In conclusion of the extensive history off the above district the photo shows the overgrown area where the schoolhouse originally stood. This has been the scenario many times over with the disbandment of the one-room schoolhouses that dotted the landscape in the pioneer days of settling Chenango County. The research of the assorted histories has given the facts that either the schoolhouses were abandoned to fall into ruin, burned, torn down, converted to private residences, used as chicken coops, storage, etc. The only positive aspect of all this is that the schoolhouses that have been converted to private dwellings, although greatly modified, are still in use today.
To conclude this history, this article will be focused on more or less a statistical report of this district’s students, teachers, etc.
For the school year of 8/1/1893 to 7/31/1894 W. H. Harrington was trustee, George C. Hall and Willie M. Tyler were retained as teachers, each 16 weeks with actual days teaching 77. We find the school books by Swinton were used frequently, with the names of Robinson, Appleton, Thomson, Fish’s, Reed and Kellogg’s, Bronk’s, Hutchinson being used in teaching. Students names did not very much, Harrington, Richardson, Dolan, Foster, being listed as students.
The school year 8/1/1896 0 7/31/1897 again W. Harrington as trustee with teachers Inez Huntley and Nellie VanDeusen being listed. For this term visitor’s listed included Alice E. Davis, Amy Huntley, Eva Huntley, Earl Barrows, Maude Huntley, Maude Silvernail, Jamie Silvernail, L. Silvernail, Charles Clinton (School Commissioner), Iris Huntley. Ina Bush, W. Harrington (Trustee), Jennie and Gerald Preston, Matie Harrington, Grace Richardson, Vera Dolan from Chicago, Grover Kelsey, Lillian Preston, Eulalie Richardson, Mary, Herbert, and Matie Harrington.
By the year of 8/1/1899 - 7/31/1900 there was a change, W. Harrington was still trustee but Eyra Preston is listed as clerk and Henry Dolan as collector. Reading, Penmanship, Arithmetic, Geography, Spelling and Language were subjects all taught by one teacher to all grades. Henry Van Deusen was paid $6 weekly starting 8/2/1899 and $5 weekly beginning 11/30/1899. Why the decrease of $1 is not known.
Bits of history for this term gives us the teacher attended institute, one book in the library, a flag was displayed, it was a frame building with the school house furniture in fair condition. The value of the school site was $25 and the building itself $100. Assessed valuation of all property taxable in district $11,445. The length and width of the school grounds was 7 1/2 rods by 5 rods, they had an outhouse, boys and girls separated by 100 feet.
Additionally is was noted Physiology and Hygiene were taught. Arbor Day was not observed and a copy of the 46th annual report to State Superintendent was filed. A census schedule was filed, and again the names of Richardson, Dolan, Pike and Joseph appear as either parents or guardians of the students.
With the last school year for which we have documentation, basically the same information as listed above and as a final inclusion of information the CLASSIFICATION, STANDING, ADVANCEMENT OF PUPILS - August 27,1900 - January 1901 is listed below as a matter of historical interest to all who read these (somewhat at times dry) documentations. Nora Frink - age 15-grade 5; Harry Richardson (13) (grade 4); Frank Dolan (12) (grade 5); Claude Hall (14) (grade 4); Mary Richardson (8) (grade 1); Grace Richardson (5) (grade 1); Gerald Preston (6) (grade 1) and for the term of April 15,1901-July 1901 Nora Frink (16) (grade 5); March Richardson (8) (grade 1); Grace Richardson (6) (grade 1); and again Gerald Preston (6) (grade 2).
Thus the documentation of District 6 is concluded and the history of the districts of McDonough will continue in future articles.