theday.com – New London and southeastern Connecticut News, Sports, Business, Entertainment and Video – theday.com

North Stonington The Marcia Thompson Schoolhouse will open to the public on Presidents Dayfor an afternoon involving colonial attire, pies, and recognition of the one-room building's namesake.

The schoolhouse, built in 1819 and now situated at 63 Main St., is on the property that Alicia Smith moved to last year.

She and her sister, Marlisa McLaughlin, are utilizing the schoolhouse to carry on the message of literacy from their grandfather Jim Henry, who learned how to read at 91.

"Every time we open the school, which has been twice already, it seems that there's just so much feedback from the public that they want more and more," Smith said. She and McLaughlin thought Presidents' Day would be the perfect time because kids and teachers are off, and for the historical element.

Smith recalls learning a lot about presidents when she was in school, but she feels that has fallen by the wayside.

The schoolhouse will be open from noon to 3 p.m. on Presidents Day, which is Monday, Feb. 17, with a bell-ringing at the beginning and a tribute to Thompson at 2 p.m. Thompson taught in one-room schoolhouses from 1911 to 1950 and then at North Stonington Elementary School.

McLaughlin said she was contacted by some of Thompson's descendants, and they have some photographs they'd like to share.

The sisters plan to have people dressed as George and Martha Washington, in addition to their own period attire, and the pie ladies of the Congregational Church of North Stonington will be selling what McLaughlin said she calls "a No-Lie Cherry Pie, because George Washington didn't lie." Smith said there will be a rock-painting table, as well.

McLaughlin said she also willhave available copies of her grandfather's memoir, "In a Fisherman's Language." She said the plan is to continue to have periodic openings at the schoolhouse after Presidents Day.

More information can be found on the Facebook page Gigi's Magic Schoolhouse, namedfor Smith's granddaughter.

e.moser@theday.com

Read this article:
theday.com - New London and southeastern Connecticut News, Sports, Business, Entertainment and Video - theday.com