Zutphens Dagblad, 5 November 1956
On 2 February 1906, a meeting was held at the home of the widow Jentink at ‘de Pas’ in Barlo by people who wanted Christian education in Barlo. Earlier attempts had already been made to establish a Christian school, but without success. At this meeting, however, words were turned into action and a school association with 36 members was formed. Plans were immediately drawn up for the construction of a school.
The main questions — where the school should be built and where the money should come from — were soon resolved. Mr J. Westendorp took the trouble to walk through Barlo to determine its central point, where the school would then be built. The financial side was also quickly settled. The construction sum of 6,243 guilders was raised through collections throughout the Municipality of Aalten.
Contractor Elschot of Bredevoort soon began construction to a design by Mr R. van Lochem, allowing the foundation stone to be laid on 11 June 1906 by Barlo’s oldest resident, Mr A.J. Houwers.
The school opened on 2 November 1906 with 54 pupils and two teachers; Mr J.A. Bos was headmaster. The school now has 121 pupils and four teachers. In 1930 Mr Bos was succeeded by the present headmaster, Mr M.C. Weenink.
On Friday evening the anniversary was celebrated at the Feestgebouw in Aalten. In his opening remarks, Mr H.C. Lichterink, chairman of the school board, gave a special welcome to Dr Jonker of Amsterdam, who delivered a ceremonial address on the theme ‘Apostolic and in Solidarity’.
Referring to plans to build a new school in Barlo, Mayor E.S. van Veen, on behalf of the municipal executive, accompanied his congratulations with the hope that the first new school building after the lifting of the building freeze would be erected in Barlo. The speaker felt, however, that a large question mark had to be placed after that prospect.
After the secretary of the school board, Mr G.J. Luiten, had given a historical review, the inspector of primary education, Mr A.J. Siemons of Velp, spoke. For the time being he dispelled the school board’s hopes of a new building. He too referred to the building freeze. He expressed the hope that the school board would fully support the government in this matter and would understand that housebuilding had to take absolute priority.
Several other speakers then offered their congratulations: Rev. J.D. Stegeman, as the senior minister in Aalten; Rev. L.J. Goede, the minister for the Barlo district, also speaking on behalf of his colleague Rev. de Ruyter, who was unable to attend; Mr J. Dijkstra, headmaster of the Groen van Prinsterer School, on behalf of the federation of Christian schools in Aalten; and Mr G.J. Luiten on behalf of the former pupils’ committee. He presented a gift in the form of an electric clock.
After the interval, pupils and former pupils performed a revue about the school’s fortunes over the previous 50 years.