Schools of the Past: McDonough District 7 The Old School, Part I
Traveling south this week the district above as will be detailed was located in the actual village of McDonough and we are fortunate to have more documentation of this early district school than has been the scenario with certain districts located in this township.
The photo with this article gives us the picture of when it was actually in use and the photo is unfortunately undated. However with this photo we are quoting verbatim what Mrs. Jennie Preston documented in her research of the assorted districts of the township, bear in mind this research was done in 1976.
“Along with the population that settled in the village of McDonough came School District No. 7. The first schoolhouse was built on West Street. It was built about 1845 on a site just east of the converted schoolhouse that is now the American Legion Home. It cost $350. Gates Wilcox and Reuben Wilcox were elected trustees at the first school meeting.
“As was similar to other districts, there was a ‘man school’ in the winter and a ‘woman school’ in the summer as recorded in the minutes of the annual school meeting. Also included was the price of education for each scholar, one-half cord of wood or a fine often shillings per cord. The wood was undoubtedly for a fireplace because handirons were authorized to be purchased.
“A ruling that is found an amusement too many was that the trustee must see that every man pays the misfortune that his child caused to be done in the schoolhouse. This meant broken windows, whittled desks, and the like.”
The following list of students in 1842 was found: Henry Meeker, Silas Fosgate, Varance Emerson, Milan Hill, Lewis Dodge, Charles Ackley, Melissa Gault Lamb, Melissa Nichols Arnold, Mary Jane Hilt Reed, Louisa Sawtell Davenport, Ruth Morley Emerson and Roxy Wilcox Hotdrige.
“The building now referred to as ‘the old schoolhouse’ was built ca. 1888. It is called that by residents today because many remember going to school there before consolidation into McDonough Union School, thus the name of ‘the old schoolhouse.’ It has two rooms with a hall in between, one for the younger pupils and the other for the older pupils.
“In 1890, it was repaired and a ten foot addition was built on the west end and an L put on the front. The carpentry was done by Charles Drew. When the grounds were graded, it ended a fun-place for children because the fishpond and creek were covered up. It has been a spot of great activity from fishing to skating.
“After closing down, it was used for various activities including a basketball court for McDonough Union School’s athletics. Today it is an empty American legion Home, sometimes used to house historical exhibits pertaining to the area.”
This ended what Mrs. Preston researched however the building today is stilt the American Legion and is used on a daily basis. In closing, any new information or history relevant to this school that has not surfaced previously, please contact either this writer at pfscott@frontier.com or Donna J. Robb at djrobb@frontier.net.net or phone 647-5659. All information will be duly credited.
The photo with this article gives us the picture of when it was actually in use and the photo is unfortunately undated. However with this photo we are quoting verbatim what Mrs. Jennie Preston documented in her research of the assorted districts of the township, bear in mind this research was done in 1976.
“Along with the population that settled in the village of McDonough came School District No. 7. The first schoolhouse was built on West Street. It was built about 1845 on a site just east of the converted schoolhouse that is now the American Legion Home. It cost $350. Gates Wilcox and Reuben Wilcox were elected trustees at the first school meeting.
“As was similar to other districts, there was a ‘man school’ in the winter and a ‘woman school’ in the summer as recorded in the minutes of the annual school meeting. Also included was the price of education for each scholar, one-half cord of wood or a fine often shillings per cord. The wood was undoubtedly for a fireplace because handirons were authorized to be purchased.
“A ruling that is found an amusement too many was that the trustee must see that every man pays the misfortune that his child caused to be done in the schoolhouse. This meant broken windows, whittled desks, and the like.”
The following list of students in 1842 was found: Henry Meeker, Silas Fosgate, Varance Emerson, Milan Hill, Lewis Dodge, Charles Ackley, Melissa Gault Lamb, Melissa Nichols Arnold, Mary Jane Hilt Reed, Louisa Sawtell Davenport, Ruth Morley Emerson and Roxy Wilcox Hotdrige.
“The building now referred to as ‘the old schoolhouse’ was built ca. 1888. It is called that by residents today because many remember going to school there before consolidation into McDonough Union School, thus the name of ‘the old schoolhouse.’ It has two rooms with a hall in between, one for the younger pupils and the other for the older pupils.
“In 1890, it was repaired and a ten foot addition was built on the west end and an L put on the front. The carpentry was done by Charles Drew. When the grounds were graded, it ended a fun-place for children because the fishpond and creek were covered up. It has been a spot of great activity from fishing to skating.
“After closing down, it was used for various activities including a basketball court for McDonough Union School’s athletics. Today it is an empty American legion Home, sometimes used to house historical exhibits pertaining to the area.”
This ended what Mrs. Preston researched however the building today is stilt the American Legion and is used on a daily basis. In closing, any new information or history relevant to this school that has not surfaced previously, please contact either this writer at pfscott@frontier.com or Donna J. Robb at djrobb@frontier.net.net or phone 647-5659. All information will be duly credited.
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