Dayton school in 1895

The following comes from notes left by my grandmother, Ruth Haight Green, about the schools in Dayton. It was probably written around 1935-1940.

The first school building in the village of Dayton was on the hill near the present site of Miss Rhoades’ house, and tradition tells us that the name of the first teacher was Rhoda Bailey, although nothing definite is known about her.

The next school was on the southeast corner of the same block, across the street from the hotel. It is not likely that either of these were log houses for a saw mill was the first thing erected by the early settlers. The seats were slabs with holes bored for inserting the legs and there were no desks.

On the sixth of October, 1849, the first school election by ballot was held and the directors elected were David Green, Richard Stadden and Rees Morgan. At that time there were eighty children in the district, and the same number twenty-five years later.

At one time, for some unknown reason, school was held in a brick house which stood on the present site of Bert Ainsley’s new bungalow.

In I859 a frame school house was built where the elevator now stands. This was a building much like our club house with an entry, which served as a cloak room, and an outside belfry at the southwest corner of the building. The bell is in use at Miss Barnes as a dinner bell now.

The desk tops were hinged and when the boys walked on them mischievously they sometimes dropped unexpectedly with disastrous results. A bench ran around three sides of the room to accommodate more pupils. The other furniture consisted of the teacher’s desk and a small organ.

For a quarter of a century this school house was the center of community life – singing school, geography school, spelling school, lyceums, literary society with a library of two hundred volumes, and writing school. Church services and Sunday School were held there and entertainments such as the Swiss Bell Ringers, sleight-of-hand shows, political speeches, etc., were heard at intervals.

This building was converted into a double dwelling house in 1882, and later was used for a club house. It burned in 1902. For a few of the last years this building was in use the school was divided, the primary classes going to a hall over the store.

In 1882 a two story frame house was built where the school house now stands and the first teachers were Clara and Winnie Childs. This building burned on the day before Thanksgiving in 1890 and school was held in the Hosea Williams’ house, now owned by Mr. McClary, until it was rebuilt on the same foundation in time for the opening of school the following September.

In 1897 a well was drilled and last year this well was deepened and a water system installed. About 4 years ago a lot north of the school yard was purchased for a playground and ball park.

The class of ’97 was the first to receive diplomas.

grades 1-4 Dayton School 1945-46