Once again this writer must rely on the writings of Marion Poole as research has not revealed a great deal of scholastic history regarding the district schools in the above township.
It is regrettable that so little school history has survived the ravages of time and with the Lane District #6 (we have no photo of this school) all that can be written is this district school was located on the west side of the Pitcher-Lincklaen road below what is known as the Factory Gulf Road. Two years in the 1920s it was closed because there were so few to attend. At that time they came to District #1 (Pond District) and made over 40 pupils. When this information was forwarded to this writer by former historian Joy Barber, the building is still standing on the old Cline Oliver farm and being used as a garage (2008)
The photo of Lincklaen Center does show the traditional white building with a bell tower, front entrance, and we will assume two windows on each side of the schoolhouse. Originally District #8, we assume it was changed to #12 as the districts were merged. This schoolhouse is one of four still standing in the township. The photo of students dated 1919 was forwarded to this writer from the Otselic historian - Eloise Shuman. It had been given to her, and then for my use in articles relevant to Lincklaen. It is no guarantee that these are the students from District #12.
This writer again has to use Marion Poole’s history of #12. She related in her school history that District #8 (12) was the first schoolhouse built in ‘Burdick Settlement” (now Lincklaen Center). The site was located across the road from the Fuller farm and north of where James Fuller, Jr. lives. Built on Daniel Burdick’s land as his cabin was at the Fuller residence. It was a one room log cabin caulked with mud. The customary wood pegs were built in for wraps. Benches and desks were made of lumber donated. During its early lifetime it served as a church for the Seventh Day Baptists on weekends. Later this log cabin burned and was replaced by a frame building. The records of the above mentioned church gives the details that the church was organized on January 31, 1831 “in a schoolhouse nearby.” The church edifice was constructed in 1836 of materials and labor donated by members of the church. The later school (we assume it is the one in the photo) was erected about 1863 or 1865, was next to the church so it is possible that it was built on the foundation of the first frame school. This schoolhouse would continue to be used until 1945 when it closed and all the scholars were taken to DeRuyter Centralized School. It is one of the two school buildings on its original site in town and at the time this information was forwarded owned by the now late George Staley who had preserved the building in excellent condition.
With this scant historical information, yet another chapter of Lincklaen District Schools is closed to be continued next week.