* Navan’s FIRST school was a one-room single storey squared-log building completed in 1861 on the east bank of “the creek” along the south side of what would now be 1329 Colonial Road,

** Navan’s SECOND school was a two-room single storey framed building completed in 1896 at 1349 Colonial Road, just east of the the site of Navan’s FIRST school house*.

In 1897 Navan’s FIRST school* was moved to the West end of St. Mary's Anglican Church where it was used as a shoemaker's shop and then as a residence.

In 1913 Navan’s FIRST school* was moved to 1350 Colonial Road, on the north side of the road across from the then overcrowded SECOND school house**. It was used as a third classroom with Miss Minnie Copping as the teacher until the completion of the new school.

*** Navan’s THIRD school was a four-room two-storey brick building erected in 1915 at 1279 Colonial Road. Known as SS #3 Cumberland, Navan, the two rooms on the ground floor were used for public school work, and the two upper rooms became the Navan Continuation School. This is the building where all of David Taylor’s children attended school. Long after the Taylor children had completed their schooling, in September 1952, the Continuation School was closed and the pupils were transported by bus to Ottawa for High School. With a new school ready, this remaining public school was closed June 1966.

**** Navan’s FOURTH school was a new modern building that opened in September 1966. Meadowview Public School was built east of all of it’s predecessors at 1375 Colonial Road.


When David Taylor married Sarah Magladry in the spring of 1918, he was a farmer on Regional Rd. # 8 West of Vars, Ontario. This is where all their children were born.

In the fall of 1928, they moved to the Spratt farm on O'Toole Road, South of Cumberland, Ontario.

He worked this farm until they moved into Navan’s SECOND school** that had over the years been turned into living quarters and at various times was home to several other families, some of whom were:
Jim O’Neil and family, James Young and family, Jason Derby, Joe LaRocque and others.

During this time he worked on George Shaw’s farm (on Trim Road south of St. Mary’s Cemetery) before becoming mailman for R. R. 2, Navan, in the fall of 1933.

They later moved into a dwelling on west side of Trim Road about 1 km north of Navan Road on the Cotton farm (formerly the Rathwell farm) before purchasing their final residence.

Shortly after 1915, Mr. and Mrs. John Bird (also a rural mail driver) had bought a 2 acre parcel of land fronting on Smith Road that was Part of the Westerly 50 Acres of East Half of Lot 10, Consession 9, Cumberland Township owned by Mr. Dunning, farmer.

John Bird then had Navan’s FIRST School* moved to that property where two bedrooms were created in the attic for it to become their residential dwelling.

David Taylor bought this house & property on December 19, 1941 from John Bird for $150 down & a mortage of $400.

David retired from the mail route in the fall of 1961.

His wife, fondly known as Sadie, died in the fall of 1965.

He continued to occupy this dwelling until his death in the summer of 1967.

The Estate of David Levi Taylor sold this house & property to his son, Merrill Taylor on Nov. 20, 1967 for $2000.

Following the death of Merrill Taylor in the spring of 1980, his spouse Doris sold the house & property to Gerald Grimes on for $ .

In the summer of 1992, it became the first building from Navan to be relocated to the grounds of the Township of Cumberland Museum where it is now used as the print shop.