- Little Red Schoolhouse (Brunswick, New York)
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District No. 6 SchoolhouseView from the north, 2009Location within the state of New York
Location: Clums Corners, Brunswick, New York Nearest city: Troy Coordinates: 42°45′4.29″N 73°34′28.8″W / 42.7511917°N 73.574667°WCoordinates: 42°45′4.29″N 73°34′28.8″W / 42.7511917°N 73.574667°W Area: Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha)[1] Built: c. 1830[2] or 1837[1] Architectural style: Greek revival[1] Governing body: Brunswick (Brittonkill) Central School District NRHP Reference#: 08000582 Added to NRHP: July 3, 2008 The District #6 Schoolhouse, also known locally as the Little Red Schoolhouse or the Lincoln School,[3] located in Brunswick, New York, United States, is a one-room schoolhouse built circa 1830[2] or 1837[1] that was home to grades one through eight until the consolidation of Brunswick (Brittonkill) Central School District in 1952.[2] It was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on July 3, 2008[4] and a dedication ceremony for the accomplishment was held on June 12, 2009.[2]
The building, located on New York Route 278, is still owned by Brunswick Central School District.[2] It is believed to be one of the oldest remaining schoolhouses in Rensselaer County.[1]
History
The schoolhouse was built either in 1830[2] or 1837[1]—though sources disagree on which—and served as a local grade school for more than a century. It hosted children ranging from grade one to eight together in one classroom.[2] The district was centered around Clums Corners and was originally designated District 11 until being renamed District 6 sometime between 1854 and 1862.[1]
The structure was built on land donated by Luther and Olive Eddy, who owned a large tract of farmland adjacent to the current lot.[1] Luther Eddy later became the first town superintendent for education in 1844.[5]
After the consolidation of Brunswick Central School District in the 1950s, the school was closed. At one point,[when?] it was reopened for a year to accommodate the large student population on the new school's campus.[citation needed]
It was later[when?] used as a garage by the school district. The west wall was removed to accommodate vehicles.[1] After that, it was used as a storage house by the district.[1]
During the 1970s, the exterior of the building was restored by the local Kiwanis, including replacing the west wall which had been removed.[1] The building was then used by the Brunswick Historical Society as a museum. By 2007, most of the interior was refurbished by donations of time and materials from local residents.[citation needed]
Beginning in the mid 2000s, an effort was made by the Brunswick Town Historian to add the site to National Register of Historic Places.[1] This would be the second former schoolhouse in the town to be listed on the NRHP, the Garfield School being the first.[1][6] Following an interior restoration that was completed in 2007, the site was added to the register on July 3, 2008 as District No. 6 Schoolhouse.[4]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Zankel, Sharon (2008-04-22). "National Register of Historic Places nomination, District 6 Schoolhouse (Javascript)". New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. http://www.oprhp.state.ny.us/hpimaging/hp_view.asp?GroupView=102534. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
- ^ a b c d e f g Gardinier, Bob (2009-06-12). "School is an open book on past". Times Union (Albany). http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=809841&category=RENSSELAER. Retrieved 2009-06-13.[dead link]
- ^ Zankel, Sharon Martin (1998). Images of America: Brunswick. Arcadia Publishing/Brunswick Historical Society. p. 72. ISBN 0-7524-1306-6.
- ^ a b "Weekly List of Actions Taken on Priorities: 8/18/08 through 8/22/08 (August 29, 2008)". National Park Service: National Register of Historic Places. 2008-07-03. http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/listings/20080829.HTM. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
- ^ Anderson, George Baker (1897). Index to Landmarks of Rensselaer County, New York. D. Mason & Co. Publishers. http://history.rays-place.com/ny/ren-brunswick-ny.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
- ^ "About Us: Garfield School". Brunswick Historical Society. http://www.bhs-ny.org/about.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
External links
Categories:- Schoolhouses in the United States
- National Register of Historic Places in Rensselaer County, New York
- Schools in New York
- Brunswick, New York
- Historical society museums in New York
- Education museums in the United States
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