Once again we return the hamlet of Brisben for yet another history of the district school located in that place. In the article of Oct. 21, 2010 #89, this article is #106; we related the available historical data relevant to the then District #2 located in the hamlet and now the Brisben Fire Department headquarters. However the story did not end there as it was to be later changed to Joint District #22 (Greene and Oxford) in 1838 to 1853 at which time it became District #16 and was in service from 1853 to 1953 and is a private dwelling as the photo accompanying this article. Now that this writer has completely confused you, let me continue on!
In the research of the district lines, Mrs. Folsom found the following information relevant to the actual property lines of #16, and to the formation of Joint District #22. However, if other information was recorded, it was not found as the site of the school in the photo cannot be the old District #2 as stated this is the now Brisben Fire Department. Mrs. Folsom’s research did find that in 1837 new District #22 was formed: “all that part of #2 (Greene and Oxford) east of Samuel Wheeler plus all that part of #22 in Oxford west of Dan Loomis, including the farm of Elisha Sanders, east half of lot #60 and the whole of lot #59/tract #3.” Again in 1837, “Part of 22 beginning at the south-east corner ofJ. Johnson, Jr. formerly part of the Julian farm, along south-east of tier of house lots of W.M. Patterson-Ira Watson-others, to River, up to Johnson’s line and the Julian Brothers to road, south to point of beginning - annexed to #4” To fully understand all this land jargon, the old maps would have to be researched! Yet another change occurred in 1838 when the farm of Elisha Sanders and the east half of lot #60/tract 3T was cut off of District #22 (Greene/Oxford and annexed to District #71) which was in Smithville township districts schools.
Again in 1846 the farm of Solomon Lawton (north half of lot #12 was taken from District #20 and annexed to District #22. Again in 1848 the Lewis Julian farm was taken from District #22 and given to District #4 and again in the same year the farm of John M. Chappie was taken from #22 and annexed to #4, in 1849 land of Charles dark and Samuel Jillson was cut off #22 and annexed to District #7.
Let us continue this rather perplexing district changes! In 1852 Joint #22 (Greene/Oxford) the following was researched: “to include farms of Seth Hollenbeck, Robert Fenton, Samuel I. Gray and Amos Gray on west, north by lands of Amos Gray, Samuel Wheeler, Hiram Leach, Richard Ten Broeck, William Olds, Wheaton Race, Abram Tillotson, Daniel Loomis and Dan T. Loomis; east by Dan T. Loomis and Stephen Pufferto river; down river to Hiram Bartoo, southwest to Erastus Tremaine, Samuel Walker and R. Tremain.” Now for the interesting part: 1852 after the entire above District #22 was dissolved (Joint Greene/Oxford). Schoolhouse and library divided between the two districts. District #22 then became District #16 in Greene.
Are you tired of district changes - let me continue! In 1866 the old District #2 becomes District #22. Now that you are all thoroughly confused by all these changes, let us take a look at the deeds that were recorded at the County Clerk’s office.
In Book #92, page #116 in 1852 Levi and Katherine Farr sold to John U. Ten Broeck, Seth Hollenbeck and Hiram Leach as Trustees of District #16 for $80 land on which to build a schoolhouse. Beginning at southwest corner of John Nickerson’s land (formerly Charles C. Eddy) on the River Road, southwest 50 feet southeast as far as the Chenango Canal, up the canal and along Nickerson’s land to pint of beginning. A fence to be built from road to canal! Let us at in this modern age assume the fence was erected to prevent anyone traversing to the school from accidentally or not accidentally falling into the canal!
Continuing on in time to the year 1914 in Book #237 page #292 Stella Burgess to Vincent Burgess, Orrin Cady and George H. Day, trustees of District #16 in towns of Oxford and Greene for $250 one acre (156’xl51’) for school site, site on the east side of the Chenango River and south of highway leading east from bridge in Village of Brisben, bounded north by road. Additionally in 1914 in Book #238 page #110 Floyd Wheeler sold the same trustees 27/100 of an acre adjacent for use as a private road (same to Wheeler from Borden’s Condensery in 1910.)
As the research for District #22 which became #16, this writer will quote Mrs. Folsom’s research as she documented it. “It would appear from the Trustee’s names in Joint District #2 and #22 (both in Greene and Oxford) that Joint District #2 was at “East Greene” where the “Lower Schoolhouse” was located from 1796 to 1837 (on the east side of present Route 12, 1/2 mile south of Brisben), This was the second school started in the Town of Greene and here Enoch Gray taught for ten year in succession, near his father’s farm. This old brown schoolhouse became the “white school” when a new 20 ft. square building replaced it in 1837. The next year it became entire District #2. Joint District #22 which succeeded Joint #2, was in existence from 1838 to 1854 when it became #16 (Brisben). This schoolhouse was known as the “Upper School “and before 1875, was moved from the east to the west side of the road (Route 12), finally in late years ending up as a garage on the present Francis Hill farm, in the Town of Oxford. Finally in 1854 a new schoolhouse was built in Brisben, on the east side of the street (Route 12) opposite the church.” A note of interest regarding the move to the Hill farm, the buildings of this farm have now all been demolished as Mr. Hill operated a saw mill there for a number of years. At one time two chestnut boards were wanted for a repair to an antique, Mr. Hill fortunately had this lumber, however, balked at only selling two boards as he wanted to sell the whole tot, however success was to be had as the purchase of two boards was finalized.
The early trustees of John Ten Broeck, Seth Hollenbeck and Hiram Leach were mentioned early in this article and in the early years of this multi-numbered district the average student population ranged from 68 in 1853 to 28 in 1881. Other trustees who served this district were J.T. Crandall, M.C. Matteson, F.D. Tremaine, G.A. King, Ralph Jillson, J. R. Smith, Ray Cohoon, V. Burgess, George Day, Mrs. George Wright (1918), Parker Hutchins, Edward Barton, Ivon Cady, Ruby Filer (1931) to name a few.
Naming the teachers who over the years taught at these schools were Juliette Gray, Charles Henry Wheeler, Dr. Jesse E. Bartoo, Merritt W. Betts, L.D. Burgess, Orville Cummings, Alfred Roberts, Esther Butts, Rebecca Elliott, Ruby Filer, Ruth Randall, Grace Baxter, Martha DeAngelo, Helene Marvin, and Leona Matteson. The list is incomplete, but is a lasting tribute is to all who were there to educate the many scholars who attended this district school(s) in the Towns of Oxford and Greene.
Finally in closing Miss Matteson was the last teacher to teach in District #16 and when the school closed in 1953 her and her students were transferred to the new South Canal Street School in Greene.
And as an addendum the usual plea is once again written, if you have any school records or photos of the early educational system here in Chenango County, do not destroy it, place it with your local historian, historical society, or Chenango County Museum in Norwich. Additionally any “school days” memories that you would like to relate please e-mail to news@evesun.com. All will be duly acknowledged unless preferred to be anonymous.