Cuba Central School - Gargoyle Yearbook (Cuba, NY)

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H1 Toni 0F C BA UBA is a Roman word meaning Goddess of the Young, but it is unknown how this town acquired that name. Cuba, before 1822, was a part of Friendship, but the people of this area soon began to feel their importance and protested against going so far to attend town meet- ings and perform official duties. Accordingly a movement was started which resulted in the division of the town of Friendship and the organization of the town of Cuba in 1822. In conformity with the provisions of the act creating the new town, the first town meeting was held on Tuesday March 5, 1822, in the Griffin Log Tavern. Four justices of the peace, Calvin T. Chamberlain, Samuel H. Morgan, Iohn Griffin, and Stephen Cady, were appointed by the Governor to preside over the meeting. C. T. Chamberlain was elected Town Supervisor and Ira Tracy, another important personage of that time, was elected Town Clerk. In 1824 a post office was established and john Griffin was appointed first postmaster. Many pioneers, possibly headed farther west, settled in Cuba because of the natural resources and geographical layout of the country. The streams, valleys, hills, and the abundance of timber pointed unmistakably to one industry, lumbering. Calvin T. Chamberlain had for five years been running a sawmill, and Stephen Cady and Jacob Baldwin had erected a sawmill and gristmill. The area surrounding the mill was called Cadytown but is now known as North Cuba. With the water for power and transportation and the timber, the lumber industry seemed to be a very promising one. The turnpike ran through Main Street, and Cuba was on a large tributary of the Allegheny River. There were twenty-two sawmills erected in Cuba at different times. The lumber was shipped out and used in the building of boats. There were many minor industries here, many being owned by Stephen Smith, the leading industrialist of Cuba. He operated a sawmill, a grist mill, a general store, a carding machine, a blacksmith shop, a tannery, an ashery, and a lime kiln and brick yard. The first actual shops were owned by Vincent Clemt and Israel Housel. The women contributed to industry with the spinning of flax and wool. In 1834 about 9,000 yards of cloth were manufactured. With the clearing of the land it was found that the raising of cattle was profitable. The hides could be used in the tanneries and the milk could be made into butter and cheese. This brought about the erection of cheese factories, the first form of cooperatives in this country. Cheese factories made cold storage plants necessary. The first one was built by Ackerly and Sill. Tavern keeping was another early and important business in Cuba. There were at one time five inns in the village. More recent industries were the Cutter and Barnes wagon and sleigh factory and the galvanized ware factory. The newest and largest industry is the Acme Electrical Plant which was erected about the year 1937. This plant has retained Cuba's reputation as an industrial town. By the census of 1835 the Town of Cuba had a population of 1476. In 1910 it was 2430. The village population itself was 1566. The population of the village at the present time is about 2600. On October 29, 1838, Isaac. Sheldon began the publication of the Cuba Advocate, the first paper published in town. During this period great emphasis was placed upon the building of new roads. The first paved road was opened for general traffic in November, 1910. It covered part of Genesee Street and ran from the Pennsylvania Railroad to the village line. The year 1840 was one of great political excitement for the campaign of Tippecanoe and Tyler too was on. The occasion brought the greatest gathering Cuba had ever seen to an open air meeting in what is now Spring Street. The speaking was done from a large pine stump. Martin Grover, then known as the Ragged Lawyervand later Judge of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, is said to have been one of the speakers. 6

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ORTO HE friendliness, the pro gressiveness, the oppor- tunities Our Town has given us in community spirit, in the educational field are all a portrayal of its advancement. To you, Cuba, our humble thanks.

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The year 1850 brought a new change. Cuba Village was incorporated, the territory cover- ing 769.68 acres. The year 1950 will celebrate this incorporation with a Centennial Celebra- tion which will take place in july. In Iuly of that same year, 1850, a riot which assumed serious proportions broke out between two factions of Irish laborers on the Erie Railroad. The auth- orities-had to take a hand in suppressing it. A cannon was placed at the Four Corners so as to command the whole village. It was loaded and manned, ready for instant use. The cannon inspired terror to an extent that the tumult was suppressed without necessity of a discharge. It remained for some time on the open space and was finally stolen' away and never seen again. Also during this year the railway car made its first appearance in Cuba. May, 1851, saw the last spike being driven in the western division of the Erie Railroad. The 14th of May was a great day for Cuba. The first through passenger train on the Erie reached the .depot about 9:30 A. M. The train brought the first visit of a president of the United States, President Fillmore. The great Daniel Webster accompanied him. The two men were greeted with joyous cheers, waving of handkerchiefs, and tossing of hats. On April 15, 1861, President Lincoln issued a proclamation in which he called for seventy- five thousand volunteers to suppress a rebellion in the southern states. In forty-eight hours, a company was organized in Cuba, captained by M.M. Loydon. By 1863 the Civil War was in full progress. There were war meetings galore and many enlistments. The property of the town was taxed to raise money to pay volunteers. It seems only fitting that this manuscript should end with a history of the schools of Cuba. The first recorded school was built on Maple Street in the 1830' s. By 1870 it was decided that a larger school was needed, so a new brick building was erected. Salaries paid teachers during this period amounted to a high of two dollars a week. In 1910 a high school was built on the hilltop of Medbury Street. It was considered a great accomplishment. It was equipped with new furniture, laboratory apparatus, a library, five furnaces, a ventilating system, and was fireproof. In 1937 the school system was centralized. Eighteen districts outside the village of Cuba were included. This brought in so many more pupils that appropriations were made for a new building to be erected on the wasteland of Elm Street. School was continued in the old building and the various districts until 1939 when the new building was completed. This edifice is now considered to be one of the most beautiful and well-planned in this area. It is complete with auditorium, gymnasium, library, homemaking rooms, health room, cafeteria, playground, and football field. The enrollment at the present date, 1950, is about eight hundred. There are now 40 teachers included in the system. During 1948-49 a new driving course was introduce and in 1949-50 a new program of guidance was added. Both have been of great value to the students and very well received by all. Conclusively, Cuba Central School is one of the best examples of a well-organized and efficient school system that can be found anywhere. With this ends a brief but complete resume of the town of Cuba from its beginning to present d times: its people, its industries, and its schools. Let this be a tribute to the town and its future. ,ff 'i,+ ,Z-727,22-ff-s,, ,, ,-- .-.3--.., 7