Clayton, Jefferson, NY

Schools & Post Offices

CLAYTON DEPARTMENTAL SCHOOL

In 1855, in what now comprises the village of Clayton, were two school districts, numbered eight and twenty-two, divided by James Street. During that year there was a joint school-meeting of the inhabitants of these districts, to determine whether they should be organized under what was then known as the Union free-school law. Two or three votes only were lacking to make the necessary two-thirds majority to decide the question affirmatively. On April 29, 1856, an order was made, signed by Luke E. Frame, supervisor; James Johnston, town clerk; and H. E. Morse, town-superintendent consolidating these school districts, the consolidated district being then named and since known as school district number eight, of the town of Clayton. The town-superintendent, appointed the first school-meeting to be held on May 21, 1856. At that meeting Alden F. Barker, Robert G. Angel, and George C. Dean were elected trustees; V. A. Benjamin, clerk; James F. angel, collector; and P. Caswell, librarian. At an adjourned meeting held on the 28thof the same month, a resolution was passed to raise $3,000 by tax on the district, for purposes of building a school-house. Owing to a destructive fire the following month, which consumed the principal business part of the village, the tax was not levied. For ten years thereafter the schools were continued in the two old school-houses, which furnished poor and inadequate accommodations to the pupils. From two to five private school were supported in the district; the inhabitants gave very little attention to common-school matters, and the annual meetings were sparsely attended.

At the annual school-meeting in 1865, there were three legal voters present, and the sum of $3,000 was voted to be raised for building a new school-house. The trustees, deeming the amount insufficient, did not levy the tax. At the next annual school-meeting, held October 9, 1866, there were seven or eight person s present and a resolution was passed to raise the sum of $5,000 for a new school-building. H. E. Morse and George N. Gould were the acting trustees at this time, and they decided to levy the tax. They were petitioned to all a special meeting to consider the vote of the annual meeting; the request was denied, and an appeal was brought to the superintendent of public instruction, who dismissed the appeal. At a special meeting held in January, 1867, there was a large attendance, and the resolution raising the tax voted at the annual meeting was rescinded. By reason of the vote of the annual meeting, the decision of the trustees, the appeal therefrom, and the action of the special meeting, the necessity and propriety of building a new school-house had been fully discussed in the district; and at a special meeting held on March 7, 1867, called at the request of a large portion of the inhabitants, a resolution to raise the sum of $5000 for a new school-building was passed unanimously. The tax was levied, and a brick building, forty-five feet square, two stories high, arranged for four departments, was furnished and ready for the teachers in November, 1867. The school-grounds join the public square on the northeast. The school-building cost $5782.58. H. E. Morse, George N. Gould, and Simon G. Johnston wre the trustees; and Thomas Rees, Joseph Thibault, Asa E. Porter, were the building committee during the erection of the building. The first teachers were Rev. B. E. Whipple, principal; Miss Laura Everest, 2d dept; Miss N. M. Stevenson, 3d, dept. Miss Cornelia Eddy, 4^th dept.

The principals from the organization to the present have been B. E. Whipple, M. P. Littlefield, M. Campbell, John Felt, E. D. Abbey, Frank H. Peck, M. E. Doolittle and George N. Strough, the present incumbent. For the last two years a fifth department has been necessary, and a sixth could be profitably employed. The present teachers are George N. Strough, principal; Miss Mary J. Rees, 2d dept., Miss Rettie Morse, 3d dept., Miss Anna Locklin, 4^th dept., Miss Ann Marshall, 5^th dept.

THE POST-OFFICE

The post-office was established under the name of Cornelia in 1821, and General William H. Angel was appointed the first postmaster. The present incumbent is O. W. Smith. The business of the office for the year ending October 1, 1877, is represented by the subjoined statistics: Number of money orders issued, 690; amount, $8000. Number of money orders paid, 540; amount, $5050. Number of registered letters received, 150; number forwarded, 200. Amount received for postage and box-rents, $1200. (Jefferson County History, L. H. Everts, 1878)

Transcribed by Holice B.Young

Html by Debbie

December 26, 1999

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