N.C. Watson School Re-Awakening
The N. C. Watson School in Buxton Center started out in Chicopee. It was built in 1900 to replace a brick school house that was falling into disrepair. Naaman C. Watson, the school’s namesake, was born in 1804 in Gorham, Maine. As a young man he graduated from Gorham Academy and taught school during the winter months and worked on the family farm the remainder of the year. At the age of 54, he bought 100 acres of land in North Buxton and farmed until he died at the age of 82 in 1886. At the time the new school was being built in 1900, Mr. Watson’s surviving daughter, Tabitha, offered to make a substantial amount of money to the Town of Buxton if the new school was named after her father, N. C. Watson.
The school was used until 1942 when the building was transferred by the Town to the Chicopee Fire Department. The building was used for various things until it, too, fell into disrepair. The Fire Department no longer wanted it and planned to burn it down. In 1999, Louis H. Emery, one of the founders of the Historical Society, presented a program on one room school houses. At this time the N. C. Watson School was one of the last remaining one room schools in Buxton. After his presentation, the idea to save the building was born. Under Mr. Emery’s leadership, the building was donated to the Buxton Hollis Historical Society in 2000 by the Chicopee Fire Department with the stipulation that the building be moved. A BHHS committee was formed, and after much planning, substantial business and private donations and many volunteer hours, the old school was relocated to its present location in Buxton Center on the Groveville Road, next to the Buxton Centre Church on land donated by Anthony Taylor. The Society maintains and operates the school as a living museum of a 1900’s era one room school house. Many photos, as well as information about the building’s historic relocation, are housed in the school.
After limited activity for the past few years, the N. C. Watson One Room School House Committee is beginning a re-awakening. Spring of 2018 saw a great deal of cleaning and polishing going on. A new flag was bought and proudly flies on days the building is open. Buxton Girl Scout Troop #1752 has spent significant time and effort cleaning the property behind the school and sprucing up the front yard as well.
We have several more projects that require volunteer time. If you are interested, please call BHHS at 207-929-1684 to leave a message. Our hours until the end of October are the 2nd and 4th Saturdays from 1- 4 p.m. We may have extended hours when the Buxton Centre Baptist Church begins their Bean Supper season. Watch for our Open Sign!
Vicki Walker, Chair
N.C. Watson School One Room School Committee