William Marvel: Old Pine Tree

Around breakfast time on Saturday morning, Jan. 31, 1914, the "splendid" new schoolhouse in Center Conway burned to the ground. It was a suspicious fire, since there was no school that day, but the cause was never determined. The school board had only insured the building for $1,500, much to the indignation of the community. It would not be the last time that board outraged its constituents.

By the autumn of 1915, classes had begun in a solid new building on a concrete foundation. Three of the four rooms were filled with 61 students. During the first six weeks of classes, none of the students missed a day, while there were only three instances of tardiness — perhaps because there used to be consequences for arriving late. The first two grades were under Miss Elsie Wickens, who had begun her teaching career at the ill-fated earlier school in 1912.