In the succeeding weeks, this series will relate the history of the schoolhouses that dotted the township of Coventry. But first, a look at the history of the town as it was first settled.
The township of Coventry being formed from Greene February 7,1806 and derives its name from Coventry in Connecticut. The first settlers came from that township and it assumed that they had in turn emigrated from Coventry, England. Parts of Greene and Oxford were annexed to the township in 1843.
With the growth of the town, as was the scenario over the years, the need for education of the young was an important factor in the establishment of assorted school districts. However, before we continue with the beginning history of the school districts, this writer will quote verbatim a portion of a written documentation that was in the possession of Alton A. Dalton of Coventry in 1953 to give all an understanding of what community life was like in an earlier time in the settlement of the town.
“In the spring of 1847,1 moved with my family into the village, bought the house and lot of C. D. Phillips, moved the old house and built the house where John Kelly now owns and occupies. I lived there with my family till the winter of 1865, sold it to Samuel A. Martin. I was married to Betsey J. Parker and went to live with her at Levi Parker homestead. There was a plank road from the village of Coventry to Deposit, a station on the Erie Railroad, a distance of 30 miles.”
The documentation goes on to relate that there were three flourishing churches, with settled pastors living with their families in the village, three stores, each carrying a large stock of general merchandise, usually found in country store, with each doing paying business with a large patronage. Three hotels, two having licensed to sell spirituous liquors and one a Temperance House, two physicians residing in the village with their families, each having a large practice. Additionally two carriage and wagon maker shops, two blacksmiths shops, two saddle and harness maker shops, two tailor shops, two boot and shoe maker shops, one cooper shop, one cabinet shop, one dress-maker, one milliner, one manufacturer of tin, wire and stove pipes, one tannery, where they tanned all kinds of leather, at one time did a large business, one manufacturer of pocketbooks and wallets where they employed from 4 to 6 girls and furnished a large amount of work outside of the shop, stitching, one select school, for advanced pupils, a first class teacher with 20 to 30 scholars and one maker of patent medicine.
In 1853 a school house was built with apartments and folding doors, with two teachers with 60 to 80 scholars. This concludes the documentation in the possession of Mr. Dalton.
Smith’s History of Chenango County written in 1879 relates that by this year there were 11 common school districts in the town, each having a school-house within. The number of children of school age residing in the districts as of Sept. 30, 1877 was 373. By Sept. 30, 1878 the number of teachers was 7 male and 14 female employed, 11 were licensed; and the number of children residing who attended school was 309. Of this number four were under five or over 21 years of age, the number of volumes in districts libraries was 280, value being $44; the number of school-houses was 11 all framed, which with the sites, embracing two acres and 142 rods, were valued at $425 each and totaled of all $3,600. The assessed value of taxable property stood at $688,030. On Sept. 30, 1877 the number of children between the ages of 8 and 14 residing was 179 with 166 attending district school during fourteen weeks of that year.
To relate the receipts and expenses for school purposes. Smith’s History gives the following: on hand Oct. 1,1876 - $101.15, apportioned to district $1,194.10 - proceeds of Gospel and School lands $2.68 - raised by tax $712.03 - from teacher’s board $336.50 for total receipts of $3,346.46. Expenses for the same year were teacher’s wages - $1, 838.27 - school apparatus $5 - paid for school houses, sites, out-houses, repairs, furniture, etc. - $353.96 and amount remaining on hand October 1,1877 - $29.47 for total disbursements of $2,346,36.
With these historical facts we close this article with the hope that all will have a better understanding of these earlier ages. Finally in conclusion “Schools of the Past” will be on a brief vacation and will continue, hopefully, Aug. 19, 2010. Again the request for “school memories” is requested with all information being forwarded to news@evesun.com. Information will be duly credited or remain anonymous if preferred.