Southold High School - Snuffbox Yearbook (Southold, NY)

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decidedly in our course, possibly twenty feet away. We could not avoid it. I rang for the men to come on deck, and just in time, for two seconds later, the boats met. As I had expected, our boat collapsed like an egg shell. My! but our boat was small compared to this giant of the seas! “My men immediately proceeded to climb on the larger boat. Without much trouble we killed or tossed overboard those who resisted. The rest we put on our old boat which by the way, never reached port. Then after having assumed charge, and run up our flag, I proceeded to look the vessel over. Gold! There were millions of dollars’ worth of gold. I was overjoyed with what I had saved and with this my worries were over. “But, alas! Two days before we arrived in port one of ‘His Majesty’s’ vessels sighted us. The fight was short. My men did not know how to handle the new guns. Our vessel started sinking. Going to my cabin, I marked a parchment map with the location of our vessel. The depth of water was approximately twenty feet, for we were on a sand bar. We chopped down the masts and then set fire to the ship. I am the only living man who was on that boat. I shot the rest as they attempted to man the boats. “You would like to know where the map is hidden?” he asked me. “Well,” he said, “I am old and the money would be of no use to me at my age, so I will tell you. Not far from here there is a well.” As he said this, he arose to secure a match to relight his pipe. He took one step, his foot caught on the rug and he fell, striking his head on the andiron. He died. Since that time I have torn up every well within a radius of two miles, but have found nothing! F. K. THE BUILDING OF SOUTHOLD SCHOOL—1901 At this time when everyone is interested in the construction of the new Southold High School annex, it might be of interest to many to know something of the construction of the old building. At the time of its erection, the late Mr. James C. Thompson was serving as president of the Board of Education and Mr. W. M. Wood as principal of the school, then situated on the tract of land between Mr. Henry Van Wyck’s and Mr. George Stelzer’s. It was built in 1901. Many controversies and disputes arose. Would the enlargement of the present school satisfy the de- Page Seventeen

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before the old lady returned to roll under a lounge on the opposite side of the room. Then I must have “gone out” for awhile, but when I came to I saw the wire springs over me, and remembered where I was. The shock of this realization gave me such a fright that it scared a perfectly good $15 wave out of my hair. Then I saw a face peering over the side of the bed, and got such a fright from that that I felt as if I lost about fifteen pounds'(Alas, I later found this not to be the case. If anything—oh, well, two or three pounds extra wouldn’t be noticed among so many.) I was ready to scream, but something in the face made me hold my tongue. Slowly those curls turned to black hair, the cap disappeared, eyes came into the holes in the old lady’s face, and the glasses seemed to break and scatter about in freckles. Then my sister spoke—“Say, you nut, get out from under that bed and unwind that sheet from around your legs. Don’t you suppose I want any bed cloths?” I never eat cheese any more before I go to bed, nor do I see a Flivver without privately wishing it were in the river. H. T. THE UNRECOVERED TREASURE It was in the little town of Sh—just outside of London that I met a queer character, Henry Greene by name. Being forced to stay in the town over night I accidentally found lodging in Henry Greene’s home. It was on that night, sitting in front of his fireplace with its red coals throwing out their comfortable heat and his pipe in his mouth that he told me the story of his life. “Fifty years ago when buccaneers were considered gentlemen, I owned the fastest four-masted sloop that - ever flew a flag. The work was getting mighty dangerous, and having had a most successful year, I decided that with one more haul I would put to port and settle down to a life of ease. “It is concerning this last holdup that I want to tell you. It was the morning of January 3, 17—. The air was cold and damp. A heavy fog was upon us and there were signs of an impending storm. As we raced through the fog I was wondering how long it would be before we would sight a vessel carrying a sufficient supply of gold or silver to warrant our capturing it. It was while I was thus dreaming that the form of a large ship loomed up on our larboard side. It was Page Sixteen

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mands? If not, would the people of Southold be capable of standing the expense of a new school? Meetings were held in which both sides of the argument were heard so that the wisest steps in providing for the educational welfare of the children of Southold might be taken. At a special meeting in which the women were permitted to vote it was decided that a new school would be bulit. But where would it be located? Several sites on our main thoroughfare were proposed, but because of the continual noises and attractions during the day it was thought that a more quiet location would be preferable. Oaklawn Avenue then came into discussion. Said avenue contained few houses, was noted for its beauty and quietness and was not far from the center of the village. This would be an ideal place for the handsome new building. This also caused much discussion, but when the vote was taken the majority were in favor of Oaklawn. The members of the Board of Education together with a special construction committee united their efforts to give Southold a school that any town might proclaim a credit, in which they were certainly successful. Mr. John A. Bliss, noted architect and prominent resident of Southold, willingly offered his services, which were gratefully received. To him we owe due credit for his many suggestions that helped in the success of the construction. A frame building did not comply with the state laws, therefore by building with bricks they would be satisfying the law, and all exterior repairing, such as painting, would be abolished. Mr. R. S. Sturges contracted to build the school. The building was to consist of two stories, an attic, and a basement under the entire building. The first floor would contain three class rooms and a Board room; the second two class rooms, principal’s office, library and a large assembly room. It was the intention of the Board that the Assembly room should be large so that in case of necessity it could be made into two rooms. A temporary partition was erected in the fall making two rooms of the one. To commemorate the beginning of the building process, the members of the Board assembled to witness President Thompson dig the first shovel of dirt where excavation would be made for the cellar. The laying of the corner stone was attended by nearly everyone and proved an affair worth remembering. Through the influence of Mr. Bliss the stone, bearing 1901 on one side and A. D.” on the other, was presented by the manufacturers of the stone used in the building. The services consisted of singing, band music, and speeches by local men. When the school was completed and ready for occupancy Page Eighteen