In checking the latest Chenango County map to ascertain if Squirrel Hill still was in existence – it is and begins just south of the Greene Airport on New York State #12 and runs south to the Broome County line. Mrs. Folsom documented the general areas of the district schools and in checking the 1863 map of the Township of Greene, the above district does not appear.
Moving forward to the 1875 map of the county the location of this early district school was located near the property of W.W. Davis and bringing the location to the present, approximately just south of the Squirrel Hill and Hackett Roads. Ah, another Sunday afternoon drive when we have warmer weather in the forthcoming spring.
The life of District #12 ran from 1851 to 1915 a span of 64 years and to the historian’s knowledge there are no known photos existing of the school. If anyone rummaging in their attics would happen to come across a photo, please forward it to Mrs. Ross, she will be ecstatic to receive it. The Greene Historical Society has in its possession, a wealth of information regarding the district, but all historians, societies, are always looking for that all evasive segment of history that helps solve so many problems.
Written previously in the articles of the Township of Greene, the Squirrel Hill District was no exception to the district line changes as is documented and given to all who are in a study of maps, etc. The first district change found was in 1831 when the farm of Con McGowan was changed from #12 (Mrs. Folsom wrote Smithville) to #11 (Smithville and Greene). Whether this change relates to the Smithville district schools remains to be written at a later date when the district schools of Smithville are written. In 1846 the farm of Solomon Lawton (the north half of lot #12 from moved from District #20 to #22. This is again is confusing to say the least as the locations do no coincide with the approximate site of #12. Finally there is documentation that in 1852 a new District #12 (where ?) was formed which included lots #113,100,99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94 and 87 (they previously being parts of Districts # 7,13, and 19. Yet another study of existing maps, preferable at the County Clerk’s Office!
