RAWSON SCHOOL (8 Elementary Grades)

Town of New Hudson, Allegany County, NY

The above photo was received from Leigh & Virginia Miller of Huntington Beach, California, along with a picture of the Baptist Church that was across the road from the school.  Leigh knew the "blond-haired" lad (second from left, front) when the young man was in his early twenties.  Names of the pupils are unknown.  Picture c.1918-20

If you can furnish information on the school history or the students attending, please email: RON TAYLOR

Update 4/7/2006: Upon returning from ringing the Bicentennial Bell in celebration of the 200th Birthday today of Allegany County I was pleased to have an email from Stan Luce from Rushford who has sent the list below identifying nearly all of the students in the Rawson School Picture from one he has also.  Below is the list. Front row (left to right) 1.Harland Milgate, 2.Byron Dolph, 3.Elizebth Bissell, 4.Velma Deyoe'. 5.Katherine Milgate, 6.Donald Pettit, 7. Myrtle Elwood, 8. Katherine Metcalf.      Second row 1. Lyle Spencer, 2. Beatrice Metcalf. 3. Lloyd Thompson (head shows just behind Byron Dolph). 4. Edna Deyoe',  5. Athalene Pettit,  6. ?., 7. Leona Deyoe', 8. Kate Damon, 9. Irene Elwood, 10. Ray Thompson, 11. Fred Strait.         Top of picture states: Rawson School before ww 1 Teacher unknown. Many thanks to Stan for sharing this with us.

The 1869 Atlas shows a school and church at the location, therefore, establishing the fact that a school was at this location by this date.  At present, it is unknown what date or if this building was actually on the site that early.  All help with the history will be appreciated to place in this space.

 

Viewer Comments about this page: "The school house was converted to a cow barn after centrlaization in about 1935. Was owned by Otis Smith after many years of farming there; He sold it to the Joe Strezelec farms about 3 years ago.-Stanley Luce"

Rawson Baptist Church

(across road from schoolhouse, but, in Town of Lyndon, Catt. County)

(The following history is taken from "Rawson Freewill Baptist Church Records 1830-1916"; by Jack L. White, M.A. in Association with Sydney L. Emmons, Historian, Town of Lyndon; by permission of Mr. Emmons) The book outlines the activities and people of the Church and membership information through the years.  It also gives reference to the compilation done in 1998 of the cemetery by Sidney & Gerry Emmons and Jerry Babcock.  Lookups are available by contacting Sidney or Jerry.

"The first religious services in Lyndon were held in 1810, at the house of Seth Markham, by Rev. Robert Hubbard, a Presbyterian missionary.  At the same dwelling was organized in 1816 the first religious society in town.  This was the Freewill Baptist church of Lyndon and the organizers were Revs. Abraham and Jermiah Folsom, missionaries.  One of the first deacons was Solomon Rawson and the first pastor was Rev. Thomas Pratt.  Their house of worship was erected in 1839 and cost $1,200.  The society now has 35 members, but, no pastor.  The church edifice, with a seating capacity of 280, is valued, with grounds, etc., at $1,400.  A Sunday school is maintained during the summer months." (From: Historical Gazetteer and Biographical Memorial of Cattaraugus County, N.Y.; Lyman, Horton & Co., Ltd.; Syracuse,NY 1893)

The picture below, unknown date, was submitted by Leigh & Virginia Miller.  Leigh states in letter of 3/25/06, "Virginia and I attended this church as children and were married here 8/1/1945, after the war."  Leigh also stated that his family moved to Rawson when he was 9, and is 87 this year.  The second picture is how the Church appears today.

Photo of Rawson Baptist Church -4-3-2005 by Ron Taylor