Town of DeKalb, NY - Historian's Office




By Bryan Thompson At the time the town of De Kalb was settled (1803) there was no law in New York State mandating any form of public education for children. In colonial New England rudimentary public education was mandated from an early time, largely due to the Puritan beliefs that each person should learn to read and interpret the Bible themselves. New York was given to the Duke of York as his own private income producing possession. He had no interest in spending tax money educating the populace and so public education lagged. By the time of the American Revolution the colony of New York had the lowest literacy rate of all the 13 colonies. An experimental act encouraging some public schools in NYS was passed in 1795. This law only supplied funding by petition and required a local community match. It was allowed to expire in 1800 and the Regents were forced to fund the few schools established under the act by lotteries. In 1812 the legislature passed the Common Schools Act, which set up a permanent system of common schools, with school districts for each township. The major force behind this legislative innovation was Jedediah Peck of Otsego County. The majority of the first settlers of the town of De Kalb were from New England via Otsego County. Whether it was their early New England experience with public education, or their association with Mr. Peck, these settlers showed a remarkable dedication to providing schooling for the children of the town well before state law mandated it. According to Hough (1853) “the first school in the town was taught by Bela Willes, a Methodist minister, in the winter of 1807, at De Kalb Village, then called Cooper’s Village.” In 1808 according to Goff and Spencer two more log schoolhouses, 20-feet square, were built in the township. The first was located on the Lime Kiln Road on the edge of the current village of Richville. The second was located on the farm of James Jackson (Lot 117) in what was known as Bristol’s Settlement (On the Old State Rd. near the intersection with Mud Lake Rd. now in the town of De Peyster). Sometime shortly after this a fourth school was established at Chester Dewey’s Corners (now the site of Hermon-De Kalb Central School). The Dewey or East school was first referred to in town highway district records in September of 1810. At least two years before the state mandated public funding of elementary education the residents of De Kalb had already built four schools. These first four schools were identified in the 1813 town records as follows,” District #1 Including all living in Farr’s tract except John Ross, the Smith’s and Jared Durkee…”(East De Kalb) “District #2 Including all living from Rich’s settlement to the Canton town line except those in Riches and Bristol’s settlements.” (De Kalb Village) “District #3 Including all living in Rich’s settlement.” (Rich’s) “District #4 Including all living in Bristol’s settlement.”(Now Southern part of De Peyster and N part of De Kalb) The 1812 Act required each town to elect three school commissioners at their annual town meeting. The School Commissioners were empowered to draw up district boundaries and oversee the operation of individual school districts. The School Commissioners were required to be native-born citizens of the United States and legal voters in the town where they served. No guidelines were given for the educational qualifications of the Commissioners. At least one of the first school commissioners had substantial educational background. Joshua Dewey was a graduate of Yale, the founding master of the first school in Cooperstown and is credited with teaching James Fennimore Cooper to read and write. De Kalb Commissioners of Common School Joshua Dewey, Potter Goff, Elisha Griffin Joshua Dewey, Potter Goff, Elisha Griffin Joshua Dewey, Potter Goff, Elisha Griffin Joshua Dewey, Potter Goff, Russell Goff James Burnett, Seth Pomeroy (replaced by Joshua Dewey), Asa Sprague Jr. Potter Goff, Elisha Griffin, John C. Rich Joshua Dewey, Dr. John Seeley, John C. Rich Dr. John Seeley, John C. Rich, Jerod Durkee Dr. John Seeley, Jerod Durkee, James Phelps James Phelps, George Dies, Harry Smith Solomon Pratt, Elisha Griffin, Daniel Wilkins Wm Floyd, James Phelps, Abner McMurphy Wm Floyd, Elisha Griffin, Archibald McMurphy Wm Floyd, Elisha Griffin, Josiah Walker Henry C. Miller, Dr. John Seeley, Seymour Thatcher Henry C. Miller, Harry Tanner, Nathaniel Martin Nathaniel Martin, John C. Rich, Harry Tanner Nathaniel Martin, John C. Rich, Harry Tanner (Seth Alexander replaced) Nathaniel Martin, Orson Shead, James Burnett Jr. Roswell White, Nathaniel Martin, Otis Green John C. Rich, Nathaniel Holt, Henry Ames John C. Rich, Nathaniel Holt, Henry Ames Danford Johnson, Nathaniel Holt, Otis Green Danford Johnson, Nathaniel Holt, Otis Green Danford Johnson, Nathaniel Holt, Otis Green Harlow Godard, Nathaniel Holt, Otis Green Harlow Godard, Nathaniel Holt, Otis Green Nathaniel Holt SR Brown, James Saunders, James P. Martin, Nathaniel Holt Nathaniel Holt, John A. Brown, Asa Sprague Nathaniel Holt, John A. Brown, James P. Martin Each town was also required to elect up to six, school inspectors, whose job it was to examine each teacher candidate and certify their capabilities and also to inspect the operation of individual schools. These inspections were a spotty affair. The 1828 commissioners report shows that district #3 was inspected 4 times and #9 once. None of the other districts were inspected at all. Inspectors of Common Schools 1813 Isaac Burnham, Wm. Cleghorn, Timothy Newell, Richard Merrill 1814 Isaac Burnham, Timothy Newell, Richard Merrill, R. Goff 1815 Russell Goff, Isaac Burnham, Timothy Newell, Jonathan Rounds 1816 Timothy Newell, Isaac Burnham, Elisha Griffin, Peter F. Thatcher, John C. Rich 1817 Elisha Griffin, P. Goff, John Borland, Timothy Newell, Parvis Rounds 1818 Jonathan Pain, Seth Pomeroy, Joshua Dewey, John Seeley, Thomas B. Benedict 1819 T. B. Benedict, Seth Pomeroy, Abel Cook, Jonathan Rounds, Gideon Townsley 1820 T. B. Benedict, Abel Cook, Joshua Dewey 1821 John C. Rich, Seth Pomeroy, Elisha Griffin 1822 T. B. Benedict, Gideon Townsley, John Borland 1823 Gideon Townsley, Seth Pomeroy, Timothy Utley 1824 T. B. Benedict, Seymour Thatcher 1825 Seymour Thatcher, Abner McMurphy 1826 Seymour Thatcher, Henry Miller 1827 Harry Tanner, Harlow Godard 1828 Hamilton Cooper, John White 1829 Hamilton Cooper, John White, Harry Ames 1830 Seymour Thatcher, John White, Hamilton Cooper 1831 Seymour Thatcher, Hamilton Cooper, John White 1832 John C. Rich, Edward D. Sergeant, Harry T. Holt 1833 Elijah Morton, Edward D. Sergeant, Harry T. Holt 1834 Elijah Morton, John White, Orin M. Fisk 1835 Harlow Godard, Elijah Morton, Orin M. Fisk 1836 Danford Johnson, Nathaniel Holt, Otis Green 1837 Elijah Morton, Orin Fisk, John C. Rich 1838 Elijah Morton, Orin M. Fisk, Allen Gurnsey 1839 Elijah Morton, Orin M. Fisk, George Fredenburgh 1840 Orin M. Fisk, George Fredenburg, Elijah Morton 1841 Orin M. Fisk, George Fredenburg, Elijah Morton 1842 Orin M. Fisk, Elijah Morton 1843 Orin M. Fisk, Elijah Morton 1830 De Kalb School District Boundaries. (Drawn on Beer’s 1865 map of De Kalb) District Names in 1830: #1 Dewey, #2 Well’s, #3 Rich’s, #4 De Kalb Village or Isaac Stacy jr.’s, #5 Burnett’s, #6, #7 L. Dewey’s, #8 Cleghorn’s, #9 Bishop’s Corners. Each school district was required to hold an annual meeting the first Tuesday of October each year. They were to elect a moderator for each meeting and three school trustees. A budget was to drawn up and a tax collector for each district appointed. At first each school was only required to hold a winter term beginning on or before December first each year. Each district had the option to hold an additional summer term. Few records exist from the very first schools. Goff and Spencer noted that Miss Olivia Spencer was teaching 20 scholars at the Dewey School for 12 (? dollars?) per month in 1814. They note that the Master at Rich’s School was paid $14 per month. They also noted that the Jackson School averaged 30 scholars. Hough (1853) says the first teacher at Richville was Joseph Kneeland who was shot at the battle of Ogdensburgh. Rich’s Settlement to Richville indicates that the first teacher at Richville was Richard Merrill. The rural schools of this era had a long writing desk along the sidewalls by the windows for light and rows of rude benches in the middle of the room facing the master at the front of the room for recitation and lessons. According to town records all of the first schools were built of logs, which made them very drafty temporary buildings. In the early days men were preferred for teachers over women. The early records of school district number 7 (originally #11 from 1826 to 1830) show resolutions passed annually specifically requiring the trustees to hire a male teacher. This practice continued from 1826 until 1847 when the trustees were directed for the first time, to hire a female teacher. Books and paper were scarce and expensive. Most writing was done on slates before committing it to paper. According to the school commissioners report the books used in the De Kalb Common schools in 1828 were: The English Reader, Testaments, Cobb’s Spelling Book, Murray’s Grammar, Adams and Daboll’s Arithmetic’s. Cobb’s Speller was a very up to date text at the time, first published in 1821 in Ithaca, NY. The text was written by Lyman Cobb an upstate NY schoolteacher. Murray’s Grammar and The English Reader were both written by Lindley Murray (1745-1826). His Grammar book was first published in 1795 and is still in print today! Adams New Arithmetic by Daniel Adams was first published in 1827. Nathan DeBoll’s Arithmetic by Nathan DeBoll (1780-1863) was a text printed in Connecticut that taught the pounds shillings and pence system (Perhaps this was thought necessary for trade with nearby Upper Canada.). Local decision-making was often contentious and complex under the early common school system. Farms and households could request to be included or excluded from a particular district, however all such matter were subject to district approval and tax revenues and rates were at stake. The sighting of schools was particularly contentious. The experience of School District Number 7 seems fairly typical. The district organized in 1826 and voted to build a schoolhouse near Henry Lawrence’s on land leased from him. At the district meeting in 1827 it was voted to move the schoolhouse onto the lot of Adolphus Preston. In Feb 1828 a special meeting was held to reconsider moving the schoolhouse site and the site was moved back to near Henry Lawrence’s. In October 1843 the schoolhouse was in need of replacement. A resolution was passed to relocate the school but the location was left blank in the record book. The vote was 13 to 6 with the Ayes and Noes recorded by name in the record. They resolved to use the old log school the ensuing year. Special meetings were then called Oct 28, 1843 and Nov 18, 1843 without transacting any business. In October 1844 they passed a resolution that the De Kalb School “Superintendent shall stick the stake for a site for a schoolhouse.” A special meeting was called in January 1845, rescinding the request for the Superintendent to stick the stake for the school and assigning a location for the school. This location was moved again at a meeting in June 1845. A special meeting of the district was called December 27, 1845 in the kitchen of Sylvanius Stiles. Evidently the new school was till not completed as they voted to rent rooms from Mr. Stiles for holding school that winter. In January 1845 they voted to build the school for $150 on the lands of Henry Lawrence. On June 10, 1845, Henry Lawrence granted a deed, for the school site. June 18, 1845 one more meeting was held at which a final attempt was made and defeated to move the site of the new school North of Tanner Creek. The school was finally completed the ensuing summer. Perhaps because of the controversy, the June 10, 1845 deed for the school was not recorded in the courthouse until November 1867, some 22 years later. In 1836 and 1838 the NYS legislature set aside money for libraries to be set up in each of the common schools across the state. These funds were to be supplemented by revenue from the sale of the literature lots in each town. Local records show that each of the districts complied, appointing librarians and purchasing bookcases. The Librarian of newly formed School District Number 19, Clark Frazier, compiled an inventory December 18, 1848 of the books in the library received from former District #6: Border Adventure Willard’s United States Mack’s LaFayette Goldsmith’s Roman History Memoirs of Hariet L. Winslow Life of Alexander the Great Life of William Penn Life of Crocket Scott’s History of Scotland The Life of Benjamin Franklin The Life of Israel Putman Stories for Young Persons Advice to Young Men Life of Sir William Wallace Young Students 3 volumes Physical Condition of the Earth In October 1840, the voters of District #7 approved library resolutions limiting book loans to four weeks, and instituting a fine of six pence for every leaf turned down or grease spot. The number of districts grew and changed over time. In 1815 a fifth district was added. By 1817 there were 8 districts, by 1825 10 districts. By the 1850’s there were 24 districts in the town. . The number as well as the names changed and shifted from place to place. At various times there were two different school districts in the town, each carrying the names Dewey, Acres, Wells and Stiles. Some of the districts on the edges of the town were joint districts with neighboring towns. At one time there was a joint district in the Northeastern corner of the town that included parts of Canton and Lisbon. There also were other districts formed jointly with Gouverneur and Hermon. There was always negotiating and compromising to be done by the governments of both towns with these districts. One of the more interesting compromises was joint District #22 between De Kalb and Oswegatchie. In 1852 this school was located on the Heuvelton and De Kalb Plank Rd. The trustees (John Backhouse, Duncan McMartin, and Hugh Kelly) located the school such that the town line bisected the building and the school lot, a perfect compromise. The school district did not last long however and the district number was reused as the first number assigned to the new school at De Kalb Junction in 1866. Just as today the functions of the Common Schools were controlled by state regulations. At various times reforms were passed to improve local education. In 1843 the Common School act was amended, eliminating locally elected school commissioners and inspectors. One elected Town Superintendent of Common Schools and an appointed County Superintendent of Common Schools replaced them. The Town Supervisor and Clerk were required to take on the clerical and financial tasks formerly performed by the School Commissioners. An act clarifying the duties of the new Town Superintendent in 1847 was thirty-two pages long. De Kalb Superintendents of Common Schools Elijah Morton John A. Brown John A. Brown John A. Brown John A. Brown 1850 Henry Thompson 1852 Henry Thompson 1854 Dr. Emory Hastings In 1847 a special law was passed requiring all clerks of Common Schools to keep records of births, deaths and marriages within their boundaries and forward the same to the Town Clerk. This act was repealed after only three years due to its unpopularity. About this time the common schools became involved with local burial grounds. School District number six purchased one-half acre for a burial ground in 1844 and School District number seven in 1854. Other schools on Maple Ridge Road and River Road allowed burial of local residents on the schoolhouse property proper. In 1856 “An Act to provide for a more thorough supervision and inspection of common schools” was passed. This law superseded the laws of 1843 and 47. This act eliminated the position of Town Superintendent of Common School, dividing his responsibilities between the County Superintendent, the Town Supervisor and Town Clerk. About this time, Dr. Hastings, the De Kalb Superintendent died. He had been responsible for holding and accounting for all school monies in the town. He died with open books and $43.96 was never accounted for. In 1861 the town forgave his widow the debt. Regulations multiplied beginning in the 1860’s. Compulsory attendance laws were first passed in 1896 requiring each town to appoint a truant officer to enforce attendance. Horace L. Hills was the first officer appointed in the town. Rules also governed how far a child was allowed to walk, how closely related a teacher could be to the trustees of a school and how the classroom should be illuminated. Yes, in the 1920’s a regulation came into effect requiring that all natural light in the classroom must enter over the left shoulder of the students as they were seated in the classroom facing the blackboard. This was to prevent the shadow of the student’s hand from falling on their writing (Assuming everyone was right handed.). The effect of this regulation can still be seen in surviving Schoolhouses of that era as scars where window openings were filled in. Usually the windows removed from one wall of a schoolhouse were reinstalled on the other side of the building to provide sufficient light. (I can imagine some frugal school trustees grumbled about that requirement!) District #1 School District #1 is one of the original four districts in the Town of De Kalb. The school was in existence by September 1810 when it was mentioned in a town road survey. The school was located at the intersection of US Route 11 and the East De Kalb Rd, on what are today the grounds of the Hermon - De Kalb Central School. The first school was a log school. The teacher in 1814 was Olivia (Lucy) Spencer (Alexander). She was paid 14 cents per week for her services. This school had 76 students in 1828; more than any other in the town at that time. The school building was replaced in the mid nineteenth century and again in the early twentieth century. The school was known variously over the years as: The Dewey School, The East School and the East De Kalb School. It was often the site of public meetings such as the incorporation of the first Presbyterian Society and Methodist Society in the town and political meetings. The last building was used as a single grade school for several years during the process of centralization and was then torn down when the new central school was completed. September 2010 will mark 200 years of continuous documented use of this property for public education in the town of De Kalb! District #2 District #2 on the Old Northerner Rd. was organized in the 1820’s from portions of the De Kalb Village and Richville districts. The district boundaries are included in the 1830 listing in the De Kalb Town Record book, however the first deed for the school was not granted until 1833. Additional land next to the original lot was purchased in 1874. The school was known at various times as the Acres and Brees School. District #3 District # 3, Richville School, changed locations more times than any other school in the town. The district was organized in 1808. A 20-foot square, log school was built in that year on the Lime Kiln Rd. at the edge of the village (Goff and Spencer Survey 1814). In 1825, a new lot was purchased from John C. Rich on Main Street near the intersection with the Lime Kiln Rd by Ralph Thrall’s house. A stone schoolhouse was built there and soon became the site of many early meetings, including the incorporation of the Wayside Cemetery, as a joint burying grounds of the Baptists and Methodists. At this time, the district became a joint district with the town of Gouverneur and increased its student body greatly. In 1828, there were 67 scholars in the school making it the second largest in the town. In 1848, Artemus Lynde purchased the stone schoolhouse and sold the school a new lot on the Lime Kiln Rd. A new two-classroom school was built at this time. In 1868, the district purchased a large lot of land on the new Wiser St. from William B. Rich. A new large white school was built in that year. This school burnt in 1872. A replacement building was built at the cost of $4000 upon the same lot later that year. This is the school that many of our older readers will remember. In 1853, New York State authorized the organization of Union Free school districts, which were combinations of one or more common school districts empowered to offer High School diplomas under the supervision of the NYS Board of Regents. (Some of these districts continue to operate to this day!) In 1883, Richville District # 3 voted to become a Union Free School District. The first Board of Education was: H.O. Gardner, W.P. Hendricks, F.B. Beaman, Rev. G.N. Harmon, Dr. Hawley, E.A. Rich, Isaac Walker, Hiram Bartlett, and Minard Hall. Richville was the first school in the town of De Kalb to offer High School diplomas. Some of the Principals of the Richville School were: Professor H. P. Baum 1895-96, Arthur F. Griffith 1898, Foster D. Scruton 1909, Robert Robinson 1942-43, James Svalos 1945-46, Van D. Wight 1946-47, Erie J. Reed 1947-49?, Donald Holland (4 yrs). The last class to graduate from Richville High school was June 1950. The old school was eventually remodeled into a private home minus the top two floors. A new elementary school was built in Richville in 1954 and served K-6 graders until it closed in 1981. The 1954 building is now used by BOCES as an Opportunity Center. District #4 The Old De Kalb Village School was originally #2 but became #4 when the town of De Peyster was formed and district #2 was formed from the portion of the original district on the Old Northerner Rd. The first school was located on the hill beside Cooper’s Hotel on the Russell Rd. near the intersection with Canton St. Bella Willis held the first school sessions in the town here, in 1807. The school was constructed of logs. In 1853, the new Grove St (Ct Rt 17) was opened in Old De Kalb. In 1856, the portion of Russell St where the first school was located was abandoned. Shortly after a new schoolhouse was constructed on Grove St. This school stands today and is now the Church of Love. District #5 District #5 was originally organized in 1815. Its boundaries have changed many times over the years. It became a joint district with the town of Edwards in 1828 (When Hermon was still governed as part of Edwards). A school lot was purchased from William Teal in that year (1828). It was later a joint district with Hermon. In 1861, a new school lot was purchased from Prescott Ware. The school has been known variously as the Burnett, Jefferson St and Gimlet St. School. Old District #6 The original district #6 was organized about 1825 and consisted of the lands along the Canton-Old De Kalb Road south to De Kalb Junction before De Kalb Junction existed. The school was located near the intersection of Risley Rd. where the Amish have a school today on the farm of Ebenezer Childs. Mr. Childs reserved the right to graze his sheep upon the grounds of the school when he sold the land. The school had its own cemetery located on the Harry Smith farm (now Bea McMartin’s). Lands were taken from the district to form Idumea, Risley and Cooper’s Falls schools. The district ceased to exist during the Civil War. District #6 This district was originally organized as district #24 in 1854 from parts of districts 4, 8, 11, and 6 over the legal objections of these districts. The first trustees were: Thomas Ritchie, John Rounds and William Cooper (The carpenter). The trustees were repeatedly sued during the bankruptcy and title disputes surrounding Coopers Falls in the 1850’s. The first teacher was Emma Eastman who served until her marriage in 1855 to Levi Stiles. The district included lands on the West side of the Oswegatchie River until the collapse of the Coopers Falls Iron Bridge in 1872. At this point, these lands were returned to the Kendrew district (#8). District #7 This school was first organized in 1826 as district #11. A detailed early history was included in the first part of this article so will not be repeated here. This district school was known at various times as the Lucius Dewey, Stiles, Acres, and Preston School. In 1868, the schoolhouse was replaced for a third time. This building served until centralization and then became a private home. District #8 The Kendrew Corners district is first mentioned in town records in 1817. It originally included all the area on the west bank of the Oswegatchie down river of Cooper’s Mills, north to Beaver Creek and east to the Canton town line. A plot of land was purchased for a schoolhouse in 1827 from John W. Cleghorn. This first school lot was 59 rods from the river near the current intersection of NYS 812 and County Route 14. In 1826, there were 36 scholars at the school. In 1867, a new lot was purchased just to the southwest of the Kendrew Methodist Church and a new school was constructed and later enlarged to a two-room school. The school still stands today. District #9 The formation of Bishop’s Corner’s, or the Bigelow school district, is a bit of a mystery. The deed for the school grounds was not granted until 1907 although it existed long before that date. This is not unusual, as the first deed for any schoolhouse in the town was not recorded until 1825. Such legalities did not seem to be important in the early days of the common schools. The school is first mentioned in a road district survey in 1817, so was first organized by that date. There were 64 students attending the school in 1828. District #10 The Bulson district was originally a joint district (prior to 1854) with the town of Canton and early on with Lisbon. In 1870, it became a De Kalb district exclusively. A school lot was purchased that year from John Bulson on the Winters Rd. District # 11 District #11 was built on the lands of Israel Gilson in 1843. The lot description was first recorded in town records that year. The following year, 1844, a deed was recorded in the County Clerk’s Office. This school was located near the intersection of Hitchcock Rd and Maple Ridge Rd. The last school on this site was removed by the Amish in the 1970’s and is currently a farm shop in the town of De Peyster. District #12 The Maple Ridge district was originally organized as District #23 in 1851. The land to form the district was taken from districts # 11 (Gilson) and # 14 (Grey). The school was located on the Maple Ridge Rd. a quarter mile west of the intersection with the Gore Rd. The first schoolhouse was built of logs. This was still standing in 1878, the last log schoolhouse still in use in the township. This was replaced by a wood frame building shortly after that date. David Holland built A third and final schoolhouse on the lot about 1906. The building was sold and torn down at the time of centralization. District #13 District #13 was known as the Bell district. The schoolhouse was located near the intersection of the East De Kalb Rd. and the Pooler Rd. It was in existence by 1858. District #14 This district was known variously as the Mason, Grey and River Road District. It was formed in 1846 from parts of districts number two, three and eleven. The schoolhouse was purchased in the 1970’s by the Amish and moved to De Peyster where it serves as a farm shop. Joint District #14 This district was a joint district with the town of Hermon. It was organized in 1852 from parts of Hermon district # 1, and Hermon De Kalb joint district’s # 9 and #5. It was sometimes known as the Beartown School. At organization it consisted of the farms of: Edward Hiland?, Thomas D. Turner, Perry Carpenter, Asa L. Foster, Azel A. Carpenter, Elijah Lassel, RJ & Emmet Fairbanks, Israel VanSlike, Chas. G. Foster, Cephas C. Leonard, Samuel Haskins, David Hamilton, Nathaniel Hamilton, Danford Peterson, Jacob Chase, John Chase, Hiram Hale, Ferdinand Hale, and Emory Hastings. District #15 District # 15 was created in 1841 from part of district #2 and #3. This district was known at various times as the Patterson, or Burnett school. A lot was purchased for the school in 1861 from Peletiah Stacy on what is today US Route 11 ¼ mile east of the intersection with NYS 812. The trustees in 1861 were: James Patterson and Alexander Hayes. District #16 This district has been known variously as the Tyler or Osbornville district. It was organized in 1844 from part of De Kalb district #11 and a former joint district with De Peyster. The district originally included all of Rock Island Road, and Maple Ridge Rd. from the intersection with Gore Rd west. It was later reduced in area to only include Rock Island Rd and the lands North West of it on the Chandlerville Road. The first schoolhouse was a log structure. The current schoolhouse was built in 1876. The Gouverneur Historical Society now maintains the schoolhouse, as a museum. Classes were last held in the building in 1948. District #17 This district known as the Etheridge School was organized in 1861 and the school lot was purchased in October of 1861. The lands were taken from districts three, fourteen, and twenty. The schoolhouse was located on River Rd. at the intersection with the now defunct Seavey Rd. The district included the western end of River Rd. and Jenkins Rd. as well as part of Colton Rd. Soon after it was formed Luther Colton petitioned and had his lands moved back into the Richville (#3) district. After centralization the school was moved to the Jenkins Rd where it became a private residence. District #18 This district, known as the Ideauma District (From Idumea biblical name for Esau and his people lying to the south of Palestine.) was formed from part of District #6 in May 1848. The district included all of the Ideauma Rd. residents, and some of those on the Old De Kalb Canton Rd. The school was located on the Ideauma Rd, one-quarter mile from the intersection with the Old De Kalb-Canton Rd. District #19 The Risley Road School was organized in 1848 from part of School district #6. The number was changed to district #18 in 1899. The first school (1849) was built upon the lands of Nelson Risley on the west side of the road. In 1876 a new school was built on the property line between the lands of A. J. Merrithew and Harley Mattison on the east side of the road. In 1863-64 the teachers were, Ella Alverson and Annie Alverson, 1864 Esther Green, 1865 Laura E. Pray, Emma A. Child, 1881 Sarah Hurlbut, 1882 Agnes Butles. District #20 The land for this school, known as the Seavey District, was purchased in 1854. The schoolhouse was located on the Maple Ridge Road near the intersection with Colton Rd. The schoolhouse, built in 1854, served the district until centralization in 1954. The last teacher was Gertrude MacIntyre. This district was assigned another number after 1898 and number 20 was reassigned to the De Kalb Junction School. District # 21 The district was originally organized as District #17 in 1848. The location of the first school is unknown. A Lot for School District # 21 was purchased in the fall of 1867. The district was known as the Hockens district. The school was located at the intersection of The De Kalb De Peyster Rd. (County Rt. 17) and Child’s Rd. The trustees at the time were: Augustus Burnham, William Newcomb and Robert Creighton. In 1887 the teacher was Jessie M. Wells, in 1890 Viola D. Sayer. They were each paid $5 per week for their services. The district was a joint district with the town of De Peyster with most of the scholars coming from De Kalb. In 1927 the district boundaries were modified to take in more area in De Peyster and a new school was built on the West side of Beaver Creek in the town of De Peyster. The old school was sold to the Sprowls family who moved it to their farm at the intersection of the Hitchcock Rd and CT Route 17 where it is still used for storage. District #22 (Later District # 20) A lot of Land for the first schoolhouse in De Kalb Junction was purchased from Edward and Harriet Alexander in November 1866. The first school lot was located at the intersection of School St. and US Route 11 in the hamlet of De Kalb Junction. The first trustees of the De Kalb Junction school district were; T. M. Craig, I. D. Smith, and W. F. Rundell. This school continued in operation until 1884 with only one teacher and at times as many as 90 pupils attending. William Devine purchased the old school in 1886 for use as a home. It was moved to face School St. rather than US 11 at that time. By 1884 the community had out grown the old school, a new lot was purchase on the hill on what was then known as Park Avenue (now Ridge St.) near Wells St. The two-acre lot was purchased from Andrew and Maria Murty for $200. Sole school trustee Leland C. Cahoon oversaw the construction of the Brick school in 1884. The new school had multiple classrooms and soon expanded to include a preliminary high school program. The school did not grant full four-year regents high school diplomas until about 1918. The school continued to operate with various grade levels until Hermon De Kalb Central School was organized and the new high school was built on US RT. 11 at East De Kalb. Once the new central school opened the old brick school was demolished. Centralization The school centralization movement began in New York with the 1914 Cole Rice Act, which provided financial incentives for Rural Common schools to combine into centralized districts. However the idea was slow to catch on. The financial hardships of the 1930’s and improved state organizational assistance in the 1940’s hastened the process. The first area of the town to become involved in centralization was the North Eastern portion, which became part of the newly organized Heuvelton Central School District in 1948. The common districts involved were: # 8 Kendrew, #10 Bulson, and # 21 Hockens. The next section of the school to vote to join a new centralized district was the Western portion of the town. They voted in June 1950 to join Gouverneur Central School District. The rural districts involved were: # 3 Richville, # 9 Bigelow, # 16 Osbornville, # 17 Etheridge, and # 20 Seavey. The majority of the old common districts in the town became part of Hermon De Kalb Central School District when it was organized in 1951. The districts involved included: # 1 East De Kalb, # 2 Acres, #4, Old De Kalb, # 5 Jefferson St, # 6 Coopers Falls, # 7 Stiles, # 11 Gilson, #12 Maple Ridge, # 13 Bell, # 14 River Rd, # 15 Patterson, # 18 Ideauma, # 19 Risley Rd, and # 20 (or22) De Kalb Junction. Thus ended the era of the rural common schools in the Town of De Kalb. Alma Mater of De Kalb Junction High School Although Hermon always favors The Orange and the Black And the illustrious sons of Russell To the Purple and Gold are true We will always love our’s dearly Although they’re not so gay While our high school stands defender Of the Crimson and the Gray. Through the four long years of high school Midst the scenes we love so well As the mystic charm to knowledge We vainly seek to spell Or we win athletic victories In the base or basketball fray Still we work for dear De Kalb And the Crimson and the Gray. When the cares of life o’er take us Mingling fast our locks with gray Should our dearest hopes betray us? False fortune fall away Still we banish care and sadness And we will e’er be gay When we think of De Kalb High School And the Crimson and the Gray. Alma Mater of Richville High School Near the shores of Oswegatchie, With it’s waves of blue, Stand our noble Alma Mater Glorious to the view. High school days are swift fleeting, Soon we’ll leave thy halls, Ne’er to join another meeting Neath thy hallowed walls. So farewell dear Alma Mater, May thy name we bless, Naught can break the friendship Formed at old R.H.S. Chorus Richville High School Richville High School Loud our praises tell Hail to thee our Alma Mater Hail, all hail Richville. Sources: De Kalb SD #7 Clerk District Record Book 1826-1873 Town of De Kalb Historical Association. De Kalb SD #19 Clerk District Record Book 1848-1916 Town of De Kalb Historical Association. De Kalb Town Clerk (nd) Town Meeting Book One De Kalb Jct., NY. De Kalb Town Clerk (nd) Town Meeting Book Two De Kalb Jct., NY. De Kalb Town Clerk (nd) Town Meeting 1867-1907 De Kalb Jct., NY. Ellis, David M. et al (1967) A History of New York State Ithaca, NY Cornell University Press. Goff, Potter and Silas Spencer (1814) A Classification of the Town of De Kalb St Lawrence County Historical Association, Canton, NY. New York State (various) Laws of the State of New York (1812-1946) Albany, NY H.C. Southwick and co. Richville Historical Association (2004) Rich’s Settlement to Richville Gouverneur, NY Ferguson Printing. St Lawrence County Clerk Deeds Liber 8 p 248, L9 p 511, L10 p 116, L15 p 418, L18 p 98, L37C p 44, L39C p 706, L40A p 751, L40B p 580, L41A p 272, L42A p 378, L44C p 419, L49A p706, L54A p 543, L60B p 196, L60C p 329, L64C p335, L65B p 513, L65C p 600, L67A p 77, L68B p 359, L77B p. 360, L78C p 361 L81C p 104, L82C p 463, L83B p600, L88B p 320, L91C p 53, L100A p 193, L107A p151, L121B p 613. Canton, NY.

Alma Mater of Richville High School