Unless or until further information becomes available, we have to assume that S.S. #5 was one of two buildings that appeared on the 3^rd Concession Road.

There was also a school, known as “J. Peterson’s School House” located close to the Adolphustown border on concession three. However, we do believe this school was actually in Fredericksburgh and not Adolphustown.

The 1860 Wallings’ Map shows a school on Lot 25 on the third concession of Adolphustown. There is very little information available on this school, other than the map and the few times it is mentioned in the Adolphustown Township minutes.

In 1872, the council of Adolphustown passed a motion uniting S.S. #3 and S.S. #5. It’s possible that the school on Lot 25 showing on the 1860 map was known as #3, since it existed before the building we later knew as S.S. #3 further south on the 3^rd Concession Road. However, since the newer school was built later, it may be referred to as #5 in the older records.

As previously mentioned, Canniff Haight, in his book ‘Country Life in Upper Canada’ mentions his father's schooldays in the Hay Bay area of Adolphustown:

"The old school house, where my father (Shadrick Ricketson Haight 1798-1840), I believe, had got his schooling, was hoisted on runners, and, with the aid of several yoke of oxen, was taken up the road about a mile and enlarged a little."

It’s possible that this refers to the old schoolhouse on Lot 25, Concession 3, being moved to the site of S.S. #3, 3^rd Concession Road.

Whichever building it was, the merger between the two school sections resulted in one building being known as S.S. #3, which is clearly shown in Meacham’s 1878 Atlas.

1860 Wallings Map

Showing a school on Lot 25, Concession 3 on the 3^rd Concession Road.

1872 Adolphustown Council Minutes

Showing School Sections three and five united to become S.S. #3.