Le Roy Central School - O At Kan Yearbook (Le Roy, NY)

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sz jx f Tl-IE 1950 Q-ATLZKAN by I-llc SL'llltPI',Cf!I5.Y of Lcffuy l.lt'lIlLl'lfl Scllorfl The Educational This year is actually about the 150th anniversary of the beginning of a formal school in Le Roy. since in 1801 the first log school house in this vicinity was erected on East Main Street Road on a site near where the Dunrovin Shop stands today. The second school was built in 1803. also a log structure. and was located on the site of our present high school. During the following year, 1804, an- other building was erected on East Main Street Road. a little east of the first log building. lt is particularly significant to note that this third school was the first frame school house west of the Gen- esee River. Later on. and during the NYar of 1812. a more prodigious building was erected in conjunction with the Masonic Lodge on the corner of Nliest Main and Craigie Street. opposite the old Lent Tavern. Here religious services. instruction in the classics and meetings of the Masonic Lodge were held. Similar in many ways to this was the Round- house. next of Le Roy's schools. lt was a some- what noted building in its day because of its rather unique construction and had its origin here with the Masonic Lodge in 1825. The lower room of this building was used by the Congregational Church and for public meetings and lectures. while the second story was finished off as a schoolroom in 1828. This operated as a select school until its demolition in 1859 and the erection of the Universalist Church on its site, This action almost immediately necessitated the erection of a more commodious structure for the purpose of con- tinuing school instruction. so that the Le Roy Aca- demic Tnstitute actually grew out of necessity. However, after 1859 and prior to the actual es- tablislinient of the institute, schools were carried on in other parts of the town, The first of these was operated in the rooms immediately over the former Hudson Sales rooms in the business section. From here it was moved and located in the present Ameri- can Legion Home on lVest Main Street. H 11 istory of Le Roy The Academic lnstitute actually grew from these already-existing organizations and was established as a first-class institution for English and classical instruction for both sexes. Modern languages, na- tural sciences and music were taught as well. A charter was received from the State Legis- lature in 186-l and the first term commenced on -lanuary 5, 1865. Mr. T. C. Comstock. one of the several princi- pals. took charge in 1880. During this period the school was exceptionally fiourishing. Seven teach- ers were employed and the average attendance was well over 200 students. The picture shown of the Academy is of the Comstock Reunion which was held on rl une 27, 1924. ln it may be seen many Le Royans. his former pu- pils and ardent admirers of a great tegghel- and leader. 7 After several years of existence and in recogni- tion of its merited character and high standards, the town appropriated 310,000 for 'the lnstitute and its property. This will later be treated in more detail under the formation of the Union Free School District Number 1. During the same period of the 19th century that saw the establishment of the Academic lnstitute there was an ever increasing pressure from certain parts of the country to establish schools for female education on a college level. which. until that time. were quite unheard of in any part of the nation. Among the first and most infiuential of these early educators who fought for higher education opportunities for women were the Misses Marietta and Emily E. lngham who were from Saybrook. Connecticut. i They first located a school in Attica and after two years' residence there moved and opened the school in Le Roy in 1837. The Le Roy Female Seniinary was chartered in 18-l-1 and almost im- mediately sprang into the first ranlc of this type of school in the state.

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m- WAN- ,, ' THE 1950 Cl-AT-KAN 3: by the Senior' Class of Le Roy Central SCIIUOI .-Xfter several years of marked success the sisters relinquished their private interests in the school and surrendered the entire school and property to the Synod of Genesee with the understanding that a full collegiate course would be established. The Ingham Collegiate Institute was established in 1852. It was a leader in the light for the right to confer degrees upon women and was among the first seven schools in the Ifnited States to introduce a college curriculum for the education of women and to gain the power to grant degrees and diplomas to them, After several attempts. the college was at last granted a charter to establish a university in 1857. The Reverend Samuel Hanson Cox. a distinguished New York clergyman, was installed as the first chancellor, while Phineas Staunton, a well-known artist. was elected vice-chancellor, Mr. Staunton had married Emily E. Ingham in 18-17 and was, from that time on. a permanent member of the staff. Following the granting of a charter to Ingham University. aid to the extent of 325.000 was asked from the legislature but only 255,000 was obtained, and further appeals to the public brought only the small sum of Sl.-100. During 1883. the Synod of Genesee relinquished their trust, a new charter was adopted and a new Board of Trustees was organized. Because of increasing tinancial difficulties Ing- ham University was forced to close and eventually became the property of Yale University from which it was later purchased for our school site. The Ingham Memorial Plaque, which was placed in the lobby of our high school. is notable for its symbolism. Emily, at the right, wears a cameo bearing the likeness of her husband, Professor Phineas Staunton. The border of roses represents the school flower-the Ingham XYhite Rose. A well-deserved tribute to the zeal and sacrifice of the founders is the university motto of exacting service, 'fNoblesse Obligef' which freely translated reads, 'frank imposes obligations, or, much is rightly expected of one of high station. Emily E. Ingham Staunton died in 1889-she was the First in the nation to conceive and carry out to a successful issue. the idea of a university chart- ered for female education. Before her death, however, Emily was instru- mental in having a beautiful art gallery erected in memory of her husband who died in Quinto. Ecua- dor, while on a scientific expedition. This Staunton Conservatory of Art was constructed in 1870 for 2515.000 and in 1875 an addition known as the Ing- ham Art College was built. Of the vast collection of paintings in the Con- servatory. at least one should be very familiar to both students and towusfolk alike. It is the paint- ing of Henry Clay, The Great Compromiserf' an outstanding statesman of the 19th century. It was painted in 1866 by Professor Staunton to he en- tered in competition with several other paintings, one of which was to be chosen and placed in the Kentucky State Capitol. Although it was decidedly the best work from an artistic standpoint. it was refused because of the prominence in the foreground of a Northerner, Charles Sumner. The painting occupied a conspicuous position in the art gallery until it was sold at auction in 1905 for approximately 55125, to representatives of the Board of Education. It now hangs in the balcony of our auditorium. A number of other paintings by Professor Staun- ton. including portraits of both the Ingham sisters and a self-portrait may be found in the assembly room of the 1Yoodward Memorial Library and at Le Roy House. Professor I-. M. XYiles. another well known ar- tist, and director of the art department at Ingham University was honored in 1922 when a bust of his image was dedicated and mounted on the campus grounds at the entrance to the Conservatory of Art. Both he and his son. Irving 1Yi1es. who came from New York City, were nationally acclaimed land- scape artists. U