The original 1890 bell that rang at the start and end of school every day has been unearthed and given a new lease of life at Telarah Public School.
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The bell was discovered under one of the school’s older classrooms in time for it to be restored and placed on show for the school’s 125th anniversary celebrations later this year.
Principal Tony Gadd rescued the bell this year from the dust and grime under the classroom.
“It has been cleaned and restored and Maitland Historical Society has been to have a look and confirmed it is an original bell about 150 years old.
“It is also thought that prior to coming to the school it was probably a ship’s bell.”
The bell will ring again for the first time in years for the school’s anniversary on October 13.
After that, it will be placed inside a cabinet and put on display with other memorabilia in the school foyer.
Mr Gadd and anniversary committee chairman and former principal John Quinn encouraged families to send in their stories, photographs and memorabilia from their school days at Telarah.
“In the five years I have been at the school, I realised many Maitland families have a connection to the school.
“It was also the only school in the area which was not inundated by floodwaters in 1955.
“There are generations of families who attended this school and their grandchildren are here now.”
Memories and pictures will be shared online and placed on display.
Telarah Public School opened as Homeville Public School and took in its first students on October 13, 1890.
It became Telarah Public School on February 14, 1950.
The suburb of Homeville was renamed Telarah and so was the school.
The first application for a school was lodged some time earlier by Maitland Coal Mining Company managing director G Hyde operating the Homeville Colliery, which employed men from Homeville and Farley.
A second application was lodged in June 1890, supported by the Methodist Church.
There were 32 families looking for enrolment for 79 children and the application was granted on July 9 that year.
The original one-room school was on the corner of Bligh and Brooks streets (then Bridge and Station streets).
The room was furnished with desks, forms, books, maps, slates, pens and pencils from Branxton Public School.
Frederick Dove was appointed teacher in charge.
School musical about the history of the school and the area – September 15, 16, 17
Student assembly and display of original school bell – October 13
Formal dinner – October 17
Community open day with historical displays and school tours – October 18.