Wilson Central School - Crest Yearbook (Wilson, NY)

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A HUNDRED YEARS or PROGRESS IT seems befitting to start the history of the Wilson Central School with a very brief summary of the first schools in the town of Wilson. The first school was taught evenings for adults by Luther Wilson during thehmonths of January and Feb- ruary, 1817. Classes were held in a house about one mile south of the village on the A. B. Arnold farm. The first school house in the town of Wilson was built of logs in 1819 on the Lake Road about one and one-half miles east of the village. The first teacher was Dr. Warner of Olcott, and the average attendance was twelve pupils. The first school house erected in the village of Wilson was a log school on the southeast corner of Lake and Young Streets, the later site for the home of Luther Wilson which was still later to become the Wilsonian Club. This school was built in 1820, and the first teacher was Almira Welch, succeeded by David Murray. In 1852 a cobblestone school house was built on Pettit Street just west of the Baptist church. This school was used for many years, and con- tinued as the Primary Department after the Union Free School was organized. There is talk about other school buildings in the village. However this structure was the village school, and other places were used only temporarily during periods of overcrowding or building. When the Pettit Street school became too small, an office of Luther Wilson, also cobblestone, south of his own home and the Dox Block were used as annexes. In 1900-1901 when the Union School building was under construction, the primary school was held in an old cheese factory at the foot of High Street, the intermediate grades were in a Free Me- thodist Church on Washington Street, and high school was held in the Town Hall Ca frame structure which had been the Methodist Church and moved from the site of the present church.l The use of this Town Hall and the office of Luther Wilson was at very different times and yet in the same vicinity of town, therefore confusing. THE WILSON COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE In 1845, the citizens of Wilson under the leadership of Luther Wilson decided that their children should be given opportunity for preparing themselves for college. Before this time they had to travel far from home to receive this education. There was an academy at Lewiston as early as 1828, and one at Yates, Orleans County. A meeting was held on March 13, 1845 and a decision was made to form a joint stock company. Simon Sheldon donated the land and 350, and Luther Wilson gave 8500 toward the project. A subscription was circulated and fifty other citi- zens contributed to the total amount of 82454 which was sufficient in those times to erect a very substantial two story cobblestone building. Some of these pledges were fulfilled in work and in stone, some pledges were small and some large, but all were working for a common cause. At the second meeting on March 22, 1845, it was decided to have fifteen trustees, and the following persons were elected: Luther Wilson Cpresidentj, Hiram Tabor CSecre- taryl, Morgan Johnson Ctreasurerj, Simon Sheldon Ccol- lectorl, Enos Hamblin, Alexander Pettit, George W. Pratt, Theodore Dwight, Luman Case, Enoch Pease, Aaron Mix, Sylvester Parsons, Alexander Miner, Stephen Wilson and Russell Robinson. They organized with the officers as shown above. According to a history of the school given by Mr. James G. O. Brown, at the time of the fiftieth year celebration and which evidently was compiled with great care, the school building was completed and opened the last of November, 1945. It was incorporated by the Regents of the University of the State of New York on February 19, 1846. Benjamin F. Wilcox was engaged as principal. He came from the Yates Academy, and brought with him David H. Davis as assistant., and Miss Charlotte S. Hal- sey as preceptress. These two men remained at the head of the school until 1857. Quoting from an interesting letter written by David H. Davis in May 3, 1899 he says: We opened the insti- tute in the summer of 1845 with about two hundred stu- dents, and about as fine a set of young gentlemen and ladies as you ever saw collected together. The view of such a collection was a matter of pride to those who as- sume to be their teachers. What has been the destiny of all that splendid group of young people? Were they made any wiser and better for being a few months under our instruction? The true teacher carries with him continu- ally a burden of responsibility in reference to the future of those committed to his charge. I sometimes wonder what my influence may have been, on the mind and heart and character of the young who came under my influence and instruction .... I don't like a pessimistic view of life, so I will hope that as a teacher I did some good, made some people wiser and happier . . . 'i The school was widely advertised and attracted many students from the surrounding area as well as from distant places. The catalogues describe the school as being re- moved from the immediate interruptions and annoyances of a central location because it was away from the busi- ness center of the village. The good character of the inhabitants and the absence of allurements to vice which abound in many of our larger villages recommend Wilson. This institution is situated in the village of Wil- son, Niagara County, N. Y., slightly elevated above the waters of Lake Ontario, of which it commands a fine view, surrounded by a region of rare fertility. The beauty, healthfulness, and re- tirement of this location, render it peculiarly attractive to those desirous of study and literary pursuits. Not among the least of the advantages which Wilson presents, are the interest and good feeling manifested by the people towards the school and students, and the absence of those enticements to vice which abound in many of our larger villages. Instances of injury, it is true, may occur, but it is felt that if youth cannot be safe here, they can be safe nowhere. Mr. G. Herbert Swich claimed that the school by the fall of 1846 had three .hundred and thirty-nine applicants of which there were fifty-nine more boys than girls,. and eighty-six were non-resident students. Students are listed in the 1852 catalogue as coming from Orangeport, New- fane, Lockport, Porter, Cambria, Medina, Ransomville, Pekin, Jeddo, Beachville, Youngstown, Royalton, Roches- ter, Bellevue, Olcott, Ogden, Eagle Harbor. Lewiston, West Pembroke, Somerset, Shawnee, Wrights Corners, Suspension Bridge, Carmel, Avon Springs, Shelby Basin, Brunswick, Poestenkill, Oswego, Homer, Hickory Corners, Raynales Basin, Pendleton, Gasport, Johnson's Creek, Ovid, Middleport, Mapleton, Ridgeway, Clarence Hollow, Continued on page 8

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1887 N PETTIT STRE E SCHO L ILL THE E 'S V1 l-4 IJ .-C1 -o-1 :- 4 E O C! L. 41 :- Q3 If 5 U .-4 nso Mam ackett, H Il t0 Thorne, New ie am ay Johnson, M D Alice awford, Cf Third r, beorge abo T Drinkwater, Charles , Edna E E as 5 QC 3 D-4 -:E E il Charles Van, Jeannie Wilcox, Second La Bowers, Edith 43 aa .ae IH :J In M s: U l-4 :1 CQ : 5 2 .2 T'- O 5 O 2 E o 2 .51 :1 Q uf ... 9 w Q U O V2 U1 CJ n Pratt, Hae- CHD Wilkinson, Gl Leon er, Matthews, Stanley Crawford, orri OW ill T , W ifford, Grace enry Ward, Charles Pease, Murray G H e door wa atchg In gh H han C , Eliza- si O VJ -: I-4 E Pa I- N 2 E O m E o U UF 3 U .cz 4-3 4-3 5 J JJ 0 : ll :1 Q .9 T. sd ..:: U J -03 U .M LaVa.n--Teacher ons, Myra Wardg aude Sherme Simm Swann, M rington Patterson, Florence Har beth

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