When the “Schools of the Past” for the Town of Norwich were begun with the January 2, 2014 article this district was completely absent from the research that had been accumulated relevant to the history of the township schools. There is documentation on the three maps 1863, 1874, and 1875 that the school site existed, however, in doing the detective work with the assistance of the Chenango County Historian [Patricia Evans] and her Research Assistant [Joan Lieb] extensive documentation was found relevant to the above district. The wealth of information is the documentation of the school attendance records 1842-1862 and assorted annual trustee’s reports. In this and future articles, the school history and financial obligations, will be written, and as has been written previously – “stay tuned in on this serial documentation.”
To record all the information available will not be possible and it is hoped that the readers of The Evening Sun will enjoy the assorted facts and figures of both this article and ones to follow.
The first documentation is dated October 4, 1842 when James Tucker, Elisha Franklin and Leroy Shattuck were elected trustees of #15 and on October 12th would see Jonathan T. Barrows retained to teach four months [winter school] for $12.50 per month. In the spring of 1843 Anne Celia Childs was retained for three months [summer school] at $4.50 per month. This spread of the difference between winter and summer terms relevant to pay was not uncommon throughout all the districts of Chenango County,
Documented at this time that the location of District #15 school site was at what is now the south side of the intersection of the Lower and Upper Ravine Road just south of the City of Norwich and was located on the land owned by Shattuck. The school district was partially in the Town of Preston and in 1843 #15 received $5.55 in public land money from that township. Expenses for 1843 included $.25 paid to W. Willcox for account books and the same amount and received $.50 from G. Hicks for the same purpose. Leroy Shattuck paid $50.00 to Gordon T. Barrows, but no documentation as to what this amount was paid for, and Edwin Button received $.75 for washing the schoolhouse. Other expenses were $3.96 to Chapman Gilbert for books, $.30 for blackboard, $.12 for journal, $1.25 for 2 account books, and still later a receipt was included for $11.00 for a 9” globe.
Before continuing with further expenses, a list of books in the school library was included in this treasure trove of history, which will only be acknowledged in part and to their cost which will prove to be interest in comparison with the cost of books purchased in this the twenty-first century. Practical Farmer - $1.12, Naval Battles - $.75, Life of Jefferson - $.60 – Nationalists Own Book - $.60, Franklin’s Works - $.31, Wonders of Nature - $.31, Thomas Traits of Naval and Indian Characters - $.62, American Liberty and Slavery - $1.13, Black Hawk - $.56 [assume this was documentation of the Black Hawk war], Thacher’s American History - $1.62, Life of Christ - $.62, Mental Illumination & Moral Improvement - $1.00, The School and School Master - $1.00, Scriptable Georgraphy - $1.00, Political History of New York 2 volumes - #73 & #74 - $.75 each, and Young Ladies Romantic Tales – no price. From reading these assorted titles, it may be assumed this was “heavy reading” with only the last mentioned being “light reading.” Many of the above titles were purchased in more than multiple copies, others just one copy.
Continuing in the 1843 year, A. B. Packer, Leroy Shattuck and Wm. R. Breed serving as trustees, with Shattuck’s term 1 year, Breed’s 2 years and Packer’s 3 years. In the following years of this district, at assorted times, these three names appear frequently in different roles of serving the district. Gardner Barrows to teach winter term 4 months at $14.00 per month and Catherine Parker to teach summer term of 4 months at $4.00 per month. A special meeting was called for the purpose of a vote to raise such sum of money as the trustees deemed proper for the building of a privy and repairs and Memorandum books. The amount raised was $16.50. This expense was paid for in April of 1844.
In September of 1844, William H. Day was retained for the winter term at $12.00 per month and Catherine Darling for the summer term at $1.15 per week with school closing August 29, 1845.
In the documentation of the trustee’s reports dated in 1845, of interest money from Common School district $1.26, from the 15th township [Norwich] - $1.92, from the 14th township [Preston] $4.80, library money $6.96, money collected by rate bill for summer term - $14.09, and money from tax bill $5.58. This documentation of finances continues through the years and in the year 1847 the following expenses are listed of interest to all. Purchased of O. D. Davis 12 volumes Robert Berry’s America $.50 each – total $6.00, Horse Ferrier and Cow Doctor - $.50.
Additionally paid Amos Packer $.46 for a lug of putty and no amount given paid William Franklin and Amos Packer for boarding up school house. It is noted at this time, that during the span of the history of the one-room schools, the trustees repaired the school houses more often not at no charge.
At the September 1848 meeting John Samuel Shattuck was hired for the winter term or $13.00 per month starting in November and to teach 4 months. In 1848 Harriet Gerry retained for the summer term of 4 months at 9 shillings per week starting May 1st and closing August 1st.
In October of 1848 purchased one large plate stove $13.00, 10 lbs. nails $.05 per lb, 1 pail - $.31, 1 tin cup - $.06, sold the old iron stove for $2.95, These trustees were extremely prudent with the funds that were available. The year 1849 would see assorted payments, mainly for the above to different persons who had purchased these items for the schoolhouse.
In September of 1848, the district received of E. C. Chase of Preston land money in the amount of $8.54, hired Henry Wheeler to teach winter 4 months school at $12.00 per month, only taught 3 ½ months thus closed March 7, 1849. Hired Lovinia Pendleton for summer school for 5 months at $22.00 per month starting April 23, 1849. [Note] the Pendleton farm property is located on County Road 32 and assumes that the business located as River Road Auto was part of that farm.
Maintenance and repair, the never ending expense, not only to the district school but to all buildings, and documented paid brick maker Wood $1.25 for plastering, repairs to chimney $.36, the ongoing repairs were more often and not an annual expense.
Closing this first article and interesting note in these pages of history was Lyman Drake to have $.37 allowed him on his school bill of this summer’s teaching with the above $.13 will compensate for cleaning school house.
Thus the book of pages for this week will continue in the next year with the year 1850 and forward.