Continuing with the history of the above district, in “Next Stop Galena” the publication of the 175th anniversary of the Township of North Norwich, the only documentation of District #9 (Church Hill) that the researchers were able to uncover was that in 1883 Gilbert Manwarring served as a Trustee, A.W. Church and George A. Church was collector.

Continuing to when the district was known as #20 - Gorton, the photo accompanying this article shows nine children and teacher G. Will Shoales with the following names: front row, left to right: Ethel Davidson, Ella Newman, Harold Newman, and Inez Levisee. Second row, left to right: Francis Newman, James Newman, Alice Newman, Thomas Gorton, Rosabelle Gorton, and Mr. Shoales

In the research that the late historian Nicki Jones documented that the school was erected in approximately 1851 (the deed last week verifies this) and the date of consolidation is not known or the date the school was officially discontinued. But a bit of history about the two Shoales brothers who both taught at Dist. #20. The Shoales boys originally came from Plymouth (Tinker Ridge which runs from County Road #21 directly in a straight line to the intersection of the Owens Road in South Plymouth). The old Shoales homestead still stands on Tinker ridge, one of the last two remaining original structures, the other one being the former Inman homestead which if my memory is correct was built in the early 1800’s. Mrs. Jones later documented that Thomas Newman was the last trustee.