As the fall season continues here in beautiful Chenango County we again take a look at two more of the numerous districts that composed the Town of Greene. Once again the historical data that is available once again credit is to be given to Mildred English Folsom in her book “Town of Greene - Rural School Districts.” Additional credit is to Smith’s History of Chenango County 1784-1880.
Smith’s History relates that in 1877 there were 21 common and 1 Union School, each having a schoolhouse within the town and 3 common school districts which have not. The number of children residing as of September 30, 1877 was 1, 014 and during that year there were 18 male and 36 female teachers, 28 of whom were licensed. Children residing in the numerous districts were 894, of which 4 were under five or over 21 years of age. Total number of volumes in the district libraries was 2, 218 with a total value of $l,872. As written above there were 22 schoolhouses of which 21 were frame and 1 brick. Total acreage was five acres and 140 rods and the assessed value of property in the districts stood at $2, 313.70. The total receipts for the above year was $8,169 and total expenditures $8,169.15. One cannot help but wonder if this over expenditure of $.15 was questioned?
DISTRICT #3 - HARBOR DISTRICT
Research compiled by Mrs. Folsom in her book “Echoes of the Past” we have the written data that District #3 started in 1830 continued to 1867 when it became District #13 (which will be documented in a future article). In her documentation of the “Records of Boundaries” the above district was located near David S. Crandall’s and Joseph Tillotson’s properties. In the study of the 1875 Atlas this district shows the schoolhouse near the intersection of the now county road that leads from Route 12 to Smithville Center. In the recorded deeds of Book 102 page 46 located at the Chenango County Clerk’s office in 1826 Herman and Miriam Carter sold to District #3 fifteen rods of land south of Genegantslet Four Corners on top of the knoll were the new schoolhouse is now built - being Lot 7 of the Chenango Triangle formerly called the Mill lot. East side of highway - bounded east by north end of schoolhouse 3 rods - south 5 rods - west 3 rods to highway - north to point of beginning for $10. One cannot help wonder what the price of this land would be sold for today.
In the years of 1830 to 1867 the number of students attending this school varied from a low of 15 students (1834) to a high of 57 (1856). Credit is to be given to the following gentlemen who graciously gave their time so that their own and other children had a proper education of those early days. These included: Levi Morse, George T. Race, D. S. Crandall, Job Watson, Abraham Tillotson, J. Hotchkiss, Harris H. Bates, William Hotchkiss, Steven A. Race, Harvey June, Silos Tillotson, Ashael Peck, D. Bates, Jr. Chauncey Tillotson, Seth Hollenbeck, Wm. Watrous, Philo Peck, George S. Morse, Elijah Cowan, Frank Hollenbeck, Perry Johnson, Hiram Curtis, and Derick Race to pay homage part of these early Trustees.
The photo of District #3, shown with this article, which became District #13 at a later date is of the school when it was termed #13 and as the school appeared at a much later date 1944.
