Identifying the actual number and location of these early schools is very difficult and subjective. It is only through researching the records of town meetings that we have any idea at all.

The first mention of school districts in these meeting records is in 1774 and by 1775 the population was about 1500 people. By 1833 there were 14 districts although some schools may still have been located in private homes. Our map of 1874 shows that the town was divided up into twelve districts and that appears to have been the standard for many years.

District 1
(Center School)

This was actually located in three different locations through the years, the final being at the bottom of center hill on the south side of the highway just above the brook. In 1972 the Historical Society moved it to its current location in front of the Consolidated School on Rt 118.

District 2
(Northwest School)

This school was located on the west side of Weingart Road a short distance from Clearview Avenue.

District 3
(Brookside School)

This school was located in the Poverty Hollow section of town. Ray Bentley wrote that "the State Supervisor feared that the use of that name would develop an inferiority complex among the pupils and suggested that it be called Brookside School.

Next Page