Little Red Schoolhouse (Brunswick, New York)

The District #6 Schoolhouse, also known locally as the Little Red Schoolhouse or the Lincoln School,[3] located in Brunswick, New York, United States, is a one-room schoolhouse built c. 1830[2] or 1837[1] that was home to grades one through eight until the consolidation of Brunswick (Brittonkill) Central School District in 1952.[2] It was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on July 3, 2008[4] and a dedication ceremony for the accomplishment was held on June 12, 2009.[2]

District No. 6 Schoolhouse
View from the north, 2009
Location within the state of New York
LocationClums Corners, Brunswick, New York
Nearest cityTroy
Coordinates42°45′4.29″N 73°34′28.8″W
AreaLess than 1 acre (0.40 ha)[1]
Builtc. 1830[2] or 1837[1]
Architectural styleGreek revival[1]
NRHP reference No.08000582
Added to NRHPJuly 3, 2008

The building, located on New York Route 278, is still owned by Brunswick Central School District.[2] It is believed to be one of the oldest remaining schoolhouses in Rensselaer County.[1]

History
Map of the original District #6
The schoolhouse in 1913

The schoolhouse was built either in 1830[2] or 1837[1]—though sources disagree on which—and served as a local grade school for more than a century. It hosted children ranging from grade one to eight together in one classroom.[2] The district was centered around Clums Corners and was originally designated District 11 until being renamed District 6 sometime between 1854 and 1862.[1]

The structure was built on land donated by Luther and Olive Eddy, who owned a large tract of farmland adjacent to the current lot.[1] Luther Eddy later became the first town superintendent for education in 1844.[5]

After the consolidation of Brunswick Central School District in the 1950s, the school was closed. At one point, it was reopened for a year to accommodate the large student population on the new school's campus.

It was later used as a garage by the school district. The west wall was removed to accommodate vehicles.[1] After that, it was used as a storage house by the district.[1]

During the 1970s, the exterior of the building was restored by the local Kiwanis, including replacing the west wall which had been removed.[1] The building was then used by the Brunswick Historical Society as a museum. By 2007, most of the interior was refurbished by donations of time and materials from local residents.

Beginning in the mid-2000s (decade), an effort was made by the Brunswick Town Historian to add the site to National Register of Historic Places.[1] This would be the second former schoolhouse in the town to be listed on the NRHP, the Garfield School being the first.[1][6] Following an interior restoration that was completed in 2007, the site was added to the register on July 3, 2008 as District No. 6 Schoolhouse.[4]

References
  1. Zankel, Sharon (2008-04-22). "National Register of Historic Places nomination, District 6 Schoolhouse (Javascript)". New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Archived from the original on 2011-12-10. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
  2. Gardinier, Bob (2009-06-12). "School is an open book on past". Times Union (Albany). Retrieved 2009-06-13.
  3. Zankel, Sharon Martin (1998). Images of America: Brunswick. Arcadia Publishing/Brunswick Historical Society. p. 72. ISBN 0-7524-1306-6.
  4. "Weekly List of Actions Taken on Priorities: 8/18/08 through 8/22/08 (August 29, 2008)". National Park Service: National Register of Historic Places. 2008-07-03. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
  5. Anderson, George Baker (1897). "Chapter 28: Town of Brunswick". Index to Landmarks of Rensselaer County, New York. D. Mason & Co. Publishers. Archived from the original on July 10, 2012. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
  6. "About Us: Garfield School". Brunswick Historical Society. Archived from the original on 2008-04-21. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
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