_{Ribbon commemorating Walter Rolling Day, 1937.
Courtesy of King Township Museum.}

After teaching for forty-one years at the Kinghorn School, Walter Rolling retired from teaching on June 30, 1936. On that day, he was presented with a gold watch, but a true celebration of his teaching and dedication to the community was held one year later called Walter Rolling Day.

Walter Rolling Day was held on Saturday, June 19, 1937. This was not a small event in any way, and was insisted on by the Davis family who had been taught by Walter and who ran the tannery in Kinghorn. There were more then 2,000 former students and friends in attendance

(almost half of the population of King Township at the time). The Provincial Minister of Education, Dr. L. J. Simpson, attended and the event was covered by the Toronto newspapers.

_{Kinghorn School, 1937.
Courtesy of King Township Museum.}

_{Picture of the Davis brothers 1937.
Courtesy of King Township Museum}

Andrew and E.J. Davis, with the help of twenty-five committee members helped organized the event. The Davises had the school and grounds wired with electricity, the school decorated, and a stage was erected.

The day started with a parade led by Walter from Burn's Bush (King Road, west of the cemetery) to the Kinghorn School. The Newmarket Citizens' Band and a pipe band were in the parade. Besides the bands, there was also entertainment by the Radio Singers.

Throughout the day, there were softball games, football games, races, reminiscences, and speeches. The event finished with dancing in the evening.

_{Walter Rolling Day parade, 1937. Courtesy of King Township Museum.}

_{Dr. L. J. Simpson, n.d.
Courtesy of Barrie Central Collegiate}

The Provincial Minister of Education, Dr. L. J. Simpson, made a speech praising Walter saying that,

"It is impossible to estimate the contribution to society of a man teaching so successfully in the same spot for so many years."

Other speakers included former teachers and friends, Miss Tinline, Alice Ferguson, and Andrew Davis.

Joseph McCulley stated:

"Hats off to a teacher looking so young and fit when so many graybeards are gathered here to recall him as their teacher. Splendid buildings and equipment can never replace the character of the teacher."

Aurora Banner, 1937

_{Walter and Laura Rolling, 1937. Courtesy of King Township Museum.}

Click on these images to view the full images...

_{Walter Rolling Day, Group Photo, Part 1, 1937.
Courtesy of King Township Museum.}

_{Walter Rolling Day, Group Photo, Part 2, 1937.
Courtesy of King Township Museum}

_{The crowds watch some
of the sporting events, 1937.
Courtesy of King Township Museum.}

_{A stage was set up for
speeches and entertainment, 1937.
Courtesy of King Township Museum.}

_{The crowd at Walter Rolling Day, 1937.
Courtesy of King Township Museum.}

_{Walter's friends, 1937
Courtesy of
Margaret (Cairns) Asbury.}

_{Laura Rolling, 1937
Courtesy of
Margaret (Cairns) Asbury.}

_{Cuthbert girls and
E.J. Davis, 1937
Courtesy of
Margaret (Cairns) Asbury.}

_{Miss Tinline and Mrs. Elizabeth (McCulre) Gillham, 1937
Courtesy of King Township Museum.}

_{Receiving line, 1937
Courtesy of Margaret (Cairns) Asbury.}

_{Davis brothers on the stage
Courtesy of Margaret (Cairns) Asbury.}

_{Walter talking to friends, 1937
Courtesy of King Township Museum.}

_{School friends, 1937
Courtesy of Margaret (Cairns) Asbury.}

_{Left to right: Mr. Price, Elsie (Scott) Glass,

Jim Patterson, and E.J. Davis, 1938
Courtesy of Margaret (Cairns) Asbury.}

_{Mrs. Phillips (Mabel), Mr. Rolling,
and Mrs. Duncan (Louie)
Courtesy of Margaret (Cairns) Asbury.}

_{Walter Rolling Day parade, 1937
Courtesy of King Township Museum.}

Walter Rolling Day Committee Members

_{Committee Ribbon for
Walter Rolling Day, 1937.
Courtesy of King Township Museum.}

Executive Committee: Andrew Davis, Duncan McMurchy, Hughie Ross, Aubrey Campbell, Albert Richards, Wilbert Burns
Sports Committee: Aubrey Campbell, Archie Campbell, Albert Hallinshead, Wm Egan
Ground Committee: Wm Ross, Wilbert Burns, Earl Scott
Programme Committee: E.J. Davis, Miss M. Campbell, Miss B. McBride, C. Walkington, Andrew Davis
Reception Committee: Mr. Rolling, Mr. McMurchy, H. Gillham
Registration Committee: Miss McBride, Miss Zetta Hallinshead, Mrs. C. Crossley, Miss A. Baldwin
Dance Committee: Miss M. Campbell, Albert Richards, Wm Ross, A. Gillham
Advertising Committee: Andrew Davis, E. Hallinshead
Finance Committee: Louis Scott, E.J. Davis, C. Walkington
Refreshment Committee: Miss Wilson, Mrs. Gillham, Miss McBride, Miss M. Campbell, Mrs. Ross