History

It was in 2002, that Director, Elizabeth Ghiorse Osgood, spoke with Steve Good, owner of Good Builders, Inc. and whose son was enrolled in the preschool at the time, to see if he would take a look at the property. After walking the land, he believed the project could be completed, and he was willing to do it. 

Parents and staff at the school then made a concerted effort to make the dream of having their own schoolhouse a reality. 

It would require roughly $200,000 to build the new preschool. Family members of Mrs. Osgood, with the knowledge and expertise in fundraising, helped initiate a capital campaign called “Raising the Roof after 50 years”. Together a group of hardworking, dedicated parents and teachers successfully raised the funds in less than 18 months through generous donations provided by individuals and businesses in Falmouth and surrounding communities.

An extended family member of the preschool community, Christopher Doonan, was an architect who specialized in architectural renderings for schools. He offered to create the construction plans for the school. Along with several parents, he helped guide the plans through the rigorous permitting approval process. 

Good Builders, Inc. began construction in 2004 and completed the project in 2005.  Many local businesses and members of the surrounding communities also joined the effort, including Upper Cape Tech students who built the cupola, and Falmouth Engineers, Inc. who performed all the site work.

The School itself is named after Mrs. Osgood’s parents, John and Ruth Ghiorse, who were lifelong educators. As a leading donor, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Ghiorse of Stuart, FL, and brother of Mrs. Osgood, made a large contribution to secure the naming rights of the building. 

Mr. John Austin of West Falmouth and Mr. Steve Good also made leading donations. The playground is named after Mr. Austin who provided the school with its flagpole. Mr. Good, in addition to his tireless efforts and expertise in managing the project, also donated the antique brass bell which still rings from the cupola.

And so today, West Falmouth Preschool sits nestled back on 28 Blacksmith Shop Road, just around the corner from West Falmouth Library, in its very own building – a little red one-room schoolhouse. “