The lower Sunday River School is one of Newry’s historic buildings.

NEWRY — The Select Board is considering whether to budget money for the historic Lower Sunday River School on Sunday River Road.

The topic was brought up at the Jan. 21 board meeting.

The small white clapboard structure is on the National Register of Historic Places. It was described in the “Our Historic Places” series, in an article written by Rose Lincoln.

From the outside, there is nothing that indicates it may be a position of importance. There are no signs or parking area to indicate that this area has any sort of regional importance.

The classroom in the Lower Sunday River School in Newry is seen June 25, 2024. Iron-framed wooden desks, beadboard wainscoting, and antique lights are among its features. Rose Lincoln/Bethel Citizen

The main room features rows of iron-framed, old wooden desks with attached seats and pencil holders. An old parlor organ or piano is in one corner at the front of the classroom, and tables and chairs line walls finished in natural beadboard.

A large blackboard, a large antique map of Maine and portraits, including one of President George Washington, hang on walls.

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A metal flue pipe indicates a woodstove was the heat source for the schoolhouse.

Cleaning and maintenance are handed by a group of volunteers.

The Select Board suggested someone be hired officially because the work is too much for a group of volunteers.

Despite the size of the building, the work required for upkeep will take multiple people, especially considering the likely fragile state of some items preserved in the building.

An antique map of Maine hangs over the blackboard June 25, 2024, at the Lower Sunday River School on Sunday River Road in Newry. The Select Board is discussing budgeting money to maintain the building which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Rose Lincoln/Bethel Citizen

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