Schools of the Past: Coventry Districts 5 and 6
Since the beginning of these multi-year articles relevant to the history of the one and at times two-room schools of Chenango County, this writer has been questioned numerous times, when you are doing such and such township. The answer is as soon as time permits as the decision was made after the completion of the schools of the township of Plymouth to do the townships in alphabetical order. Consequently Smyrna will be the final township, for which I am deeply indebted to the Smyrna Historian - Robert Matteson for the photos of his township’s schools. It is one of the few townships where I have all the school photos – look for these in the future!
However let us take a look at the two districts documented above and it is regrettable that I have no photos of either schoolhouse. Perhaps they will appear at a later date from the attics of a lifetime Coventry resident!
DISTRICT #5 - SEYMOUR HILL DISTRICT
Again the information relevant to this district and the #6 district credit has to be acknowledged to Catherine Bickford for her extensive research in her book “History of the Town of Coventry - P. 10 -1900-19775.” Without this brief history these articles would not have been possible. This writer will quote verbatim the information that Mrs. Bickford wrote below.
“Seymour Hill Road runs from Route 235at District #5 school due west to meet Bowbell Road. There are three roads running due south from Seymour Hill to the Town of Coventry and Broome County Line. There was also a Town Line Road in the late 1800 which joined Gray and Hotchkiss Hill road (both Hotchkiss Hill and Town Line road were abandoned about 1935.)
Further information from this book P.27 the following is again quoted.
“Next to the Beardsley homestead is the former District #5 schoolhouse (there is a record of this District’s annual meetings from 1820 to 1839 (Stark), Alice Brown, Charlotte Lewis, Eolian Porter and Inez Beardsley, as teachers. When the school house was built, the road ran to the east of the school and the house next south which was an Edgerton home. The old roadbed is clearly visible today.
With the centralization of schools, this district was closed, the pupils bused to Harpursville and the building was changed to a home. The first owners were Mr. & Mrs. Leroy Whittaker; it was then purchased by Robert and Marion Lerwick, who owned it until 1976. The sold to Edward Patch and moved to Lisle to be near their daughter.”
Regrettably this is the extent of the historical information relevant to District #5. However the pages of the book will remain open if new information surfaces.
DISTRICT #6 - SPENCER’S CORNERS OR WHYLIE-HORTON
Again from Mrs. Bickford’s book p. 14-15-16 the following scant information is related verbatim.
“The western section of this old trail is known as the Wylie-Horton Road and extends from the Town line, easterly to the Spisak Road. As late as 1875 there were two schools. District #9 at the western end and District #6 near Spencer’s Corners. There was a creamery near the District #9 schoolhouse. On this section there were ten farms owned by such families as Griswold, Beale, Tuttle, Packard, Horton, Foote, Wylie and Hoyt. There are now five homes, only three of them operating farms and much of the land on both side of the road is in State Reforestation. Starting at the western end, the school house, creamery and home west of the Junction with Bowbell Road are now gone.
Following the Trail east past Spencer’s Corners, both sides are State Reforestation to the top of the last hill before meeting Route 235, here are the remains of District #6 school house, then comes the farm occupied by Oscar Lerwick, Jr.”
As stated previously, no photos have surfaced, consequently we have no inclination as to what the school looked liked, how large, who built it, more research needs to be done for further information.
Thus we close another article of this chapter of “Schools of the Past” - Coventry with the request again, if information exists please share with either this writer at email - news@evensun.corn. All information will be acknowledged or remain anonymous if desired. Or if preferred information may be forwarded to the Coventry Historical Society.
However let us take a look at the two districts documented above and it is regrettable that I have no photos of either schoolhouse. Perhaps they will appear at a later date from the attics of a lifetime Coventry resident!
DISTRICT #5 - SEYMOUR HILL DISTRICT
Again the information relevant to this district and the #6 district credit has to be acknowledged to Catherine Bickford for her extensive research in her book “History of the Town of Coventry - P. 10 -1900-19775.” Without this brief history these articles would not have been possible. This writer will quote verbatim the information that Mrs. Bickford wrote below.
“Seymour Hill Road runs from Route 235at District #5 school due west to meet Bowbell Road. There are three roads running due south from Seymour Hill to the Town of Coventry and Broome County Line. There was also a Town Line Road in the late 1800 which joined Gray and Hotchkiss Hill road (both Hotchkiss Hill and Town Line road were abandoned about 1935.)
Further information from this book P.27 the following is again quoted.
“Next to the Beardsley homestead is the former District #5 schoolhouse (there is a record of this District’s annual meetings from 1820 to 1839 (Stark), Alice Brown, Charlotte Lewis, Eolian Porter and Inez Beardsley, as teachers. When the school house was built, the road ran to the east of the school and the house next south which was an Edgerton home. The old roadbed is clearly visible today.
With the centralization of schools, this district was closed, the pupils bused to Harpursville and the building was changed to a home. The first owners were Mr. & Mrs. Leroy Whittaker; it was then purchased by Robert and Marion Lerwick, who owned it until 1976. The sold to Edward Patch and moved to Lisle to be near their daughter.”
Regrettably this is the extent of the historical information relevant to District #5. However the pages of the book will remain open if new information surfaces.
DISTRICT #6 - SPENCER’S CORNERS OR WHYLIE-HORTON
Again from Mrs. Bickford’s book p. 14-15-16 the following scant information is related verbatim.
“The western section of this old trail is known as the Wylie-Horton Road and extends from the Town line, easterly to the Spisak Road. As late as 1875 there were two schools. District #9 at the western end and District #6 near Spencer’s Corners. There was a creamery near the District #9 schoolhouse. On this section there were ten farms owned by such families as Griswold, Beale, Tuttle, Packard, Horton, Foote, Wylie and Hoyt. There are now five homes, only three of them operating farms and much of the land on both side of the road is in State Reforestation. Starting at the western end, the school house, creamery and home west of the Junction with Bowbell Road are now gone.
Following the Trail east past Spencer’s Corners, both sides are State Reforestation to the top of the last hill before meeting Route 235, here are the remains of District #6 school house, then comes the farm occupied by Oscar Lerwick, Jr.”
As stated previously, no photos have surfaced, consequently we have no inclination as to what the school looked liked, how large, who built it, more research needs to be done for further information.
Thus we close another article of this chapter of “Schools of the Past” - Coventry with the request again, if information exists please share with either this writer at email - news@evensun.corn. All information will be acknowledged or remain anonymous if desired. Or if preferred information may be forwarded to the Coventry Historical Society.
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