Returning to the northern section of the Town of Greene, with the research for this district the documented history of the Spring Valley District credit has to be given both to Mrs. Mildred Folsom and to Guernsey Memorial Library for their extensive information. For all who are not familiar with this section of the Town of Greene, this schoolhouse is located at the intersection of New York State #41 and Spring Valley Road and has been converted to a private dwelling.

Documented history of this one-room school gives us the fact that it was active from 1822 to 1940 and we will assume that the original schoolhouse was either log or a very primitive wood frame dwelling. The photo accompanying this article gives us a picture taken in 1929 with the following students in the photo. Left to right: Clifford Davis, Jack Lavin, Edith Decker and Shirley Simmons.

However let us move backward in time to the year of 1844 after the decision had been brought before the Trustees to erect a new schoolhouse. As stated above we are fortunate to have a copy of the original proposal and contract that was drawn to erect the new school. As both of these papers are of historical interest both documents are quoted verbatim for this week’s article.

PROPOSAL

“G.W. Tillotson as Trustee District 8 of Greene

First: I submit the following proposal to build a School House in accordance with specifications of notice: in District 8 of the Town of Greene. Building 23 x 32 feet with “patent” seats & C. for the sum of six hundred and fifty dollars.

Second: Building 23 x 36 feet with best pine seats & C. for the sum of six hundred and twenty-five dollars.

L. S. Eggleston”

CONTRACT

“Contract made and concluded this 26th day of March A. D. 1884 between Franklin Bush of the Town of Greene, County of Chenango and State of New York. Party of the first part, and George W. Tillotson as Trustee of School District No. 8 of Greene, County and State aforesaid of the second part.

To Wit; the said Franklin Bush agrees to remove the old school house on the schoolhouse site of the schoolhouse site of said District 8 so as to give room sufficient to build a new schoolhouse on said site, and leave the old schoolhouse leveled and in condition for school purpose.