Yashiro's Little Old Schoolhouse
この戸倉上山田温泉は合併で千曲市になったが、合併相手の更埴の中心街が屋代です。この間は用事があって、行ってみたので道を迷いながら屋代小学校に辿り着いた。旧本館が立派な２階建て木造建物でびっくりした！
説明文章によると、１８８８年に建てられて、擬洋風建築スタイルだそうです。１９７８年まで使われたって、凄いね！９０年間も。
何で千曲市はこの建物をもっと人に見せる（＝観光扱い）にしないのか、不思議。私がこの千曲市に６年半住んでいて、市の観光協会の理事だし、協会の印刷物を作る委員会に４年ぐらい務めているから市の観光資源の全て知っているはずなのに、屋代小学校旧本館は初めて見たもの。
Around 10 years ago, our Togura-Kamiyamada merged with neighboring Koshoku to become Chikuma City. Old Koshoku's central district is called Yashiro. Recently I had an appointment there, and while wandering the back roads I stumbled upon Yashiro Elementary School and its original main building.
I was surprised to find such a beautiful 2-story classic wooden building! According to its sign, the schoolhouse was built in 1888 in Gi-You style, with traditional elements (such as the Japanese roof tiles) intertwined with designs borrowed from the West (like the columns and the round arch). The schoolhouse was apparently used until 1978 -- an amazing 90 years -- before being replaced by the concete eye-sore behind it.
I've been living in Chikuma City for 6-1/2 years. I'm on the board of directors for the city's Tourism Association, and have been on the committee in charge of producing the Association's pamphlets for 4+ years. Why am I just now finding out about this hidden gem of a schoolhouse? Why doesn't the city try to make better use of it?
屋代小学校旧本館Yashiro Elementary School's Original Schoolhouse
It's modern replacement -- Uggh!
