Schools and Sports to be featured by Historical Society

This old photo is one the oldest known of an Oxford teacher and her students. It shows Mary R. Holbrook with her pupils at the original Oxford Center School, located at the corner of Riggs Street and Academy Road. Miss Holbrook, the daughter of George M. Holbrook of Moose Hill Road, was hired to teach at the school in 1897. The school was replaced in 1898 by the second Oxford Center School, a one room schoolhouse later expanded into two rooms. It stood where the town events sign now stands. The present Oxford School is the third local school building to bear that name.

The photo will be featured when the Oxford Historical Society hosts its 12th annual Peach Festival from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, August 25. The event will be held at the Great Hill United Methodist Church, 225 Great Hill Road, in Seymour.

Homemade shortcake will be served, topped by fresh peaches and Rich Farm peach ice cream plus a choice of beverages. Admission to the festival is $1.

This year's theme is "Oxford Schools and Sports." Over 200 photos of Oxford schools and Oxford sports activities will be on display, including school photos from as early as 1907 and portraits of Center School graduating classes from 1950 to 1978. In addition, graduation photos of Great Oak School students from 1985 to 2008 will be shown, as well as many elementary and middle school class photos. The Society is missing photos of graduating classes from more recent years and would like to borrow them for scanning.

The festival will also feature a few photos of sports teams from the mid-1900's. Pictures of more recent teams are being sought. Persons who have such photos are requested to call Town Historian Dorothy A. DeBisschop at 203-910-4574 to make arrangements to loan them for scanning.

The festival will also showcase displays of the Hale-Coleman Peach Farm that was located on Great Hill and Peach Farm Roads. Raising peaches was once a major enterprise in Seymour and Oxford.

Those seeking additional information may call 203 888-0230.