The long series of Greene District schools is winding down and it is hoped that all who read these articles have not become bored reading about a township that had a multiple of school districts. The location of the Johnson’s Corners bringing the location from the 1875 Atlas map of Chenango County to the twenty-first century was located approximately at the corner of Shafer and Wylie Roads near the location of Thunder Lake (2001 Chenango County Map). This lake does not appear on the 1875 map however, landowners in that vicinity at that time abound with the name of Johnson. As is the case previously and is still the scenario, roads were and are named for landowners in the vicinity. However over the course of years many of the road names have been changed which results in difficulty for historians and all researchers to trace land sites, etc.

JOHNSON’S CORNERS
Johnson’s Corners as is noted in the accompanying photo had the misfortune to burn in 1968, another loss to fire of an early segment of history of this county. This schools life started in 1856 and would be active until 1944 when it is assumed lack of families in the area, difficulty in obtaining teachers and the centralization of school districts throughout the county and state.
In Smith’s History of Chenango County is written that the county had a onetime approximately 315 district schools. In this twenty-first century I have been informed that Chenango County has only 9 districts. This is quite different from the previous figure!
The boundary lines of the district are related as researched by Mrs. Folsom: 1866 - would see District #1 (Brown District) in the south part of the county become #24. 1877 - A change is documented new district #24 formed from #9 (Coventry) and #24 (Greene). 1885 - The farm of Charles G. Winston would be moved from #24 (Johnson’s Corners) and attached to #20 (Wilson-Gardner) with the following: Lot 23-30 acres: south by Olin Kelly, east by Mrs. Jeremiah Winston, north by Charles Page and west by the road.
We are in luck with this district as in the Deed Book #161/9 in 1877 Jesse and Louisa Johnson sold to John Burton Wiley, Charles C. Haynes and John Beale as Trustee’s for District #24 for $28 the land as follows: Beginning 4 rods from east line of west half of lot 9/AII lot A in center of Chenango Road, west 8 rods, north parallel with Greene/Colesville Road (now Wylie) 8 rods, east to Colesville Road, south 8 rods to point of beginning a total of 64 rods. To all who prefer to research these deeds, to say that they are interesting is to say the least.
The average number of students to this district school ranged in the years 1856-1881 from a low of 13 to a high of 47. Early trustees included not only the above three but additionally the names of Robert Wylie, James Moot, and B. W. Page, Charles Acly, Guy Spencer, Herbert J. Saunders, Leslie Houghton, Floyd Cooper, Charles S. LeFevre, Frank Winston, Ralph Wylie, Jesse Johnson, Ralph Watrous, Stanley Merrick, Henry Johnson, Claude Morton, Mrs. Loren Fox, Mrs. Claude Morton, Mrs. Donald Wylie, Sarah Whitney were all found in the research that was compiled by Mrs. Folsom. Many of the above names not only served one term, but through the years would continue to serve again and again as trustees.
Teachers who were retained by this district include the names: Russell Roberts, Grace Merrell (Thorne), Mrs, Tice, Alice Hitt (Brewer), Gladys McNulty, Jessie Comstock, Annabelle Ashton, Lena Burke Fitzgerald, Helen D. Church, Mrs. Fred Rowley, Ethel Wightman and finally in the final year of 1943-44 Rosalie Purdy with eleven pupils.
In the photo of this school, you will notice the flagpole, the three children, one by flagpole and the typical schoolhouse style of that age with the four double four over four windows and we assume the same on the other side of the building. At the rear of the building, it is assumed that the addition is the woodhouse and faintly shown is the front door and what appears to be another window over the door. Photography has come a long way since these early photos were taken, but we are fortunate to have had this photo survive the ravages of time.

ECHO LAKE
This district will only be briefly re-opened as it was the written in the article March 3, 2011 and all the scant details need not be repeated. Echo Lake which finally became District #26 and was active from 1890 to 1901 had a three number life span, beginning with it was previously District #10 (Upper Genegantslet Road) becoming District #17 (again 2 districts with same number) and finally assigned #26. No additional information relevant to the Echo Lake School has surfaced, but, as has been repeated time and time again, the pages of the book remain open for new insertions of history.
Again we close another chapter of district school history for Greene and in closing, the usual request, if anyone has school related history, either photos, registers, etc. please do not destroy, pass this information to a repository where it will be retained for future researchers and users. This request not only is requested of private individuals, but also the municipalities, townships throughout the county. These records are part of our early history and need not be destroyed. If all else fails please forward to news@evesun.com. It will be forwarded to the proper individuals, societies, etc.