The subject of this article District #7 was located just off County Road 37 - (Windsor’s Corners-Mt. Upton Road) on what is now named the Phillips-Odell Road which is a southerly route from #37 to where it intersects with County Road #35 - (Guilford-Sidney Road).
The photo accompanying this article was taken in 1914 and it was noted to this writer that in 1976 this school was part of the Carlton O’Dell home. This writer has been led to believe that this school later burned and I stand corrected if this information is not correct. The students in the photo gives us the following information - Grace Blincoe was the teacher, the smallest boy is identified as Arthur Greene, behind him, a boy by the last name of Joy, Claude Breeze - the tall boy and the Maculy children identified as Cecil, Paula, Hazel and Lila.
Carlton P. Odell wrote (undated) a short history of District #7 (Known as Godfrey School) and it is quoted verbatim as he wrote.
“School District #7 of Guilford, New York was organized in 1812 (note: this is one of the earliest of the district schools). The first records available start with the sixth annual meeting held in 1818. At this meeting Samuel Kent was nominated clerk, a position he held until 1922.
The number of scholars taught in 1821 was 3S. Money in the amount of $13.35 was received from the Commissioner of Common Schools and paid to the teacher, Wager G. Eastman.
The wood for the schoolhouse was collected from each parent (this is written throughout these articles numerous times) and said wood was to be measured and recorded by the teacher. Delinquent wood was bought at a low bid. School was held for four months from September through December and called Winter school and March through July called Summer School. In 1828 Albert Cornwell received $12.00 for teaching Winter School and $9.90 paid to Cynthia Norton for Summer School.
The school burned in January 1847 and there followed much confusion (this has occurred numerous times) and arguing over where the new school should be located and built. At the meeting in 1847 change of site and building of new school was discussed and decided to build between S. Godfrey and John Hayes. At the next meeting this was annulled. Next site chosen between S. Godfrey and Thomas J. Houke, February 20, 1847. Next meeting February 27, 1847, voted to rescind vote on school site taken on February 20, 1847. They resolved that the school should be kept in S. Godfrey’s shop as district school vote carried by a majority of five.
Trustees, Alanson Darian and Levi H. Thompson, started a school in the new building built with money from the town superintendent and taxes collected by them. On July 14,1848 this was appealed to Superintendent of Common Schools and he ruled money was used and collected illegally. A. Darian and Levi H. Thompson sued School District #7 for money used in lawsuit over schoolhouse and won settlement of $450.00. (Note: a tidy sum for that time period)
