Gunning & District Historical Society

 On the site of Chain of Ponds School. (l-r) author Garry Smith, GDHS archivist Keith Brown, Harold Hazell & Lyn Polsen (nee Hazell) This article is by guest blogger and Alchin family chronicler Garry Smith When the Chain of Ponds School burned down in October 1916 only the stone chimney and the water tank were left standing. The children still in attendance in that year were transferred to Lade Vale School. Among the many local names in attendance at the school during its history were Alchin, Hinds, King, Robinson, Waters, Bayley, Hately and Hazell; I am related to some of these families. Among the recent visitors to the site of the long gone school was Harold Hazell and his daughter Lyn Polsen (nee Hazell). Although I was there to represent the Alchin family, it is noteworthy that Harold’s grandmother, Mary Jane Hazell (nee Alchin) (1875-1941) was my great aunt. She was the daughter of Charles Alchin (1837-1908) and Mary Alchin (nee Stear) (1843-1897) – my grea...

A Young Albert Noah Alchin (1870-1913) at about the time he began teaching (From the collection of Debbie Longhurst). Article by Garry Norman Smith My great uncle, Albert Noah Alchin is, so far, the only teacher (my own profession) I have found in my direct family line. He was born in 1870 at Araluen near Braidwood, New South Wales, the eldest child of Charles Alchin (1837-1908) and Mary Alchin (nee Stear) (1843-1897). Charles and Mary were the great, great grandparents of the author. As an eight-year-old in 1878 Albert attended the Chain of Ponds Public School, along with his siblings Percy and Martha; his cousins John, Sidney, Alfred and Margaret also attended at that time. At the age of 21 years, Albert entered the teaching profession. In 1892, while living with his parents at Pine Range, Gunning, he was “instructed to take temporary charge” of the Khalangan School near Burrowa from Miss Jeannie Yabsley.  Teacher’s Roll for Albert Noah Alchin 1892-1908. State Ar...

Telegram from Teacher, Lionel Barber, Announcing the Destruction of the Chain of Ponds School 1916 State Archives and Records NSW – NRS 3829, School Files 5/15362.1, Chain of Ponds School By Garry Norman Smith At four o’clock on a Friday morning in October 1916 the Chain of Ponds Provisional School was destroyed by fire. According to the records uncovered at the State Archives and Records NSW, “There is nothing left intact but the tank and the chimney”. The school building was not insured but the teacher’s residence was covered; the residence was not damaged. Mr Lionel Barber, teacher at the school, sent a telegram from Gunning to the Chief Inspector, Mr Dawson, to inform him that the school had been destroyed and that the matter was in the hands of the police. As it turned out there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the fire. Lionel Barber received permission to sell off the furnishings, the school’s “very choice cow”, “in full milk” and the sulky “in splen...

Lawson Methodist Sunday School Picnic, 26th January 1914. Photo from Blue Mountains Local Studies / CC BY-SA 2.0   The long anticipated picnic of the Chain of Ponds Public School came off last Saturday, and was very successful. The youngsters assembled at half-past nine, and marched a short distance from the school into a corner of Mr. Hinds' paddock. On entering the gate they received sufficient sweets to allay their expectant appetites. They then began their day's sport, which was kept up vigorously by the promoters until dinner-time. The prizes in all cases being strongly contested for, delighted the spectators, and there soon began to appear on the scene a vast crowd of people, who, coming from all parts round about, kept increasing in number as the day advanced. The spread which was prepared by the mothers - was laid in the old schoolroom, which was tastefully decorated for the occasion. The treat was all that could be desired; cakes of all descriptions,...