Puslinch Township celebrates 175th anniversary

ABERFOYLE – An old school bell, discovered, saved and restored, has become a symbol for the history of Puslinch as the township celebrated its 175th anniversary on Oct. 4.

The Killean school bell, which dates back to the 1850s, has been restored and now sits proudly near Brock Road on the grounds of the Puslinch Community Centre (PCC).

In 1853 the township was divided into 12 school sections, each with its own school board and communities.

“The schools were much more than a school to the surrounding community,” states research by the Puslinch Historical Society.

"They were used for church services, Sunday school, youth gatherings, political meetings, dances and often packed to capacity for worthy community activities."

In 1958 the Puslinch school sections were abolished by the province in favour of larger, central schools.

By the mid 1960s, all the small rural schools closed in phases and children attended the newly expanded Aberfoyle Public School.

In 2012 former Puslinch Mayor Brad Whitcombe purchased the SS#7 Killean school bell at a farm auction.

Whitcombe and his brother Kevin had attended the Killean School and he felt the bell should remain in the community.

He cleaned and repaired the bell but died suddenly in 2014 before he could find a permanent home for it.

Kevin stored it all that time and with help from local businesses, it now has a permanent home at the PCC.

Mayor James Seeley said the bell is now a symbol of the township’s 175-year history, “and stands in tribute to the role of education and the values that shaped the township.”

Historical society member Cheryl McLean said a poster board outlining the history of the bell and of the 12 rural schools will be hung in a prominent place inside the PCC.

At the ribbon cutting event she said, “175 years of life in Puslinch truly merits celebration.”