As was written in the preceding week’s articles “to be continued and this week we will be taking a look at the history of what would be eventually be called ‘The Union School.’” As was written the second schoolhouse in Guilford was built across from the Fire House and was destined, again, no to have a long life as an educational institution. As more and more of the smaller districts their schoolhouses, taking the opportunity to send the students to the village school, while still others chose to attend other schools. This writer will assume that decision was made as more than likely the students lived closer to another school rather than attend Guilford.
With the increase in student population this gave those in favor of Centralization a more strong voice in the affairs of the Guilford Township. With the talk of centralization reaching the State level, it would have far-reaching consequences on all School Districts, but most especially Guilford. With residents taking advantage of a new larger school building, they chose to send their children to Guilford for “a higher education.” This higher education had the equivalency of what is now Middle School formerly known as Junior High. This would eventually be the beginning of the end with the local Superintendents of Schools through the State Education Department acquiring more and more authority and power. The fate of the one-room schoolhouse was being sealed.
Approximately in 1895, residents started to talk about a new larger school. Hamlet residents along with some of the rural area taxpayers began to discuss building a large school. Eventually funds would be allocated for said study, with promise of additional funding from the State. The move was put in motion to build, however, this prospective move to build was not without complications, and additionally there was the usual objections by individuals and groups an/or cliques.
Normal school districts did not go beyond the 8th grade, which was much more advanced the same grade in later years. Four more years of education beyond the 8th grade had not been considered in that time period of before the turn to the twentieth century. Higher education was considered College or University. Back to Dist. #14 the voters were considering advanced education beyond the 8th grade there were many who objected. “Book Larni’n” was not necessary, this being objected to by those who believed in the status quo and disliked any change whatsoever. Diehards to the end!
The arguments that a new school for District #14 was that the district could not afford to build and there just were not enough students. Besides those students that wanted “book larni’n” had the privilege of attending higher education in Sidney. Sidney had a high school, and high school was equivalent to grades 7 and 8.
There is an expression that was documented previously “The only thing we learn from history is that we don’t learn anything from history.” This writer will disagree with that statement at any time or place; not necessarily in the same format, but history does repeat itself to a certain degree.
“Why, Why, Why?” was the cry, should Guilford go to the expense of building another larger school and these same arguments were used back in 1870 when the railroad built through Guilford and the school was moved. Cost too much to build, new building was not needed building would be too large for student body, why do our children need more book learning. And so the battle continued on and on. On a modern note, events have not changed a great deal.
With the interest of the trustees and voters of several of the common school districts of sending their children to the Guilford Hamlet School, the prospect of a new school improved considerably. The student body was ready to move and by this move it meant a combined school.
However, before any further action could be taken, the State Education Department had to approve this latest project and the approving official was the County School Commissioner for Chenango County Second District!
The Districts involved proceeded to go through with proper procedures, in 1897 a special meeting of the electors of District #14 voted to pass the required resolution. In less than a year. District #14, Guilford Hamlet School had a new name. It was to be called “The Union Free School District #14, Town of Guilford, Chenango County.” This was quite a mouthful and the name was shortened to “The Union School, Guilford.”
The photos accompanying this article, compliments of the Chenango County Historian’s Office, give the readers a glance at the student body and the photo of the school which was eventually built on Windsor Street (now School). And with this we state, “to be continued.”