for future remodeling as a community centre

1984 The bell from the old school (see photo at left) was mounted outside the hall as a Sports Club bicentennial project; the street was renamed Bell Street

1996 Hosted school reunion, attended by over 250 former teachers and students

Other events over the years:

· Community auctions (cakes, canaries, goats, steers, poultry, farm implements)

· Pot-luck dinners

· Card games

· Bus trips

· Dances, variety shows, flea markets