Old School Districts
District 1
A wooden structure across the road from what is now Dean’s Way on Rte. 88. It was accidentally burned in 1950 after a half century of disuse.
District 2
On Tuttle Road diagonally across from the Tuttle Road Methodist Church. It became a private residence in 1950, and remains so today. Prior to 1854, District 2 was at the south corner of Harris Road and Tuttle Road - it was moved by oxen.
District 3
Now the location of the Cumberland Historical Society. Original school was a wooden structure across the street from the current #3. It burned and in 1853 the new #3 was built of bricks. In 1952 the 1853 building became the Town Office, then the Police Department and is now the Cumberland Historical Society.
Former student’s description of the school:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnSyeLlCp6Q
Explanation of discipline through the school system:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXlYv_jlLX4
District 4
Shawtown School - now J. Brothers Store
District 5
Gurney School, was moved from its original location at the junction of Skillin Road and Blanchard Road to the westerly side of Skillin Road. It became a private residence, and stood until a few years ago when it burned. The building was used as Brenda Sherwin’s day care until it burned; no picture available.
District 6
Springbrook Farm area
District 7
Brick school house at the corner of Winn Road and Range Road. Built in 1846. (Listed on the National Register of Historic Places)
Excerpt from “Maine: An Encyclopedia”: This 1846 building was a rural district school built by the Town of Cumberland. It is one of only two known surviving one-room, brick, Greek Revival schoolhouses in Maine, the other, also in Cumberland, has been substantially altered. The Winn Road building ceased functioning as a school in the early 20th century.
Little remains of the its original interior, but a sloping floor, allowing a teacher to keep an eye on students, remained in 1983. The building was sold in the late 20th century with a preservation easement requiring maintenance of the facade and prohibiting demolition.
Prior Classes:
What it looks like now:
District 8
Now Chebeague Island Community House
District 9
on Chebeague, no picture available
District 10
Hope Island, no picture available
District 11
Crotch Island – now Cliff Island, no picture available.
District 12
On what is now Blackstrap Road across from West Cumberland Methodist Church Cemetery; no picture available.
District 13
Now a private residence on Bruce Hill Road at the fork in the road with Pleasant Valley Road; no picture available.
District 14
Stave, Bates and Ministerial Islands; no picture available.
District 15
Created in 1838 when Districts 2 and 3 were closed.