 |
|
|
The stone schoolhouse was purchased at public auction in the 1930's from the Goshen School District after the schools became centralized, and the single school was no longer needed. The members of the Minisink Chapter at that time decided that the schoolhouse could not be lost, so at the bid of $750.00 the women won the auction and became the proud owners of the Stone school house. That school has stood the test of time, built during the early 1700's and sitting silently by, watching the passing of events since the time of the Revolutionary War. It is rumored that General George Washington stopped at the school house on his way from New Windsor, NY to Morristown, NJ during the War. The school was in constant use by the children of the owners and workers at the Borden farm from the time it was built.
The design of the school house is unique as most schools have the door at the end or short wall, but this one had the door in the middle of the front or long wall.
The school is open to the public the second Saturday of August each year for all to visit and see how the school experience was for the students in a one room school where all classes and levels were taught at the same time with each student working on their own level. On one recent opening an ex-student picked out her seat and reminisced to all there at the time. She told who the other students were, who the teacher was, and what feelings they had when they were told they would be going to the big school in Goshen - so very far from home. She said that one of the big boys had the job of cleaning and caring for the stove, keeping it stocked with wood, and going all winter long. All of the students had to bring in some wood for the stove along with their lunch for the day. The only "facility" was the outhouse in the back. She remembered that although the teacher set the lesson plans, each student helped one another during the day.
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
|
