By: Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press
Members of Heritage Colchester – which is leasing the Colchester Schoolhouse from the Town of Essex and actively working to restore the building to its original state – had a wonderful year in 2025.
President Monica Carruthers relayed this message to members of Essex Council at the January 12 meeting.
Every year, this group presents a progress report to Essex Council as a way to communicate its work on the schoolhouse and engage Council and the community on the project.
Her presentation highlighted that in the spring of last year, members participated in the annual bird count, which has members record the number of Chimney Swifts – a species listed as being threatened – they see.
“We had a wonderful turnout of counters, and we had a great turnout of birds,” Carruthers told members of Essex Council. Members will continue to do so as part of their agreement. “It’s our pleasure to do that.”
In answering Councillor Kim Verbeek’s question on how they host such an operation, Carruthers said members gather at dusk at the schoolhouse for five evenings in May and June. She said the whole province counts birds on the same night. Counters use clickers to keep tally.
“We had 108 on our biggest night. That’s very challenging. We had a video running on that, because some of them [were] going multiples at a time. It’s very exciting, actually,” Carruthers added.
Anyone wishing to help out is urged to connect with the group in May to learn how they can get involved.
In terms of updates to the actual schoolhouse structure, Carruthers said a fresh layer of paint was added last year, in addition to repairs to the doors and the mailbox.
“We really thank the Town for putting in our temporary heat that we have in the building. It is keeping our humidity down,” Carruthers explained, noting that was part of the plan in preserving the building and stopping degradation.
As a fundraiser, and to bring people out to not only the schoolhouse but the Colchester Beach area, Heritage Colchester hosts its summer monthly markets. They are looking to continue this summer tradition during the warmer months of 2026, and are inviting more partners to come out and host a booth to connect with the community.
Over 1000 individuals visited the four markets held last summer.
Heritage Colchester will also continue with its summer theatre program, selling 170 tickets last year.
Members will help Christ Church, located across the street, for its pancake supper in February.
She thanked Council for its ongoing support.
“It is our pleasure to work on the schoolhouse,” she said, adding that members are also looking forward to participating in this year’s Jane’s Walk. They will also host many education sessions within the community regarding the schoolhouse.
Verbeek and Councillor Jason Matyi thanked Heritage Colchester for what members do. Matyi added additional thanks for “bringing light back into that area,” in referencing the Colchester Markets in the summer. He noted more and more take advantage of the opportunity every year.
A new feature that visitors to the Colchester Market will notice this coming summer is the addition of the original teacher’s desk and chairs from the building, circa 1930s.
“It’s beautiful, we are grateful to have it,” she said.
Heritage Colchester was formed a few years ago, shortly after a previous Term of Council for the Town of Essex declared 195 Bagot Street – the 1881-built Colchester Schoolhouse – as surplus to the needs of the municipality.
Several discussions surrounding the Colchester Schoolhouse were held at the time as to what to do with the facility.
The current facility was not the first school. The original was built on the same lot in 1856. It was used until the 1960s, and sold as a private residence. The Town purchased this property in August of 2008. Two years later, the Town commenced expropriation of the adjacent property, totalling 1.65 acres. The Town bought the properties with the intention of creating a community centre and park.
In 2016, a previous Council listed the schoolhouse as having heritage value, and designated it in 2021. In 2020, there was the potential to privately develop a site with year-round accommodations. Ultimately, this fell through, with the developers later returning with a different accommodation proposal along County Road 50 instead.
