Renovations underway on mid-19th century schoolhouse
NORWICH – Renovations have begun on the nineteenth-century schoolhouse located behind the Chenango County Historical Society Museum, thanks to a $4,000 Community Foundation for South Central New York grant awarded the historical society in December.
The one-room schoolhouse, originally located at Ross Corners in Preston, will soon sport a refurbished floor and ceiling, and thanks to the museum’s photographic collection of other, similar, schoolhouses, Museum Director Alan Estus said he believed “we’ll be able to recreate the ceiling back to what it would’ve looked like.”
The floor, described by Estus as “spongy” before the renovation began, has been successfully removed and a new sub-floor will soon be in place, after which the original floorboards will be re-installed using the authentic square-headed nails common during the time period.
In addition, Estus said he and his fellow staff members at the museum are hoping to find some of the schoolhouse’s original wallpaper behind the nineteenth-century blackboard, which would make its re-creation also possible.
Former owner of the White House Cabinet Shop in Sherburne, and unofficial foreman/crew leader Bruce Webster, joined by former owner of Grave’s Wheel and Brake Service in North Norwich John Graves and NYSEG retiree Chris Given have volunteered their time and effort to see the renovation through to completion.
“Because of their volunteer efforts, that $4,000 is going to go a long way toward restoring the schoolhouse the way we want,” said Estus, who added the renovations will “complete what we’re looking to do.”
The schoolhouse, thought to be built circa 1854, features authentic period pieces such as desks, books, wall charts and a stove.
“We’re hoping these renovations will make it so we can open the schoolhouse to the public and use it as an exhibit,” stated Estus. “This supports our mission of preserving the past and being able to show it to the public.”
The Chenango County Historical Society Museum, 45 Rexford St., is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays between April 1 and December 31. For more information visit chenango.history.museum or call 334-9227.
The one-room schoolhouse, originally located at Ross Corners in Preston, will soon sport a refurbished floor and ceiling, and thanks to the museum’s photographic collection of other, similar, schoolhouses, Museum Director Alan Estus said he believed “we’ll be able to recreate the ceiling back to what it would’ve looked like.”
The floor, described by Estus as “spongy” before the renovation began, has been successfully removed and a new sub-floor will soon be in place, after which the original floorboards will be re-installed using the authentic square-headed nails common during the time period.
In addition, Estus said he and his fellow staff members at the museum are hoping to find some of the schoolhouse’s original wallpaper behind the nineteenth-century blackboard, which would make its re-creation also possible.
Former owner of the White House Cabinet Shop in Sherburne, and unofficial foreman/crew leader Bruce Webster, joined by former owner of Grave’s Wheel and Brake Service in North Norwich John Graves and NYSEG retiree Chris Given have volunteered their time and effort to see the renovation through to completion.
“Because of their volunteer efforts, that $4,000 is going to go a long way toward restoring the schoolhouse the way we want,” said Estus, who added the renovations will “complete what we’re looking to do.”
The schoolhouse, thought to be built circa 1854, features authentic period pieces such as desks, books, wall charts and a stove.
“We’re hoping these renovations will make it so we can open the schoolhouse to the public and use it as an exhibit,” stated Estus. “This supports our mission of preserving the past and being able to show it to the public.”
The Chenango County Historical Society Museum, 45 Rexford St., is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays between April 1 and December 31. For more information visit chenango.history.museum or call 334-9227.
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