The School circa 1868
The students in Port Joli were taught school in a room in a private home chosen by residents in each area. The A.F. Church May published date 1888 but probably compiled at least 5-10 years prior show a school building on that spot at the head of St.Catherine’s Road. The building has two stories the lower floor was used to accommodate the community school and the community/temperance hall was upstairs, accessed by a separate outside door.
Temperance halls sprung up all over the province in the 1800’s in Nova Scotia as communities battled the evils of alcoholic drinks.
The entrance door to the upstairs hall still has the original “breathalyzer” hole for meeting goers to blow into. If those inside the meeting could detect alcohol on a person’s breath they were denied entrance.
At the turn of the nineteenth century the upstairs came to be used for a variety of functions from pie aids to community dances. For many there are fond memories of these early times when dances were lit by oil lanterns on walls and music was provided by local people that could play an instrument or whoever showed up that could play music.
St Catherine’s River Road…looking South from the school (the hall), to what was the original Robertson homestead. (MacAdams)..It’s believed to be the early 1900‘s . In the distance children can be seen walking up the road, possibly on their way to school.
Hall Heritage Status and founding of Port Joli Community Association
2011 – A Special Year
2011 marks the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the Port Joli Community Association. The Port Joli School closed in 1961 and students were moved to the Port Mouton Consolidated School. Led by former community members Charlie Kelsey and George Whalley, an Association was formed to take over the building for the use of the Community of Port Joli.
A special celebration will be planned for this along with the 225th Anniversary of the original land grant in 1786 to a group of 22 Loyalists. These were the original permanent European settlers to Port Joli. Of these original families the descendants of John Robertson and Alexander McDonald remain.
The summer of 2011 would be a great time to celebrate this milestone and bring the history of the community to the forefront. Many “summer” residents live on land which was part of one of the original grants. Maps and censuses will reveal who the original men were, where their homes were located, etc. That old cellar on your property has much to tell. The Association is always looking to make copies of old photos from Port Joli. A collection is being maintained for display.
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- School House under renovation
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- Designation Commemoration: Mayor John Leefe and Ada Frank after the unveiling of the plaque
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- Port Joli Registered Heritage Property
