Eunice Medlyn
Reflecting on her thirty-two years of teaching, Eunice Medlyn especially values the close relationships she had with her students. One of her reminiscences is a unique field trip. Realizing that many of her students in Stony Creek School in the 1930's had never been on a train, she arranged for them to ride on one into New Haven, where they visited the Peabody Museum, the Court House, and the Center Church cemetery before boarding the train for their return trip to Branford. Another prominent memory is of a field trip to the Brock Hall Dairy in New Haven where there were no cows to see-just constant bottling of milk.
Born Eunice Keyes on April 14, 1909, she is a lifelong resident of Stony Creek. After graduating from Stony Creek Grammar School (1922) and Branford High School (1926), Eunice studied at the New Haven Normal School. Upon graduating in 1928, she began her teaching career in Nichols, Connecticut, where she taught Grades 5-6. Returning to Stony Creek in 1932, she taught those same grades in the Stony Creek School until 1938 when she was transferred to the old Center Street School.
The following year all teachers and pupils from there moved into Laurel Street School. In 1940 Eunice, along with Jenita Cronin, were assigned to the junior high wing of the present John B. Sliney School to teach English, which in those days included literature, spelling, and penmanship! During her twenty-six years there, she also had occasion to teach courses in math and guidance. During the 1950's Eunice also served as President of the Branford Education Association.
Recognizing the increasing importance of degrees, Eunice requested and obtained a leave of absence for 1943-44 to pursue further study. She enrolled at the University of Connecticut and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in education.
In 1949, Eunice married Archibald Medlyn, and a few years after his death in 1960, she retired. During retirement she and her sister, Helen Keyes, traveled extensively, sometimes by freighter, and visited many places in North and South America, Europe, and Asia.
In 1971, Harold Brewer discussed with Eunice the idea of forming a Retired Teachers Association. The nine charter members were Alicia Beach, Rose Donadio, Mae Murphy, Florence Quinn, Florence Royal, Zenia Smolenski, and Helen Zacker, along with Harold and Eunice. In the time since, the organization has expanded not only in numbers but also in enthusiasm.
A member of the Branford Historical Society, Eunice continues to help wherever and whenever she can. As an avid reader, her membership at both Blackstone and Willoughby Wallace libraries comes as no surprise, nor does her having worked as a part-time librarian at the latter.
Having lived always in a small village, Eunice finds the church to be a very important part of her life. She has served as clerk and as a Sunday school teacher and has been on various commit tees, including the Religious Education Committee. She is well beloved by her neighbors who appreciate and admire her many contributions not only to education but to the community as a whole.
Born Eunice Keyes on April 14, 1909, she is a lifelong resident of Stony Creek. After graduating from Stony Creek Grammar School (1922) and Branford High School (1926), Eunice studied at the New Haven Normal School. Upon graduating in 1928, she began her teaching career in Nichols, Connecticut, where she taught Grades 5-6. Returning to Stony Creek in 1932, she taught those same grades in the Stony Creek School until 1938 when she was transferred to the old Center Street School.
The following year all teachers and pupils from there moved into Laurel Street School. In 1940 Eunice, along with Jenita Cronin, were assigned to the junior high wing of the present John B. Sliney School to teach English, which in those days included literature, spelling, and penmanship! During her twenty-six years there, she also had occasion to teach courses in math and guidance. During the 1950's Eunice also served as President of the Branford Education Association.
Recognizing the increasing importance of degrees, Eunice requested and obtained a leave of absence for 1943-44 to pursue further study. She enrolled at the University of Connecticut and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in education.
In 1949, Eunice married Archibald Medlyn, and a few years after his death in 1960, she retired. During retirement she and her sister, Helen Keyes, traveled extensively, sometimes by freighter, and visited many places in North and South America, Europe, and Asia.
In 1971, Harold Brewer discussed with Eunice the idea of forming a Retired Teachers Association. The nine charter members were Alicia Beach, Rose Donadio, Mae Murphy, Florence Quinn, Florence Royal, Zenia Smolenski, and Helen Zacker, along with Harold and Eunice. In the time since, the organization has expanded not only in numbers but also in enthusiasm.
A member of the Branford Historical Society, Eunice continues to help wherever and whenever she can. As an avid reader, her membership at both Blackstone and Willoughby Wallace libraries comes as no surprise, nor does her having worked as a part-time librarian at the latter.
Having lived always in a small village, Eunice finds the church to be a very important part of her life. She has served as clerk and as a Sunday school teacher and has been on various commit tees, including the Religious Education Committee. She is well beloved by her neighbors who appreciate and admire her many contributions not only to education but to the community as a whole.