The first order of business with this article is an apology to the Warren Johnson family for the error in the April 13 article relevant to District #3 - Columbus Center. At the end of the article, the Columbus Historian had forwarded information to this writer that this school was located on the former Warren Johnson farm. Mrs. Johnson, upon reading the article, quickly informed Mrs. Avery that they still own this farm. A most sincere apology is given to them from both Mrs. Avery and me as an independent historian. To err is only human and at times we all err.
District #5, which we assume was the Bingham District, was located on what is now the Bingham/Collins Road near the Casey Cheese Factory roads. The photo of this district shows the schoolhouse in its original location and in poor condition; however there is a much happier ending to the story of this schoolhouse. The documentation of this is quoted entirely as it was forwarded to my attention and was written by Rose Wellman, presently Sherburne historian.
“An 1875 map of the Town of Columbus shows the schoolhouse located on the north side of the Bingham Road, between Casey Road and the road leading into the Columbus Center. The schoolhouse at that time sat on a rise of land across from an old cemetery. A mobile home presently sits at that location.
“This schoolhouse burned to the ground around 1934 with the contents. It is estimated that a new building would cost $3,500. There were six pupils in this district and after the fire they were being taught in part of the Kaslaukus house, a short distance away from the Sherburne school district. Miss Mary Robinson was the teacher.
“The school system did not want to build a new building since they were in the process of centralization so the solution was to move an existing, unused schoolhouse to that location to at least finish out the school year. This is when it was decided to move the District #14 schoolhouse from Sherburne to this location for use. Thus a schoolhouse from the Township of Sherburne was moved into the Township of Columbus for use. This building was probably moved to Columbus soon after the fire, perhaps in January of 1935, so that students were able to continue with their studies without interruption. It is told that it was moved by ‘Dep’ Paddleford from Shawler Brook Road to Bingham Road.
“When this school came up for sale for taxes, Del Law bought it with the intention of using it for a hunting camp. Bill Kehoe made a deal and became owner and he decided to move, restore and preserve the building.
“This wonderful old schoolhouse now sits on land being developed for a Town of Sherburne Historical Park near the school. It has been restored and refurbished as near to the old days as possible.”
In conclusion to this article, the Sherburne Historical Park was finally developed since this above article was written and upon the occasion of the Sherburne Heritage Days is open for the general public to view what it was tike to attend a one-room school.