WATSON SCHOOLHOUSE

1843 Student List

TOWN of BUTLER
WAYNE COUNTY, NY

THE TOWN OF BUTLER COBBLESTONE SCHOOLHOUSE was built by 1824 and is located at the intersection of Route 89 and Van Vleck Road in the Town of Butler, Wayne County, NY. The school is often referred to as the Watson Schoolhouse. It is believed to be one of the very oldest cobblestones. Rather than using the smooth lake pebbles characteristic of later cobblestone buildings, it is constructed of rough fieldstones that were taken from the property on which it rests. Some of the stones were split in half because of their larger size.

A deed obtained from the Wayne County Clerk's office states that ownership of the school building was transferred from Daniel Roe to the school trustees, i.e. Paul H. Davis, Thomas Armstrong, and Joseph Watson in 1824. Mr. Roe arrived in the Town of Butler in 1812 with his wife and 13 children. He was instrumental in bringing Methodism to the area, had an early post office in his home, and is credited with the building of the first schoolhouse in the town. His farm house, barn, and the Roe Family Cemetery are situated just to the north of the school on Rt. 89.

William Lattin, Director of the Cobblestone Society at Childs, NY, says that the period of cobblestone construction was between the completion of the Erie Canal (1820's) and the beginning of the Civil War (1860's). Ninety percent of cobblestone buildings can be found within a 75 mile radius of Rochester, NY.

WATSON COBBLESTONE SCHOOL STUDENTS - 20 NOVEMBER, 1843

(Note: The school book containing this information can be accessed at the Office of the Wayne County Historian, 9 Pearl Street, Lyons, NY).

DEBOE, Delia

DEBOE, Doanda

SEARLES, Almyra

WOODWORTH, William M.

CAMPBELL, Theodore

JOHNSON, Derius

BROWN, Valentine

JOHNSON, Orville

HOWE, Hillman

CLAPP, Byron

ABRAMS, Henry D.

HOWE, Clarence

MEAD, Calvin

MEAD, Michael

ABRAMS, Thomas H.

KETCHAM, Edward

ABRAMS, Mary

HOWE, Harriet

CRAW, Rhoda S.

WOODWORTH, Sarah A.

MERRIMAN, Adaline

BAKEMAN, Mary Ann

KETCHAM, Samantha

KETCHAM, Christina

KETCHAM, Hiram

HOWE, Chester

JONES, Maria

ABRAMS, Merrissa A.

LEMON, Mary

WINEGAR, George W.

CLAPP, Willhelmina

Ashbel B. Winegar swears these are the students of District # 1, Town of Butler for the quarter beginning 13 November, 1843. Sworn before Anias Hopkins.

TO BE CONTINUED.

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