Schools of the Past: Guilford District 4: Mt. Upton Union School Part I
For a slightly different look at the history of the school districts in the Town of Guilford, we travel to the eastern boundaries of the town and look at a school history of the school named above which would eventually become the Mt. Upton Central School. It is regrettable that we do not have the historical information relevant to the construction of this building, but, perhaps with further research this history will be revealed. If is such the case, there is always room to add to the pages of Guilford school history.
The information that is available is somewhat statistical and it is hoped that this article does not become “dull!” In the time frame of 1910 to 1918 the following gentlemen served on the Regents of the University of the New York State Education Department. Lucien L. Shedden (1910) - Eugene A. Philbin (1909) - Edward Lauterbach (1911) - Albert VanderVeer (1915) - Charles L. Gardner (1910) - William H. Nottingham (1918) - T. Gifford Smith (1912) - Pliny T. Sexton (1914) - Daniel Beach (1919) - St. Clair McKeeway (1917) and William Reed (1918) who served as Chancellor. To these gentlemen who served so graciously to further the educational system of the State of New York a debt of gratitude is appropriate.
However, let us now return to the local level of the Mt. Upton Union School for the years 1909-1910. The Board of Education consisted of three gentlemen - Charles G. Brooks (President) - George F. Wheeler (Secretary) and F. J. Paddock. With the two gentlemen’s names in parenthesis they additionally served as officers with Harry H. Bourn as Treasurer, M.C. Collar serving as Attendance Officer and William W. Austin servicing as Janitor.
The faculty for 1909-1910 consisted of Leon H. Lewis both as Principal and teaching Language and Mathematics, Miss Bernice Vincent as Preceptress (female teacher) and teaching Science and English, Miss Laura H. Welch - Intermediate, Miss Leia F. Meade - Primary and Miss Leila M. Butler- Music.
The catalog for the school year above listed the following term and holidays - Sept. 7, 1909 - First Term - Nov. 2, - Election Holiday - Nov. 25-26 - Thanksgiving Recess - Dec. 23 - School closed - (Christmas Recess) - Jan. 3,1910 - School reopened - Jan. 17-21 - Regents’ Exams - Feb. 22 - Washington’s Birthday (no longer observed - now President’s Day) - April 1 - School closed - (Easter Recess) - April 11 - School reopened - May 6 - Arbor Day (no longer observed) - May 30 Decoration (now Memorial Day weekend) - June 13-17 Regents’ Exams - June 19 - Baccalaureate - June 20 - June Entertainment and finally June 21 (Tuesday) Commencement.
In this catalog which this writer is fortunate to have obtained, the General Information related the following which is quoted as was written for the academic year above.
First - The Village: “Mount Upton is a progressive little village pleasantly situated on the western bank of the Unadilla River. It is on the New Berlin branch of the Ontario and Western railroad. With its well shaded streets and carefully kept lawn, it presents a neat and attractive appearance. Mount Upton is equipped with a good system of water works and lighting. The streets are macadamized, and as a village it is thoroughly awake and up-to-date. The town supports two churches, the Baptist and Methodist.”
Second - The Building: “The school building stands on an eminence at the western extremity of the village (it was located on a hill on what is now known as Church Street). It was erected in 1898 and remodeled in 1906 to meet the needs of an increased attendance. It is thoroughly modern in heating, lighting, ventilation, and other sanitary improvements. It is well equipped with ample blackboard space, city water, and is well cared for by a careful and conscientious janitor.”
Third - The Library: “The school has the best library of any school of its size in the State of New York, consisting of nearly one thousand volumes. New and carefully selected books are constantly being added. The library contains dictionaries, encyclopedias, histories, biographies, and books of reference, science, art, poetry and fiction. Each room has a well chosen grade library. Books may be drawn Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and retained two weeks.”
With this early educational information of the twentieth century, we will continue with Part 2 in the next chapter.
The information that is available is somewhat statistical and it is hoped that this article does not become “dull!” In the time frame of 1910 to 1918 the following gentlemen served on the Regents of the University of the New York State Education Department. Lucien L. Shedden (1910) - Eugene A. Philbin (1909) - Edward Lauterbach (1911) - Albert VanderVeer (1915) - Charles L. Gardner (1910) - William H. Nottingham (1918) - T. Gifford Smith (1912) - Pliny T. Sexton (1914) - Daniel Beach (1919) - St. Clair McKeeway (1917) and William Reed (1918) who served as Chancellor. To these gentlemen who served so graciously to further the educational system of the State of New York a debt of gratitude is appropriate.
However, let us now return to the local level of the Mt. Upton Union School for the years 1909-1910. The Board of Education consisted of three gentlemen - Charles G. Brooks (President) - George F. Wheeler (Secretary) and F. J. Paddock. With the two gentlemen’s names in parenthesis they additionally served as officers with Harry H. Bourn as Treasurer, M.C. Collar serving as Attendance Officer and William W. Austin servicing as Janitor.
The faculty for 1909-1910 consisted of Leon H. Lewis both as Principal and teaching Language and Mathematics, Miss Bernice Vincent as Preceptress (female teacher) and teaching Science and English, Miss Laura H. Welch - Intermediate, Miss Leia F. Meade - Primary and Miss Leila M. Butler- Music.
The catalog for the school year above listed the following term and holidays - Sept. 7, 1909 - First Term - Nov. 2, - Election Holiday - Nov. 25-26 - Thanksgiving Recess - Dec. 23 - School closed - (Christmas Recess) - Jan. 3,1910 - School reopened - Jan. 17-21 - Regents’ Exams - Feb. 22 - Washington’s Birthday (no longer observed - now President’s Day) - April 1 - School closed - (Easter Recess) - April 11 - School reopened - May 6 - Arbor Day (no longer observed) - May 30 Decoration (now Memorial Day weekend) - June 13-17 Regents’ Exams - June 19 - Baccalaureate - June 20 - June Entertainment and finally June 21 (Tuesday) Commencement.
In this catalog which this writer is fortunate to have obtained, the General Information related the following which is quoted as was written for the academic year above.
First - The Village: “Mount Upton is a progressive little village pleasantly situated on the western bank of the Unadilla River. It is on the New Berlin branch of the Ontario and Western railroad. With its well shaded streets and carefully kept lawn, it presents a neat and attractive appearance. Mount Upton is equipped with a good system of water works and lighting. The streets are macadamized, and as a village it is thoroughly awake and up-to-date. The town supports two churches, the Baptist and Methodist.”
Second - The Building: “The school building stands on an eminence at the western extremity of the village (it was located on a hill on what is now known as Church Street). It was erected in 1898 and remodeled in 1906 to meet the needs of an increased attendance. It is thoroughly modern in heating, lighting, ventilation, and other sanitary improvements. It is well equipped with ample blackboard space, city water, and is well cared for by a careful and conscientious janitor.”
Third - The Library: “The school has the best library of any school of its size in the State of New York, consisting of nearly one thousand volumes. New and carefully selected books are constantly being added. The library contains dictionaries, encyclopedias, histories, biographies, and books of reference, science, art, poetry and fiction. Each room has a well chosen grade library. Books may be drawn Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and retained two weeks.”
With this early educational information of the twentieth century, we will continue with Part 2 in the next chapter.
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