Newtown Historical Society will present "Voices From the One-Room Schoolhouse: A Community Storytelling Event" on Saturday, September 26, from 1-2:30 pm. It will be held at Middle Gate Elementary School, 7 Cold Spring Road.

The event is free, however, donations are encouraged.

In the 1940s, several one room schoolhouses were reopened due to overcrowding. Attendees will get a chance to meet three alumni of these schoolhouses, Evelyn “Evie” Watts, Margaret “Peg” Forbell, and Gloria Ricco, and get a chance to ask them about their experiences. Additional panelists may be added as the event approaches.

People should come with questions, as plenty of time will be allotted for public interaction, and are encouraged to bring their children or grandchildren so they can experience this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

There will also be a short "Then and Now" slideshow, which will showcase many of Newtown's one-room schoolhouses, along with an introduction from Town Historian Ben Cruson, who will discuss the background surrounding the reopening of the schoolhouses.

The topic is of high significance to Newtown Historical Society, as one of the two buildings it owns in town is The Little Red Schoolhouse, located on the grounds of Middle Gate School. The one-room schoolhouse dates back to 1850 and served the former Bear Hills School District. It originally stood on the north side of Toll Gate Hill, near the Newtown-Monroe town line.

The historical society was given The Little Red Schoolhouse in 1973, under the provision that it be moved from its original site. It was then relocated to the front lawn of Middle Gate School, where it still stands today. Newtown Historical Society has owned and maintained the building ever since.

For more information on Newtown Historical Society, visit newtownhistory.org.