School's Open!

PLEASE DRIVE CAREFULLY!

Times have Changed!
When the first brick schoolhouse was built, at the corner of White Street and Barton Avenue, traffic - such as it was - moved at a slower pace and most students simply walked to school.



Replacing the earlier brick schoolhouse, this was built in 1872. Students who attended school here saw the arrival of the first motorcars and schoolbuses.


The Stafford Avenue School was built in 1930-31; Memorial Park School in 1960 and the Jr. Sr. High School opened in 1974.

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A brief excerpt from
"Schools in the Village of Waterville"
by Norman R. Cowen, Sangerfield Historian, 1949

"Some time between 1787 and 1789, the first school was built in the (Huddle), christened Waterville in the fall of 1808. My source of information states that the first school was across from the Hotel. Other schools later were, The Old Academy on White Street, A school on Madison Street and many other buildings were used for classes.
At a meeting held in conformity to an act of the legislature, Isaac Terry Jr. was chosen moderator, Josiah Bacon, clerk, Ruben Tower and John Williams, trustees. At a second meeting, October 21 1813, with William Osborne as chairman, it was voted to build a school house. The wood to be furnished by levying a tax upon the taxable inhabitants of this district, and that a tax of seventy-five be levied to furnish wood and a stove. November 22, it was voted to look up a "scite" for the new school house. January 7, 1814, it was voted that the "scite" for the new school house be on the southeast part of the (triangle) green or common near the house of Jacob Bunce. That the house be built after a model exhibited at this meeting by Jothan Tower viz: length 51 ft, width 26 ft, with convenient porch, that the school house be built of brick and stone with a cupaloe for a bell.
The year of 1819 was a year of agreements and disagreements. October 8 it was voted to allow all denominations the use of the school house for religious service. October 25 it was voted to allow no denominations to hold meetings. In 1820 it was wisely decided to let the trustees manage the school as they thought proper. In 1821, Amos Osborne was moderator and Aaron Stafford, clerk. April 10, 1835, there was a broadening of opinion which repealed a former vote and give all religious denominations a right to hold meetings in the school house. Henry Tower, moderator, Elihu Newberry,clerk
In 1849 the use of well water was $3, in 1858 $5, in 1866 $10, the water bill for 1913 was $120.
On May 15, 1871, it was unanimously voted to raise by tax $17,000 to build on the site of the old school a new building after the plan of the new school house on Corn Hill, Utica."

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TODAY IS BIG TRASH DAY

It's 58 degrees and raining at 6 o'clock.

From WKTV: "*A flood watch is in effect for all of Central New York through Thursday evening*

The remnants of Lee will bring a heavy rainfall to Central New York today & tonight. For today, rain will fall heavy at times with highs in the low 60s. Rain continues tonight, with overnight lows in the upper 50s. Rainfall totals will range from 2-4" regionwide, with the highest totals most likely to occur between Utica and Syracuse. We'll continue to monitor area streams, creeks, and rivers, as some flooding is possible later today.

Steady rain continues for Thursday morning before becoming more scattered during the afternoon. Perhaps a thunderstorm on Friday. Drier, seasonable weather returns for the weekend."

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FARMERS MARKET TODAY

(Yes - some of our vendors always come, rain or shine!)

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On Today's WCS DigitalSports Site:

5:30PM
Girls VARSITY SOCCER
Brookfield Central High School
@ Waterville Central School Brothertown Stadium

7:30PM Boys
VARSITY SOCCER
Brookfield Central High School
@ Waterville Central School Brothertown Stadium

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IN THE NEWS

- from the Oneida County Courier:

"(Oriskany Falls, NY – Sept. 2011) Living Waters Parish will sponsor a 9/11 service at Douglas Park at 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 11. Four pastors will be officiating. Six parishes will be represented.

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Yesterday's views



There will be new shrubbery in front of the newly reconstructed porch at the St. Bernard's rectory!

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The Village DPW made use of a bit of a "dry spell" to mow the lawn in the Park, readying the site for today's Farmers Market.

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Down on Main Street

Excavation and apparent removal of an old gasoline tank at Stewart's minimart.
Watch for traffic snarls.

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In the countryside, I don't know when I've seen fields so filled with goldenrod ....



............... or ditches packed with purple loosestrife.



Here and there, the first of the purple asters - or Michaelmas Daisies - are starting to bloom .....



..........and hops look as if they're ready to harvest.........

as soon as the rain stops!

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More when it happens!

Have a good day, everyone!