Prattsburgh Central High School - Franklinite Yearbook (Prattsburgh, NY)

Page 12 text:

8 FRANKLIN ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL EE sex Ilfl tha! .I Beginnings of Prattsburgh HE township of Prattsburgh, situated in the northeastern part of Steuben County, was formerly a part of the territory comprised in the original charter of Massachusetts. The conflicting claims upon this territory between New York and Massachusetts were settled by a board of commissioners, and by their decision the claim was given to New York: but the pre-emption of Indian titles to Massachusetts. In the year 1787 this pre-emption was sold to Messrs. Oliver Phelps and Nathaniel Gorham. From them it was conveyed to Mr. Robert Morris of Revolutionary War fame, then to Col. Charles Williamson who acting as an agent for a11 English association transferred the title to Sir Wm. Pulteney. After his death this great tract of land was known as the Pulteney Estate. In the year 1799 a man by the name of Captain Joel Pratt came from Columbia County on horseback to Steuben County. He erected a log cabin on Urbana Hill five miles southeast of Prattsburgh but afterwards went away. The next year he came again, cleared the land and sowed some wheat. In 1802 Mr. Pratt and Wm. Root of Albany contracted for the purchase of the township of Prattsburgh from the Pulteney Estate and here Mr. Pratt moved with his family from Urbana Hill i11 1805. However Mr. Joel Pratt was not the first settler of Prattsburgh as jared Pratt and his family had come to this township in the year 1800. Others came and finally in the year I806 the population had increased to about twenty-five. It is of some interest to know that the first white child to be born in this settlement was a daughter of Jared Pratt, Maryetta Pratt. The first death was a daughter of Esq. Curtis. About the year 1808 Prattsburgh was designated as a postofiice station and post-riders began regular trips between Geneva and Bath pass- ing through this settlement. However, through political influence the route was afterwards changed to the east side of Lake Keuka. For a few years the people of Prattsburgh were without a postoflice station but at last they again had another system and thereby mails were received regularly. About the year 1816 a small school-house was erected and later in the year I824 Franklin Academy was founded.

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FRANKLIN ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL 7 School iCalendar IQ2I-22 School opened Teachers' Conference, . Juniors organize Seniors organize September 6. September 9. September 1 5. September 16. School closed for Bath Fair . . . September 28, 29. Athletic Association organizes . . October 3. Current Topics Club organizes . October IO. School closed for Columbus Day .,.. October 12. Sophomores organize ...... November 1. Basketball season opens with defeat by Penn Yan at Penn Yan . . . . . . . . . -November 4 Better Speech Week ..... . November 7-1 1. Tag Day ........ November 8. Cement demonstration for Agricultural Class . . November 9. Quarterly tests ....... November 1o-1 3. School closed for Armistice Day . . November 1 1. Thanksgiving vacation . . . . November 24, 25. Chautauqua opens in Academy Hall . Y . December 9. School closed for Christmas vacation . December 14. Teachers' Conference . . . . December 15, 16. Chautauqua . December 23. School opens january 3. Chautauqua . January 6. Regents . January 16-20 Chautauqua . january 31. Farm Club entertainment ...... March 8. B. B. team closes season, winning from Corning Northside Independents . . March 10. A. A. Box Social March 16 Freshmen organize March 21. Junior party . March 28. Quarterly tests April 6, 7. Seniors leave for Washington . April 13. Easter vacation April 17-21 Baccalaureate sermon . . . June 25. Grammar-School Graduation . . june 26. Class Night . . June 27. Graduation Night June 28. Alumni Banquet June 29.

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FRANKLIN ACADEINIY HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL 9 I11 1848 tl1e village of Prattsburgh was incorporated. The early records were destroyed by tire, but under the new charter of IS77 E. T, Watkiiis was elected village president. One important event which tended towards the welfare of tl1e town was the building of the Prattsburgh railroad. The work was begun on july 29, 18318 and the first train passed over the completed road October 9, 1339. ---I fw'111a1'1z cll'0S.YIIll7l1. Reminiscences of Franklin Academy RANKLIN ACADEMY received its Regent charter in 1824 and the same year the original building fifty-two feet by thirty-two feet and two stories high was erected. This building was surisounted by a belfry About sixty-five years ago when two well known ladies attended school at Old Franklin there was just the academic department. The grades W:re i11 the building now the home of Mr. Richard Deighton. About 1852 wings were added and the building was made three stories l1igl1. The building was enlarged because it was not able to accommo- date all who wished to attend school. The wings were put on as dormi- tories for the men and ladies, the ladies occupying the east wing Zllld the men the west wing. At o11e ti1:1e the school consisted of 219 pupils of which QI were from Prattsburgh, 123 from New York State, 2 from Illi- nois, and 1 from each Indiana, Pennsylvania a11d Connecticut. The original building was very small. The lower story was divided i11to three rooms and a hall and the upper story into nine rooms and a hall.