Patterson's School - The Perth to Kingston Coach

[This is one of a series of articles written by Merrill Weekes for the newspaper Old Autos, starting in April, 2004. The series is written with the collective title of "Model T's to Motor Coaches." This article has been updated from the original to include more information about Patterson School.]

Patterson's school, officially S.S. #5 South Elmsley, was one of ten one room schools in South Elmsley Township. It was situated on Highway #15 about one and a half mile north of the village of Lombardy. It was a typical country school, a frame building with an entrance porch in front and a large wood shed at the rear. A box stove provided enough heat to keep teacher and students reasonably comfortable on cold days.

The enrolment consisted of 40 or more boisterous farm kids in all grades from kindergarten to grade eight. The teacher had to be a special, dedicated individual able to teach all grades and at the same time maintain control in a firm but loving manner. The late Irene Mulville taught at S.S. #5 for many years. The drinking water for the school came from a flowing spring on the Kelly farm. On our way to the school, we would stop by the spring and fill a pail with a secure lid and it hung and swayed on a hook on the back of the cart. In the winter months we rode in a red cutter. Patterson's school was closed and the building sold in 1964 when the new multi room Lombardy school was built. The school property is now a tree covered lot across the highway from the Lombardy Glen Golf Club.

The farm where I grew up was close to two miles from the school, and in the era long before school busses, we walked to and from except when the weather was bad. My cousin Gerald, lived on a farm close by, and transferred from S.S. #6 Lombardy to S.S. #5 Patterson's when in Senor Third class (Grade 6). His Dad, my Uncle Fred, purchased a pony and a two wheeled cart for Gerald to drive to and from school, I had the pleasure of riding along with him. The pony spent the school day in a one horse stable across the highway from the school.

I have many good memories of the "good old school days", but foremost among them was what happened at approximately 8:45 each morning. At that time the Perth to Kingston Colonial Coach Lines passenger and mail bus passed by. In a small boy's eyes it was the most impressive vehicle on the road. Colonial Coach colours were orange with black trim and two spare tires were mounted on the back behind a railing with a canopy overhead. The driver always gave a short toot on the horn and a big wave and I remember the throaty exhaust as it passed by. Ball games in the summer and snowball fights in the winter came to a halt until that beautiful machine passed from sight.

When asked what I planned to do for a living when I grew up, I was always quick to say "I want to be a bus driver". Two months short of my 20th birthday, my dream came true when I was employed by Colonial Coach Lines.

A few questions and a bit of research later determined that the bus that impressed me as it passed by the school was a 1930 or 1931 Model U Yellow Coach built by General Motors. G.M. had acquired the Yellow Bus and Truck Company in the mid 1920's and established the Yellow Coach Division. Following World War Two, the name was changed to General Motors Truck and Coach.

Some kids from greater distances usually had a ride to school. Two cars that stand out in my memory were a 1928 Diana and a 1928 Chev. Landau sedan. The Diana was painted grey and black from the belt line up and had varnished wheels. The rad cap depicted the goddess Diana with her bow and arrow. The Moon Corp. introduced the Diana to compete with the higher priced cars of the time. However, problems with the new model Continentel engine resulted in down-time and customer dissatisfaction. That, combined with a downturn in the economy resulted in the demise of the Moon Corp. The 1928 Chevrolet Landau Sedan stood out from the run of the mill Chevy's of the time. It was painted two tone brown and beige with orange trim. The wheels were the optional 21 inch disc in brown and beige.

My Dad drove a 1927 Model T Tudor that he purchased in 1928 after the introduction of the Model A. It had been the Ford dealer's wif'e's car and was dressed up with most of the available options. He drove it until 1939.

Merrill S. Weekes, May 2004