HONESDALE, PA — This summer, for the 14th season, the Wayne County Historical society will host open houses at the Bethel School celebrating “The Way It Was,” the life and times of students attending the one-room schools in times past, times when students of all eight grades gathered in one room with one teacher who taught all subjects.

At an open house on Sunday, June 24, Beverly Robertson will present a program of “Recess Games,” games that students attending the one-room schools played during recess or lunch hour, including the old favorites “King on the Mountain,” “Fox and Geese” and “Haley Over.” Robertson is a former physical education teacher at Wallenpaupack North Intermediate School.

When the Bethel and Laurella Schools closed their doors in June of 1951, it marked the end of the one-room school era in Berlin Township, where once there had been nine neighborhood schools. Of these nine schools, only Bethel has been preserved, thanks to the Wayne County Commissioners and the Wayne County Historical Society. Bethel School was built circa 1872. It is located near the “Poor Farm,” on Bethel School Road off Route 652, about one mile from Route 6. Open houses are from 1 to 4 p.m., with the special presentation at 2 p.m. There is no admission charge and light refreshments will be served.