Written previously numerous times, if new information relevant to any of the district schoolhouses is found the pages of the book remain open for any new inclusion of historical information. Such is the case with the District #16 - Brisben or #22 - Greene/Oxford. A phone message was directed to me by Mr. Tim Fowlston - Oxford, New York. In my article of February 11, 2011 wrote that the “Upper School” was moved and in late years ending up as a garage on the Francis Hill farm, south of Oxford on Route 12. Mr. Fowlston informed me that yes his garage was the old District #16 or #22 school. He then advised me that there was nothing inside that resembled the schoolhouse, however, there are two windows in the now garage which might have been part of the windows of the former schoolhouse. Permission was granted to me to photograph this garage (schoolhouse) for future use, if and when we have spring and no more snow. Perhaps at a later date this photo may be included in a future article.

The District #18 - East River Road had a long life as a district school being active from 1830 to 1941 (111 years) and finally was removed to the village of Greene and converted to a private dwelling. We will assume that over that lengthy period of time, changes were made to the building, both inside and out, all buildings have to be maintained or decay sets in and eventually they are demolished.

When this district was formed the commissioners were Samuel Williams, Levi Farr and Augustus Willard. Inspectors that same year were William Patterson, Orrin Sharp and A. Willard. All three of these gentlemen would go on for several years, at different periods of time, to serve the district in either Commissioner or Inspector. Other names that appear in the research of this district include Samuel Williams, Elisha B. Smith (pre-Civil War) Emmon Bouton, Robert Monetl, Arad Gilbert, Amos Gray, Jehial Spafford, the list goes on and on of the gentlemen of this area who so willingly served the educational purposes both for their children and their neighbor’s children.

In the research of the district’s lines this district was bounded by John BIy, Jr. and Harry Perry. Whether these two gentlemen owned land, each, on two sides of the formation of the district may be deciphered from the following district line changes. In 1831 the lots #28, 29,30, and 31 in the Juhel Tract were annexed to #18. Also the farms of James Smith, John Watson, the Toll House at the bridge #4 district and the farms of Gardner, Horton and Job BIy were annexed to District #18. As to the location the 1875 Atlas of Chenango County (Greene) does show the schoolhouse as being located on what is now County Road #32 not too far below the bridge that crosses the Chenango River from Brisben to the “East River Road.” As has been written above the schoolhouse was moved to the village. The next district line change occurred in 1847 when the farm of Elijah Rathbone was taken from District #4 and annexed to District #18 and again that same year lots #2, 3,45, and 46 which had not been included in any district were included with #18. Again in 1848 the east half of lot #4 occupied by Lester Manley was changed from District #15 to #18. In 1850 lots #41 and #41 of the Juhel Tract, lands of Richard Tremaine, Harley, Levi, Edmund Beardstey, Henry Manwarring and C.P. Blakesley were taken from District #8 (Greene & Coventry) and annexed to #18. Another change in lines occurred in 1852 when the farms of Orrin D. Carter were taken from #18 and given to District #4. Yet another change would occur in 1871 when from #18 and given to #41: beginning on east bank of river between 0. D. Carter and E.S.D. Spencer, north to lands of Nathan Smith, east to O.D. Carter, south to V. Watson, west between the 3 properties to highway on east side of river, and west to point of beginning. From a prospective point of view, was it necessary for all these district line changes?

In the deeds recorded at the County Clerk’s office in Book #158 page 181 in 1878 the following deed is recorded. F. S. Race sold to A. Hunt Smith, Ira W. Day and James R. Smith as Trustees of District #18, it was voted to move schoolhouse nearer to center of district. (Present site was leased from farm now owned by F. S. Race and reverted back to owner) Substituted for parcel of land situated on highway running from railroad back to River Bridge. Beginning in center of center of highway, west along line of Wm. B. Race 6 rods, north 4 rods, east rods to road, south to point of beginning (24 rods). There was no monetary amount included with this informational research and it is not known by this writer whether there was an exchange of money or was the land given? Perhaps future research will unearth this mystery!