Again we return to the township of Coventry for a bit of history relevant to the two districts titled above. As has been the scenario for this writer, at times the lack of historical facts are frustrating to say the least, but such is the case with all historians at one time or another while researching subjects. There is always the missing links that we so desire, but to no avail.

District #3 - Bulkeley District
Once gain this writer must give credit to the former historian Catherine Bickford for her documentation of history of the town of Coventry. In her research she found that the Bulkeley Hill Road name was derived from Brownell Buckeley who settled in Coventry in 1808 and settled on the farm which remained in the family until 1922. This school was located on the corner of Buckley Hill (note change in spelling) and County Road #30. It remained an educational institution till the centralization with Afton in the late 1940s or 1950s. After the closing of the school, William Manning converted into a home. It has been owned for a number of years by William Smith (the son of Edward and Helen Smith).

I Remember the Bulkeley Hill and Shaw Roads
By Mildred Alford Reynolds
Mrs. Reynolds documentation (compliments of Mrs. Bickford) is quoted as she recorded it.
The Bulkeley School remained open until centralization with Afton. Some of the teachers that I remember were: Anna Dunn-Zoa (Minor) Lee-Ruth (Foote) Stark and Goldie Goodnough.
Research done by Juanita Lee found these also taught her; Edna (Niven Slater, Bessie Johnson, Gladys (Graves) Cummings, Cora Rose - Eva Blakeslee - Bernice Hodge and Ethel Fletcher for eight years. Some of the pupils were; Marie Nickerson, the Conpropost children, Russell Smith and Harold Tracy. "
We regret we do not have a photo of the actual building, but the photo with this article shows the site of this school as was taken by Patricia Stafford of Afton in 1987. Perhaps if someone in the town of Coventry has a photo of the school, please share it with the current historian.

District #4 - Coventry Village
Located just past the town garage on County Route #235 is the former District #4 which is owned by the township and maintained and is open upon request.
Mrs. Bickford’s research gave the information that District #4 was first built by Lemuel Lewis at the same time as the Methodist-Episcopal Church 1853. Research failed to locate any records as to why the original school was replaced with the one (accompanying photo) in 1900.
Charles Decker, Afton historian, forwarded the following information that the school was made part of the Afton School district in 1938. It closed in 1943 and the building was then sold. Frances Wrench and Ruth Gibson were the last teachers.
Mrs. Bickford’s research gives the following: teachers from 1900 to the centralization included:
Alice Wrench - Ruby Birdsall - Esther Butts - Mable Harrington - Lucy Tracy - Anne Dunne for 4 or 5 years - Gladys (Graves) Cumings for several years - Lilly Green for 3 or 4 years in the 1940s The last two teachers were Mrs. Wrench and Mrs. Gibson.
Upon closing the school Mrs. Bickford wrote the building was owned by a Mr. Waldron of Greene and was used for storage. The date that the township acquired the property is not known, however, as this writer has stated many times before, the future, the pages of the book remain open.
Thus we close another chapter in the history of the "schools of the past:" of the township of Coventry and if so desired, new history surfaces, please feel free to share with the Coventry historian or e-mail news@evesun.com. All information will be duly credited or remain anonymous if desired.