Schools of the Past: Guilford District 7 – Godfrey’s Corners
The subject of this article District #7 was located just off County Road 37 - (Windsor’s Corners-Mt. Upton Road) on what is now named the Phillips-Odell Road which is a southerly route from #37 to where it intersects with County Road #35 - (Guilford-Sidney Road).
The photo accompanying this article was taken in 1914 and it was noted to this writer that in 1976 this school was part of the Carlton O’Dell home. This writer has been led to believe that this school later burned and I stand corrected if this information is not correct. The students in the photo gives us the following information - Grace Blincoe was the teacher, the smallest boy is identified as Arthur Greene, behind him, a boy by the last name of Joy, Claude Breeze - the tall boy and the Maculy children identified as Cecil, Paula, Hazel and Lila.
Carlton P. Odell wrote (undated) a short history of District #7 (Known as Godfrey School) and it is quoted verbatim as he wrote.
“School District #7 of Guilford, New York was organized in 1812 (note: this is one of the earliest of the district schools). The first records available start with the sixth annual meeting held in 1818. At this meeting Samuel Kent was nominated clerk, a position he held until 1922.
The number of scholars taught in 1821 was 3S. Money in the amount of $13.35 was received from the Commissioner of Common Schools and paid to the teacher, Wager G. Eastman.
The wood for the schoolhouse was collected from each parent (this is written throughout these articles numerous times) and said wood was to be measured and recorded by the teacher. Delinquent wood was bought at a low bid. School was held for four months from September through December and called Winter school and March through July called Summer School. In 1828 Albert Cornwell received $12.00 for teaching Winter School and $9.90 paid to Cynthia Norton for Summer School.
The school burned in January 1847 and there followed much confusion (this has occurred numerous times) and arguing over where the new school should be located and built. At the meeting in 1847 change of site and building of new school was discussed and decided to build between S. Godfrey and John Hayes. At the next meeting this was annulled. Next site chosen between S. Godfrey and Thomas J. Houke, February 20, 1847. Next meeting February 27, 1847, voted to rescind vote on school site taken on February 20, 1847. They resolved that the school should be kept in S. Godfrey’s shop as district school vote carried by a majority of five.
Trustees, Alanson Darian and Levi H. Thompson, started a school in the new building built with money from the town superintendent and taxes collected by them. On July 14,1848 this was appealed to Superintendent of Common Schools and he ruled money was used and collected illegally. A. Darian and Levi H. Thompson sued School District #7 for money used in lawsuit over schoolhouse and won settlement of $450.00. (Note: a tidy sum for that time period)
There is no record of using school built by trustees, Darian and Thompson, mentioned in the book. However, as the school now stands on their site it is presumed that the school was accepted and used.
In the years between 1850 and 1900 many meetings mentioned repair of the building, such as a new shingle roof, windows, floors, seats and new siding and paint. A flag pole and flag was purchased in 1902. The records show the purchase of three stoves while the school was in service. In 1911 two separate closets were built which were converted boys and girls toilets in 1930 when chemical toilets were installed to replace the outdoor privy. In 1919 it was voted to pay transportation of scholars and in 1920 there was much debate as to maintain the school or send the scholars elsewhere.
The school building serving as a house has had many residents since then and much remodeling and adding to following a fire in 1944. It is not occupied by the family of Carlton and Catherine Odell.”
This concluded Mr. Odell’s documentation, but additionally a partial list of the teachers of this district was included with his history. Tribute to these follows with dates and names -1821 - Wager Eastman -1823 - S. Colburn -1825 - Cynthia Norton, Daniel (last name unknown) -1826 - Justice Eastman -1827 - Justice Eastman, July Buckingham -1828 - Albert Cornwell - Cynthia Norton -1829 - Albert Cornwell, Phebe Barnes, Nathan Cady -1830 - Haus Gelsey -1831 - George Guy, Laura Humphrey - same for 1832 and finally 1902 - Myron Wheeler for the fall term.
A copy of the Teachers’ Contract dated August 28,1901 tells us that Albert J. Moses of Guilford, County of Chenango, a duly qualified teacher hereby contracts with board of trustees of District 7, Town of Guilford, County of Chenango to teach public school in said district for a term of 16 consecutive weeks commencing September 9,1901 at a weekly compensation of $7 dollars and .75 cents payable at the end of thirty days during the term of such employment. The board of trustees of said district hereby contract to employ said teacher for said period at the said rate of compensation, payable at the time herein stated.
Additionally said board of trustees reserved the right to provide for a vacation or vacations of not more than — (this was blank) weeks in the aggregate, during said term. This contract was dated (above date) by Albert Moses, Teacher and H. E. Haynes - trustee.
The second contract was the same as first except term was March 17,1902, number of days teacher taught for the year was 160 days. School terms were September 9 to December 31 and March 17 to July 3 signed by Lewis Williams, District Clerk - July 3, 1902 and December 31, 1901 by C. H. Curtis - District Clerk.
In conclusion of this article two souvenir programs (given by the teachers) have survived the ravages of time and the information written in them is listed at a tribute to both the teachers and scholars. 1899 - School District No 7 - Guilford Township - Chenango County - March 27 - The final chapter of District No. 7 occurred when the various district schools centralized with Mt. Upton. District No. 7 was closed and reverted to the owner of the land surrounding it, Phillips M. Odell.
The photo accompanying this article was taken in 1914 and it was noted to this writer that in 1976 this school was part of the Carlton O’Dell home. This writer has been led to believe that this school later burned and I stand corrected if this information is not correct. The students in the photo gives us the following information - Grace Blincoe was the teacher, the smallest boy is identified as Arthur Greene, behind him, a boy by the last name of Joy, Claude Breeze - the tall boy and the Maculy children identified as Cecil, Paula, Hazel and Lila.
Carlton P. Odell wrote (undated) a short history of District #7 (Known as Godfrey School) and it is quoted verbatim as he wrote.
“School District #7 of Guilford, New York was organized in 1812 (note: this is one of the earliest of the district schools). The first records available start with the sixth annual meeting held in 1818. At this meeting Samuel Kent was nominated clerk, a position he held until 1922.
The number of scholars taught in 1821 was 3S. Money in the amount of $13.35 was received from the Commissioner of Common Schools and paid to the teacher, Wager G. Eastman.
The wood for the schoolhouse was collected from each parent (this is written throughout these articles numerous times) and said wood was to be measured and recorded by the teacher. Delinquent wood was bought at a low bid. School was held for four months from September through December and called Winter school and March through July called Summer School. In 1828 Albert Cornwell received $12.00 for teaching Winter School and $9.90 paid to Cynthia Norton for Summer School.
The school burned in January 1847 and there followed much confusion (this has occurred numerous times) and arguing over where the new school should be located and built. At the meeting in 1847 change of site and building of new school was discussed and decided to build between S. Godfrey and John Hayes. At the next meeting this was annulled. Next site chosen between S. Godfrey and Thomas J. Houke, February 20, 1847. Next meeting February 27, 1847, voted to rescind vote on school site taken on February 20, 1847. They resolved that the school should be kept in S. Godfrey’s shop as district school vote carried by a majority of five.
Trustees, Alanson Darian and Levi H. Thompson, started a school in the new building built with money from the town superintendent and taxes collected by them. On July 14,1848 this was appealed to Superintendent of Common Schools and he ruled money was used and collected illegally. A. Darian and Levi H. Thompson sued School District #7 for money used in lawsuit over schoolhouse and won settlement of $450.00. (Note: a tidy sum for that time period)
There is no record of using school built by trustees, Darian and Thompson, mentioned in the book. However, as the school now stands on their site it is presumed that the school was accepted and used.
In the years between 1850 and 1900 many meetings mentioned repair of the building, such as a new shingle roof, windows, floors, seats and new siding and paint. A flag pole and flag was purchased in 1902. The records show the purchase of three stoves while the school was in service. In 1911 two separate closets were built which were converted boys and girls toilets in 1930 when chemical toilets were installed to replace the outdoor privy. In 1919 it was voted to pay transportation of scholars and in 1920 there was much debate as to maintain the school or send the scholars elsewhere.
The school building serving as a house has had many residents since then and much remodeling and adding to following a fire in 1944. It is not occupied by the family of Carlton and Catherine Odell.”
This concluded Mr. Odell’s documentation, but additionally a partial list of the teachers of this district was included with his history. Tribute to these follows with dates and names -1821 - Wager Eastman -1823 - S. Colburn -1825 - Cynthia Norton, Daniel (last name unknown) -1826 - Justice Eastman -1827 - Justice Eastman, July Buckingham -1828 - Albert Cornwell - Cynthia Norton -1829 - Albert Cornwell, Phebe Barnes, Nathan Cady -1830 - Haus Gelsey -1831 - George Guy, Laura Humphrey - same for 1832 and finally 1902 - Myron Wheeler for the fall term.
A copy of the Teachers’ Contract dated August 28,1901 tells us that Albert J. Moses of Guilford, County of Chenango, a duly qualified teacher hereby contracts with board of trustees of District 7, Town of Guilford, County of Chenango to teach public school in said district for a term of 16 consecutive weeks commencing September 9,1901 at a weekly compensation of $7 dollars and .75 cents payable at the end of thirty days during the term of such employment. The board of trustees of said district hereby contract to employ said teacher for said period at the said rate of compensation, payable at the time herein stated.
Additionally said board of trustees reserved the right to provide for a vacation or vacations of not more than — (this was blank) weeks in the aggregate, during said term. This contract was dated (above date) by Albert Moses, Teacher and H. E. Haynes - trustee.
The second contract was the same as first except term was March 17,1902, number of days teacher taught for the year was 160 days. School terms were September 9 to December 31 and March 17 to July 3 signed by Lewis Williams, District Clerk - July 3, 1902 and December 31, 1901 by C. H. Curtis - District Clerk.
In conclusion of this article two souvenir programs (given by the teachers) have survived the ravages of time and the information written in them is listed at a tribute to both the teachers and scholars. 1899 - School District No 7 - Guilford Township - Chenango County - March 27 - The final chapter of District No. 7 occurred when the various district schools centralized with Mt. Upton. District No. 7 was closed and reverted to the owner of the land surrounding it, Phillips M. Odell.
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