They say that everything comes back around, and it seems that even classroom gossip refuses to disappear. While plumbers were tearing up floors in a dilapidated building dating back to 1806, they came across something more interesting than dust and rusty nails: a large bundle of notes, drawings, and doodles that students had hidden two centuries ago.
Yes, just like the WhatsApp messages of yesteryear, only written in pen and with impeccable handwriting. The discovery revives the social life, and a touch of mischief, of the students who first attended that school, now part of the University of Southern Maine. And no, the caricature of the teacher with the prominent nose is not missing.
What did the workers find under the classroom floor?
Among rotten planks and loose plaster, dozens of papers dated to the early 19th century appeared. Researchers from the university itself explain that most are messages that were presumably not meant to circulate during class. After all, passing notes was the premium version of “let’s hang out later” or “I’m bored” before cell phones existed. Before continuing, it is important to be clear about what kind of documents we are talking about:
- Letters planning secret outings “by the swing.”
- Mini essays as poetic as one dedicated to the beauty of apple blossoms.
- Caricatures of teachers, with a special emphasis on giant noses.
- Distracted doodles, the obvious result of boredom in the middle of class.
Taken together, the notes offer an immediate—and quite amusing—portrait of the teenage universe of 200 years ago.
Why are these little pieces of paper from 200 years ago still relevant?
Conservators and archivists insist that the collection, however lighthearted it may seem, is pure gold for social history. It allows us to trace how young people related to each other, what expressions they used, and even what they found funny (spoiler: teasing the teacher was already a national sport). As a quick guide, here are the key facts that put the discovery into context:
- Fact Exact value
- Year the building was constructed 1806
- Approximate age of the documents 200 years
- Original use Private secondary school
- Current status University building undergoing renovation for several years
Keeping the originals in good condition and digitizing them is essential, according to the archival team, so that each generation can revisit the voices of the past unfiltered and reinterpret them in their own way.
For those who can’t take a trip to Gorham, Maine, there’s good news: the special collections curator is already working on cleaning and scanning the documents. Once they are finished, the texts will be available in a physical exhibition and, later on, online at the click of a button.