The Year Pelham Had No School

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

In 1834, the Town of Pelham had about 250 residents. That year, the Town inexplicably held no school for its youngsters. The annual report of the Superintendent of Common Schools noted the failure in a rather puzzled tone. What follows is an excerpt of the entry.

"It has been stated in the two last annual reports of the Superintendent, that the organization of the common schools, and the administration of the system in all matters, external to the schools themselves, by the officers of towns and school districts having a supervision over them, are brought to as great a degree of order and regularity as it is reasonable to expect under any circumstances. The commissioners of common schools of all the towns in the State, have made their reports as required by law. In the town of Pelham, in Westchester county, no school has been kept during last year. This town was organized in theyear 1788, and includes the ancient manor of Pelham, which is of very limited dimensions. In the year 1835, it had but 255 inhabitants; and the whole town constitutes one school district, in which, for some cause not explained, there was no school in the year 1834. The report from that town simply states the fact without assigning the reason."

Source: Annual Report of the Superintendent of Commons Schools of the State of New-York Made to the Legislature, January 6, 1836, p. 23 (Albany, NY: Croswell, Van Benthutsen and Burt 1836).

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.