At times all historians have been known to “jump up and down with joy” and at times even become hysterical when the never ending search for history gives up facts or photos of the long lost pages of history. Such is the case with District #3 - Columbus Center. To all who are unfamiliar with Columbus Center, the location is exactly where named - what is now the small hamlet of Columbus located on New York State Route 80 approximately half way between New Berlin and Sherburne.
The photo accompanying this article is copied directly from the original in the possession of the Chenango County Historian’s office as is the poem that will be given below. The photo of District #3 was taken in 1913 - 1914 and we are most fortunate that the names of the students in this photo were identified, which we will list now: Front Row: #1 - Calhoun Beardsley - #1 -#2 -Mercian Spurr (she would later be Mrs. Ted Whitney and deeply involved with the Chenango County Historical Society for many years) - #3 - Charles Horstman - #4 -Ruth Williams - #5 - Frances Bingham - #6 - Alice Dewey. Back row: #1 - Floyd Rowe - #2 - Clifford Gibson - #3 - Reed Bowers - #4 Lee Barings - #5 - Lynn Rowe - #6 - Blanche Bingham (teacher) - #7 - Edwin Beardsley - #8 - Nathan Spurr and #9 - Alice Spurr.
The poem was written by Lillian M. Griswold of 133 Delaware Street, Syracuse, New York and is undated and quoted exactly as written as a remembrance of her attending District #3.

REMINISCENCES
Since reading the rhymes that roll from the pen
Of Spencer Pope and Clark our loyal old friend
am led to believe by the gist of their tales
That the folks of those towns were exclusively males
But of course, ‘Twas not so and there’s none who have known it
Any better than they, tho they seem wrath to own it
So it seems appropriate at this stage of the game
To write of the girls (?) and call them by name
My mind wanders back to Columbus school days
And scatters my thoughts in a thousand ways
District #3 in the old town then
Was the central school for its future men?
And it turned out material in those days of old
That may loyal women with hearts of gold
So many in fact that my thoughts gather in
That my wits are annoyed to know where to begin
In memory’s album, I’ll search for the faces
That time seemed endowed with true feminine graces
I’ll endeavor to name these, tho’ I may miss a few
But in case I should do, so I’ll apologize too.
Amy Sturges and Minnie with curly red hair
Hattie Myers, Myra Spurr, exceedingly fair
Alice Myers, Elva Cutler and sweet Delia Marrow,
All came to our school education to borrow
Minnie Ingham and Maggie, Oh how they could sing!
Emma Toles, Dora Chaplin, Minnie Johnson, Mame King
T’was a find bunch of girls as you might want to see
Who sought to get knowledge in Old District Three!
Minnie Chase, do you know she remains just the same?
And of course, my dear sister, Hattie Marble by name
Sweet Jennie Spurr, Libbie Hayward as well,
Helen Williams, the Pope Girls, Mary and Steel?
Lottie Dutcher, a cousin of mine and Mattie
And three Gardner girls, Ellen, Lulu and Kate,
Mary Bryant, how we missed her when God called her home
For sweeter than she we have never known
And dear Florence Simmons, known better as “Dolly”
She was pretty and rosy, sweet tempered and jolly
Inna Fuller, and dear Cora Rutherford too,
Who always could give a quick answer to you!
Maude Hopson who kept the boys hearts in a stir
Like Kipling “I learned about women from her.’’
And then gentle Lily, Lily Lothridge, no other
She’s as gentle as then, and our editor’s mother
Anna Sherman, Carrie Williams who lived ‘cross the road,
Minnie Babcock, what beauty was on her bestowed!
Eva Dye, Nellie Mayne and Daisy Mayne too
I’ll get them all in ere my rhyming is through
Then there is the Howard girls Maggie and Pearl
And laughing Ad’ David she sure was some girl
Our representative Smith family numbered just five
Clare Bell, and Alice, Sue, Fannie and Cleve
Dela Larcher, Minnie Deming and Satie her sister
Oh yes, Effie Cutler I sure almost missed her
Nellie Hines who was with us a short time did stay
And then Nellie Blackman who lived’ cross the way
Ida Babcock, Jessie Babcock and Grace Adams, too
Were just little girls when the rest were almost through
But my muse days “it time to lay down my pen,
And the title of “poet” returns to the men
So we’ll wait for the final big bell call to be
And have a reunion of old District Three

In conclusion of this brief history of District #3, Barbara Avery forwarded the following information that this school was located near the former Warren Johnson farm and that Ike Wilcox and John Tuller lived there before the present owners. According to the 1875 map of Chenango County, this school was located just off Route 80 going east towards New Berlin. Finally if any person (s) has additional information regarding the old District #3 please forward either to Barbara Avery, Historian, 40 Cushman Street, New Berlin, New York or e-mail to news@evesun.com. If new history surfaces, we will once again return to the old District #3.