At times all historians have been known to “jump up and down with joy” and at times even become hysterical when the never ending search for history gives up facts or photos of the long lost pages of history. Such is the case with District #3 - Columbus Center. To all who are unfamiliar with Columbus Center, the location is exactly where named - what is now the small hamlet of Columbus located on New York State Route 80 approximately half way between New Berlin and Sherburne.
The photo accompanying this article is copied directly from the original in the possession of the Chenango County Historian’s office as is the poem that will be given below. The photo of District #3 was taken in 1913 - 1914 and we are most fortunate that the names of the students in this photo were identified, which we will list now: Front Row: #1 - Calhoun Beardsley - #1 -#2 -Mercian Spurr (she would later be Mrs. Ted Whitney and deeply involved with the Chenango County Historical Society for many years) - #3 - Charles Horstman - #4 -Ruth Williams - #5 - Frances Bingham - #6 - Alice Dewey. Back row: #1 - Floyd Rowe - #2 - Clifford Gibson - #3 - Reed Bowers - #4 Lee Barings - #5 - Lynn Rowe - #6 - Blanche Bingham (teacher) - #7 - Edwin Beardsley - #8 - Nathan Spurr and #9 - Alice Spurr.
The poem was written by Lillian M. Griswold of 133 Delaware Street, Syracuse, New York and is undated and quoted exactly as written as a remembrance of her attending District #3.
REMINISCENCES
Since reading the rhymes that roll from the pen
Of Spencer Pope and Clark our loyal old friend
am led to believe by the gist of their tales
That the folks of those towns were exclusively males
But of course, ‘Twas not so and there’s none who have known it
Any better than they, tho they seem wrath to own it
So it seems appropriate at this stage of the game
To write of the girls (?) and call them by name
My mind wanders back to Columbus school days
And scatters my thoughts in a thousand ways
District #3 in the old town then
Was the central school for its future men?
And it turned out material in those days of old
That may loyal women with hearts of gold
So many in fact that my thoughts gather in
That my wits are annoyed to know where to begin
In memory’s album, I’ll search for the faces
That time seemed endowed with true feminine graces
I’ll endeavor to name these, tho’ I may miss a few
But in case I should do, so I’ll apologize too.
Amy Sturges and Minnie with curly red hair
Hattie Myers, Myra Spurr, exceedingly fair
Alice Myers, Elva Cutler and sweet Delia Marrow,
All came to our school education to borrow
Minnie Ingham and Maggie, Oh how they could sing!
Emma Toles, Dora Chaplin, Minnie Johnson, Mame King
T’was a find bunch of girls as you might want to see
Who sought to get knowledge in Old District Three!
Minnie Chase, do you know she remains just the same?
