Returning once again to the hills of Columbus we again turn to two schools districts of which little history is known. But as has been written before if historical information becomes available we will return to these districts!

DISTRICT #8 - PERRYTOWN
We are fortunate and have to give thanks to Patrick Lewis-Moors for the photo which accompanies this brief history. The caption that was written on the original photo (and the copy that was forwarded to me was a copy of a copy) states the following: “The old red schoolhouse Columbus, New York in the winter of 1865 or 1866. Miss Josephine Greegs teacher.” The student’s names were not listed and it is a loss that they were not!
Very little information is known about Perrytown and Donald Windsor wrote about Perrytown in his Volume II of “Souvenirs of Yesterday” page 24 the following which he has give permission to quote. “The 1863 map show Schoolhouse Number 8, as does the 1875 map. The 1902 topographic map does not show a school, but this is the only map that labels the area along Route 80 between Norton and Bell roads as Perrytown.”
The Columbus historian wrote in one of her “Columbus Clippings” that Perrytown schoolhouse
was located by the bridge near where Larry Daniels and Hopson now live. Does anyone have
any further historical information relevant to District #8 - Perrytown?

DISTRICT #9 - COLUMBUS QUARTER
The photo of District #9 was taken before the school was restored through the efforts of the Columbus Quarter Baptist Church. A new item appeared in the local paper July 19, 2000 with the headlines “Columbus schoolhouse restored.” Excerpts from this article gave us the following information that the school (located at the intersection of Route 8 and Tallett Road was first in existence one hundred twenty-five years ago. At that time it was equipped with modern technology which included a writing slab, chalk, inkwell, and flash cards. For all who are not familiar with flash cards, these cards were used as an early teaching tool. Information was printed on them the teacher flashed them to the students who then were supposed to remember what they saw on the cards. These cards have all but disappeared from the face of the earth with the exception, that upon occasion, you might see a set being sold at an auction which had probably been unearthed from a very dusty, old trunk in someone’s attic.
This article went on to say that the original school as a log cabin and served a dual purpose as both a school and a meeting house for religious services. In the mid 1870s the original school burned and a new school was erected which was used until 1932. It was finally sold and was purchased by the Columbus Quarter Baptist church.
Through the efforts of Pastor Ernest Clemens, living in West Edmeston, a booklet was published at that time relating the history of this early Columbus district School. At that time Mr. & Mrs. Fred Pope (847-8660) was extremely instrumental in this restoration work and the book could be purchased for $3.50. It is not known if there are still copies available, but to all interested persons they could contact the Popes regarding this book.
In closing this rather brief article, even though there was a working stove in the schoolhouse, it was always cold in the winter. This has been repeated time and time again throughout all the research of this “Schools of the Past” articles. Additionally if contacted, tours can be arranged to all interested persons wanting to view a one-room school, there are so few of these that remain and have been restored!
Finally if any historical information is found, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs. Barbara Avery at her New Berlin address or e-mail to news@evesun.com. All information received will receive due thanks.