Early History of Colonial Elementary School: The Battle in 1925 Regarding How to Deal with Colonial School and Other Pelham Schools - Part II

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Today's posting is the second of a two-part series.  See

Fri., Sep. 18, 2015:  Early History of Colonial Elementary School: The Battle in 1925 Regarding How to Deal with Colonial School and Other Pelham Schools - Part I.

Mon., Sep. 21, 2015:  Early History of Colonial Elementary School: The Battle in 1925 Regarding How to Deal with Colonial School and Other Pelham Schools - Part II.

On Friday, September 18, 2015, I began a series of postings on a fascinating battle among Pelhamites during the mid-1920s to place new school buildings (or expand existing ones) to handle the massive population growth among school-age children in The Pelhams.  Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog picks up with the story at a particularly shocking moment in its history.

During the mid-1920s, the School Board was working feverishly to catch up with Pelham's burgeoning population.  By 1925, a new wing was being added to the Pelham Memorial High School.  New wings were being added to Siwanoy School.  The Hutchinson School was being expanded.  Yet, all of this was not enough.  The lack of a sufficiently-large local school in Pelham Heights was causing consternation and pain.  Yet, voters seemed unwilling to do anything about it.

By April 20, 1925, Pelham and its leaders had allowed the School District to get itself into a tight spot.  Pelham needed expanded school facilities, particularly in Pelham Heights, immediately.  Everywhere the School Board turned, however, in its efforts to find a site on which to build new facilities, local protests erupted.  Threatened litigation raised the prospect of years of delay before construction could begin -- years of delay that the children of the Town of Pelham could not afford. The School Board concluded that the quickest path of least resistance to alleviate some pain would be to expand the Colonial School on its then-present site. (Efforts already were underway to expand the Hutchinson School, the Siwanoy School and Pelham Memorial High School.) It was hoped that the expansions of the Hutchinson School and Colonial School would allow the District to move students out of Siwanoy School to alleviate the overcrowding there. On April 20, 1925, Pelham voters went to the polls. 

More than 1,000 voters lined up at Pelham Memorial High School to vote in what was described as "one of the most sharply contested battles that has been waged in Pelham in many years."  When the ballots were counted, the two propositions preferred by the School Board were defeated resoundingly.  

The proposal to purchase additional land adjoining the tiny four-room Colonial School on Pelhamdale Avenue at a cost not to exceed $37,000 lost by 127 votes.  The plan to demolish the tiny four-room Colonial School and replace it with a new 12-room elementary school building on the enlarged site, at a cost not to exceed $285,000 lost by 133 votes.  The only proposition accepted by a majority of the voters was the third proposition.  The proposal to secure a site in North Pelham, on Sixth Street, between Third and Fourth Avenues, for the erection of a school at some unspecified future time, the cost of the site not to exceed $65,000, was carried by a majority of 297 votes.

In short, Pelham voters did not want to see the little Colonial School expanded and failed to do anything to alleviate over-crowding in the elementary schools.  Rathter, they merely authorized the School District to buy land in the Village of North Pelham that was located not particularly far from the Hutchinson School in that village.

The over-crowding problem had reached a critical stage.  What happened next in the saga was quite odd.  Someone contacted the State Board of Education asking for State intervention in the dispute.  No one was certain who contacted the State authorities.  The School Board denied it.  The opponents of the School Board in the dispute denied it.  No one could deny, however, that someone contacted the State Board of Education which then informed Pelham that it would make itself available to analyze the situation and recommend solutions.

First things first, however.  With the approval of the voters in hand on the third proposition, the School Board promptly arranged to buy property at a Sixth Street site.  See School Board Buying Property On Sixth Street, The Pelham Sun, Jun. 5, 1925, Vol. 16, No. 14, p. 2, col. 4.

Additionally, in a temporary effort to alleviate over-crowding at Siwanoy School that had resulted in what was known as "part-time" schooling involving two shifts of students in shortened classroom time each day, on September 15, 1925, the Pelham School Board voted to move several grades of students from Siwanoy School to the new addition of Pelham Memorial High School as soon as the addition could be completed.  It was further planned that, in the event the log jam could be broken and approvals could be gained to rebuild or replace the tiny little Colonial School, the pupils of that school also could be moved to the new addition of Pelham Memorial High School.

Soon the School Board made its next move.  It decided to make another appeal directly to the voters of the School District.  On January 15, 1926 a small notice appeared in the local newspaper, The Pelham Sun.  The notice read:

"NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, NO. 1, TOWN OF PELHAM, NEW YORK

A special meeting of the qualified voters of Union Free School District, No. 1, Town of Pelham, New York, is hereby called to be held at the Memorial High School Building in Pelham, New York on Monday, January 18, 1926, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon for the purpose of taking action upon the following proposition to be submitted to said meeting, that is to say:

Proposition

Shall the Board of Education of Union Free School District No. 1, Town of Pelham, New York, be authorized and directed to demolish, sell or otherwise dispose of the now existing Colonial School building, and to erect a new school building on the lots of land fronting on Highbrook Avenue in the Village of Pelham which now belong to said Board and constitute a part of the Colonial School site in said District."

Source:  NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, NO. 1, TOWN OF PELHAM, NEW YORK, The Pelham Sun, Jan. 15, 1926, p. 3, col. 2.  

On Monday, January 18, 1926, the weather was miserable as voters began to gather at the high school.  A crowd of opponents who sought rejection of the proposition flooded into the high school.  Those in attendance concluded the proposal was doomed yet again.  Members of the School Board and supports of the proposal did not give up, however.  They immediately began contacting supporters, rousting them from their dinner tables as The Pelham Sun noted.  Supporters likewise flooded into the high school.  

The result seemed to be a nail-biter until the final hour of voting when a substantial majority of those who arrived voted in favor of the proposal.  Once the ballots were counted, there were 312 votes in favor and 156 votes against the proposition with 10 blank ballots.  The tiny Colonial School building would be razed and replaced with a larger, more modern school building.  

The drama was not over, however.  Some began to agitate for renaming the school after one of the United States Presidents.  Local historian William R. Montgomery would have none of it.  He approached the School Board and "pleaded for retention of the name as possessing historical association."

On November 21, 1926, school officials and Pelham dignitaries gathered at the site of the recently-demolished four-room Colonial School and laid the cornerstone for the new Colonial School.  I have written extensively of those developments.  See Thu., May 14, 2015:  When School Board Balked, Pelham Heights Resident Donated a School, Furnishings and Paid Teachers With His Own Money.

So, the next time you or a friend wonder why today's Colonial Elementary School sits on such a small plot, you will know the answer:  because surrounding land owners and Pelham voters would permit nothing else in 1925 and 1926.  

Today's Colonial Elementary School in an Undated Photograph,

Ca. Early 1930s. Source: Pelham Union Free School

District No. 1, [Untitled History of District Schools], p. 4

[Unnumbered Pages], Visited May 10, 2015. NOTE: Click Image to Enlarge.

*          *           *           *           *

Below is the text of a host of articles that touch on the subject of this two-part series on how today's Colonial Elementary School came to be.  Each is followed by a citation and link to its source.  

"Voters Defeat School Board Program By Decisive Majority In Special Election on Monday
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Both Colonial School Propositions Are Defeated; Site For Sixth Street, North Pelham, Wins by 297 -- Battle of Circulars Precedes Meeting
-----

In one of the most sharply contested battles that has been waged in Pelham in many years, citizens of the town, in the special election Monday night, defeated the program of the Board of Education by a decisive majority.  The proposal to purchase additional land adjoining the present Colonial school site on Pelhamdale ave. Pelham Heights, at a cost not to exceed $37,000 lost by 127 votes.  The plan to demolish the present Colonial school and erect a new 12-room elementary school building on the enlarged site, at a cost not to exceed $285,000 lost by 133 votes.  

The proposal to secure a site in North Pelham, on Sixth street, between Third and Fourth avenues, for the erection of a school at some future time, the cost of the site not to exceed $65,000 was carried by a majority of 297 votes.

The result is regarded as a defeat for the plans of the Board of Education, inasmuch as the opposition was focused upon the two Colonial school propositions.

Approximately 1200 people were in the high school auditorium or attempting to gain entrance, when Judge William L. Ransom, chairman of the meeting, rapped his gavel on the table for order.  

The vote showed that 1,031 votes had been cast.  The crowd was extremely good natured and orderly and the voting consumed less than an hour.

The vote on proposition 1 was No 577, Yes 453; For proposition 2, the vote was No 582, Yes 449; Proposition 3 was Yes 651, No 354.

For several days prior to the election, a series of circulars dealing with the School Board program flooded the mails.  The battle waged right up until the meeting Monday night, when school boys distributed circulars in favor of the Board of Education program.  Many persons did not like this aspect of the fight but no action was taken to suppress the boys.

The members of the Board of Education entered the auditorium shortly after 8 o'clock and received a favorable reception.  Chairman L. Ogden Thompson on taking his seat on the stage announced that some who were standing in the rear of the hall might be accommodated on the stage where extra benches were arranged.  Many prominent citizens came forward among them Congressman Benjamin F. Fairchild, who sat just behind the Board of Education throughout the meeting.

Judge William L. Ransom was quickly chosen as chairman of the meeting and Kneeland S. Durham, clerk to the Board of Education began the long, monotonous reading of the purpose of the meeting.  His voice was not sufficiently powerful to carry to the gallery or the rear of the auditorium.  Repeated calls of 'can't hear you,' 'louder,' etc. finally led Judge Ransom to stop the proceedings.

'It is apparent ladies and gentlemen, that the Clerk of this meeting is unable to make himself heard in the rear of the hall and in the gallery.  For those who cannot hear him, I will say that you have all read it in the Pelham Sun and are aware what it is about.'

'Get a new clerk' was the response from the gallery.  Mr. Durham became embarrassed and stopped reading.  He looked at Judge Ransom with an appealing gaze.  The Judge brought his mallet down forcibly on the table.  The clank of crunching glass resounded through the hall.  A drinking glass on the end of the table was smashed to smithereens by the impact.  The tension in the audience relaxed and everyone laughed heartily.

Even Judge Ransom was forced to smile, and L. Ogden Thompson, and James Elliott, who have worked day and night for several weeks on the school program, relaxed.  For a moment it appeared the meeting would take the aspect of a 'toonerville' vaudeville show.  Judge Ransom quickly restored order and the meeting proceeded.  

Mr. Durham read on, for twenty long, tedious minutes.  When he finished the crowd in the auditorium breathed a sigh of relief.  Buty they were not to escape so easily.  Mr. H. J. Bickford, legal counsel to the Board of Education jumped to his feet and began reading a resolution which embodied the same material that Mr. Durham had read.  Mr. Nathan Vidaver interrupted him after several minutes appealing to Chairman Ransom for a decision as to whether they could not dispense with the reading of the resolution.  Judge Ransom replied that the reading of the resolution must go on in accordance with [illegible] previous of the Education Law of the state of New York.  Mr. Bickford continued.  He made no more impact on the audience than Mr. Durham.

When he finished reading, the resolution was quickly adopted by unanimous vote, upon motion of Mr. Vidaver second by Judge D[illegible] L'Esperance.

Judge Ransom announced the following list of tellers and assistants at the ballot boxes:

Box 1, Tellers:  Benjamin G. [Illegible], Mrs. A. M. Menkel, and Edward Clemenson.  Assistants to the tellers:  Ralph Hess and C. L. Law.

Box 2, Tellers:  Harold Davis, Edwin T. Christmas and Mrs. [Illegible] Leo.  Assistants to the tellers:  [Illegible] Migel and Mrs. James Gerry.

Box 3, Tellers:  Mrs. Norman [Illegible]field, Irving Dodge, and Edward Rieger.  Assistants to the tellers:  Robert J. Leonard and J.C. Peck[Illegible].

Box 4, Tellers:  Mrs. Clair Fa[Illegible], Harold D. Penney, and Scott D[Illegible].  Assistants to the tellers:  Mrs. [Illegible] H. Harish and Richard J. Walsh.

Judge Ransom asked if there was anyone present who desired to give any reason why the balloting should not proceed.  Judge A. M. Menkel [Illegible]ham rose and stated his objection on the ground that the meeting had not been legally advertised.  It was a formality on the part of those opposed to the program of the Board of Education.  The balloting began.

The hall began to clear shortly before 10 o'clock and it was but few minutes after 10 o'clock when the balloting was finished.  The Ballot holders and their aides adjourned to a rear room.  They did not emerge until 11:15 when the vote was announced.  But a small percentage of the audience had remained for the rest.  Leaders of the opposition shook hands with members of the Board of Education as they filed out of the hall after the result was made public."

Source:  Voters Defeat School Board Program By Decisive Majority In Special Election on Monday -- Both Colonial School Propositions Are Defeated; Site For Sixth Street, North Pelham, Wins by 297 -- Battle of Circulars Precedes Meeting, The Pelham Sun, Apr. 24, 1925, p. 1, cols. 6-7.  

"STATE DEPARTMENT to SOLVE PELHAM SCHOOL PROBLEM
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Appeal To Albany Gets Speedy Reply From Commissioner Graves
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Head of State Education Department Will Send Representatives To Pelham To Suvey Situation and Determine What Is Necessary To Solve Part Time In Schools
-----

Plans for school expansion to solve part-time tuition now being given in schools of Pelham will pass into direct control of State Commissioner of Education Frank P. Graves some time during next week.  Following the defeat of the proposition to erect a twelve-room school in Pelham Heights in place of the present Colonial school, the Board of Education appealed to the State Department of Education for assistance.  Commissioner Graves has notified the Board that he will appoint representatives who will take up the Pelham situation, make a survey of the districct and determine what extensions are necessary.  

The action of the Board of Education follows a turmoil of over a year.  Twelve months ago a proposition to acquire what is known as the Norman property in Pelham Heights was decisively defeated.  Active opposition, aroused by residents of Pelham Heights who feared that the residential restrictions contained in the deeds of their property would be violated and thus open the way to further violations of much less desirable character, aided in defeating the proposition which was advanced by the Board after a survey of the district had been made by Dean Withers, an authority on school expansion matters.

Another attempt of the Board to locate a school site on First street, Pelham Heights, met with equal opposition and possibility of long drawn out legal proceedings and so was abandoned.  Then followed the latest plan to demolish the present four-room Colonial school on Highbrook avenue, Pelham Heights, and replace it with a twelve-room building on an enlarged site, the total cost to be approximately $322,000.  Intense opposition was again aroused at the prospect of breaking down residential restrictions the demolition of a school building and the large cost of the work.  Supporters of the school board plan and those of the opposition spent large sums of money in ciruclarizing the entire town with arguments pro and con, with the result that with 1200 present at the election in Memorial high school the plan of the board again went down to defeat by over 100 votes.

Various other plans were suggested to the Board of Education by means of numerously signed petitions but these in the opinion of the Board were unsuitable, by reason of their location to serve the needs of the district.  

The defeat of the school expansion plan left the Board of Education face to face with the serious problem of a rapidly growing district, overcrowded conditions at some schools creating part-time sessions, and the necessity of either formulating another plan which would take some months of effort or appealing to the State Department of Education for assistance in coping with the problem.  The Board chose the latter course.

What method state department officials will choose for providing Pelham children with adequate educational facilities remains to be seen.  Their action is final and there is no recourse to courts of law against their findings."

Source:  STATE DEPARTMENT to SOLVE PELHAM SCHOOL PROBLEM -- Appeal To Albany Gets Speedy Reply From Commissioner Graves -- Head of State Education Department Will Send Representatives To Pelham To Suvey Situation and Determine What Is Necessary To Solve Part Time In Schools, The Pelham Sun, May 8, 1925, p. 1, cols. 1-7.

"WHO ASKED ALBANY SCHOOL EXPERTS TO VISIT PELHAM IS DISCUSSED AT MEETING
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Pelhamwood Association Members Differ Whether It Was the Board of Education Or the Opposition
-----

An illuminating discussion of the school problem in the Pelhams enlivened the meeting of the Pelhamwood Association Tuesday night.  The discussion was precipitated when Walter A. Vonderlieth made a report for the School Committee of the Association.

Mr. Vonderlieth:  'At the last meeting the committee recommended that the matter be taken up with Albany but there seemed to be quite a division of opinion at that time and on account of the great division of opinion the resolution in committee was withdrawn.  Subsequent events would tend to bear out the action of the School Comittee as the Board of Education is now calling on Albany to intercede.  The defeat of the Colonial School proposition leaves the school problem about as much up in the air as before.'

President Clemenson:  'Is it your understanding that the Board of Education is sending some one here from Albany?'

Mr. Vonderlieth:  'That is my belief.'

Frank N. Vought:  'I think Mr. Vonderlieth is wrong on that; I believe the Board of Education is not taking action.'

Harold D. Penney:  'I might say there will be a member of the State Board of Education here in a few days to make a report, and that he is not sent down here at the request of the Board of Education.' 

Robert Shaw:  'I want to take exception to that; Albany officials were requested by the Board of Education to come down here within five days after the school issue was defeated and asked to intervene.'

Mr. Vought:  'I was told by two of three members of the Board that it had never been brought up before the Board as an official matter.'

Duane R. Dills:  'I don't see the necessity, Mr. President, of entering into a discussion on public schools.'  (Laughter.)  I think I have had my little say, my fun out of it, thinking I was doing a public good.  The fact is, they are coming, whether they are requested by the Board or on request of citizens, but they are coming in a friendly way to make their investigation.  I have my official notification that they are coming from Albany.'

Mr. Penney:  'I agree with the remarks of Mr. Dills, but I believe that his School Committee was misinformed and ought to have been correctly informed.'

Mr. Clemenson:  'We have a new member of the Board of Education recently elected, whom many of you no doubt have not met.  I take pleasure in presenting Mr. William W. Freschl.  (Applause as Mr. Freschl arose and smiling acknowledged the reception.)"

Source:  WHO ASKED ALBANY SCHOOL EXPERTS TO VISIT PELHAM IS DISCUSSED AT MEETING -- Pelhamwood Association Members Differ Whether It Was the Board of Education Or the Opposition, The Pelham Sun, May 22, 1925, Vol. 16, No. 12, p. 1, cols. 2-3.

"Preparing Plans For Hutchinson School Building
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Architects Asked To Prepare Sketches Showing Elevation of Three Stories
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Purchase of Sixth Street Site Accomplished at Less Than Appropriation
-----

Work on the enlargement of Hutchinson School on Fourth street North Pelham for which the voters sanctioned an appropriation of $260,000 last year will be begun during the summer vacation according to action taken at Tuesday night's meeting of the Board of Education.  

Architects are now preparing plans which will show a three-story elevation with additional classrooms, enlarged gymnasium and auditorium and preliminary sketches will be submitted to the building and grounds committee at its next meeting.  A new heating and ventilating plant will also be installed.

Chairman Elliott of the building and grounds committee reported that John P. W. Ceder, realtor acting for the Board had secured options on all but one of the lots comprising the Sixth street school site, and that the final parcel of land would be obtainable during the week.  The total cost of acquiring the land, and the expenses of transferring title and issuing bonds for purchase of same will be about $60,000.  The sum of $65,000 was voted for this purpose at a recent meeting of the electors of the school district.  The advertising of bonds for the lesser amount was ordered by the Board.

Chairman L. Ogden Thompson reported that he had interviewed Village President James of North Pelham and discussed the possibility of using Pelham Square in the rear of Hutchinson School in conjunction with the Sixth street school site as a baseball field.  President James had intimated a willingness to co-operate.  Mr. Thompson also favored the same use of the school site in Pelham Manor.  It was referred to the Building and Grounds Committee for approval.  The furnishing of the new wing of Memorial High School was debated, some members of the Board believing it unwise to furnish four rooms which would not be used for some time to come.  It was finally left to the buildiing committee to decide.

Trustee Freschl, new member of the Board took up his official duties and was warmly greeted.  Those present were Chairman L. Ogden Thompson, Trustees Townsen, Junod, Davis, Elliot, Freschl, Shipley, with Superintendent Arnold, Clerk Durham and Treasurer Gamber.

President Thompson who leaves Saturday for a two-month vacation in Europe was accorded a hearty bon voyage by members of the Board." 

Source:  Preparing Plans For Hutchinson School Building -- Architects Asked To Prepare Sketches Showing Elevation of Three Stories -- Purchase of Sixth Street Site Accomplished at Less Than Appropriation, The Pelham Sun, May 29, 1925, Vol. 16, No. 13, p. 1, col. 4. 

"School Board Buying Property On Sixth Street
-----
The School Board is buying property at the Sixth Street site and deeds are being delivered this month.  The village tax does not become a lien until the warrant has been delivered to the tax collector and some of the deeds may be delivered before the tax becomes a lien.  George O'Sullivan said the loss will amount between $300 and $400 in taxes.  This will be offset by some tax arrears the village will get.

Each member of the North Pelham board of trustees must sign the assessment roll by next Tuesday."

Source:  School Board Buying Property On Sixth Street, The Pelham Sun, Jun. 5, 1925, Vol. 16, No. 14, p. 2, col. 4. 

"School Board Approves Plan Of Hutchinson
-----
Enlargement of Hutchinson School Can Be Effected At Great Saving Under New Scheme

Tentative sketches of the proposed enlargement of Hutchinson School were placed before the Board of Education last night by Chairman James Elliott of the building and grounds committee.  After a long discussion the Board approved of them and ordered work on preliminary plans and specifications to be proceeded with.

If the new plan is followed Hutchinson School will obtain eight additional classrooms, manual training department, a new auditorium with a seating capacity of eight hundred which will be so constructed that it can be used as a gymnasium, and a new heating and ventilating plant.  The additional classrooms will be obtained by remodeling the present auditorium into two sections, the lower of which will house the manual training school, the upper section, being a kindergarten of two rooms.  The new auditorium-gymnasium which will be two stories in height and contain a balcony will be housed in a new three-story wing on the east end of the building.  Above the auditorium will be five classrooms.  The new wing will have a flat concrete roof which can be used as a floor foundation if in the future it is decided to build another story to the wing to house additional classrooms.  

Of the $265,000 which the district voted for the enlargement of Hutchinson School last year it is believed that if this plan is followed out a substantial saving will be made a rough estimate placing it in the neighborhood of $100,000."

Source:  School Board Approves Plan Of Hutchinson -- Enlargement of Hutchinson School Can Be Effected At Great Saving Under New Scheme, The Pelham Sun, Jun. 19, 1925, p. 1, col. 3.  

"Siwanoy On Full Time -- Elementary Grades Shifted
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2b-1, 2b-2 and 3b-3 Will Be Taught At High School Pending Completion Of Addition
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The Board of Education at a meeting Tuesday night adopted the recommendation of the Administration Committee to transfer the elementary grades 2b-1, 2b-2 and 3b-3 of Siwanoy school to the Memorial high school building when the new addition is completed.  The plan provides a full time program for all of the six grades of Siwanoy.

C. C. Davis, chairman of the administration committee told the Board that his committee had discussed the subject with Superintendent of Schools Arnold."

Source:  Siwanoy On Full Time -- Elementary Grades Shifted -- 2b-1, 2b-2 and 3b-3 Will Be Taught At High School Pending Completion Of Addition, The Pelham Sun, Sep. 18, 1925, p. 11, col. 4.

"Enrollment At Pelham Public Schools Is 1392
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Siwanoy Leads With 426 Pupils; Hutchinson Has 335; Senior High 297, and Junior High 240
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Senior High Gains 28 In Week
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A total of 1392 pupils was registered in the public schools and the Pelham high school on Wednesday, according to statistics furnished from the office of Superintendent of Schools E. E. Arnold.  Senior high school has a total enrollment of 297, and Junior high school 240.

At Siwanoy school the registration on Monday was 426.  Hutchinson school on the same day showed a registration of 335 and Colonial school when the enrollment was checked up on Wednesday showed a total of 94 pupils.

Many of the pupils have not returned to Pelham as yet.  The final total registration will probably not be complete until near October 1.  Registration at Siwanoy increased by 49 between Sept. 14 and Sept. 21.  At Hutchinson the increase was 13 for the same period and at Colonial school, 8 additional pupils registered.  

Senior high enrollment increased by 28 pupils and Junior high by 27 pupils during the week after school opened for the fall term."

Source:  Enrollment At Pelham Public Schools Is 1392 -- Siwanoy Leads With 426 Pupils; Hutchinson Has 335; Senior High 297, and Junior High 240 -- Senior High Gains 28 In Week, The Pelham Sun, Sep. 25, 1925, Vol. 16, No. 30, p. 10, col. 1.  

"New Wing Of Memorial School Ready By Xmas
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Contractor Kelly States Addition Within Two Weeks of Completion
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Work on the addition to Memorial High School will be completed within the next two weeks and everything will be ready for use after the Christmas holidays.  Contractor George T. Kelly notified the Board last week that he would be through with the work by Christmas.  The new wing will be used for some classes from Siwanoy school and part of it for the present Colonial school classes if it is decided to rebuild the old school.  The rapid expansion of school population in the Pelhams indicates that all available school space will be in use next year and plans must be made for future expansions, particularly in the Pelham Manor section, where 148 building permits have been issued during the year and one contractor is planning the erection of 150 houses next year."

Source:  New Wing Of Memorial School Ready By Xmas -- Contractor Kelly States Addition Within Two Weeks of Completion, The Pelham Sun, Dec. 18, 1925, p. 11, cols. 3-4. 

 "School Voters Approve A $290,000 Bond Issue to Fund Rebuilding Colonial School
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Despite Inclement Weather Nearly Five [Illegible; Original Torn] -- Opposition in North Pelham Sh [Illegible] Evening Appeared to Have Carried [Illegible]
-----

The proposal of the Board of Education to issue school bonds in the amount of $290,000 for rebuilding Colonial school on Highbrook avenue was approved by the school electors on Monday at the special elexction at Memorial High School.  There were 312 votes in favor and 156 votes against the proposition with 10 blank ballots, the result beeing just 2 to 1 in favor of the new school.

Early in the evening there was some doubt as to the success of the proposal for the new school.  A big delegation of admittedly opposition votes streamed into the High School.  Most of them came from North Pelham, and observers of election then predicted defeat for the project.  By dint of hard work on the part of a committee supporting the school board, additonal votes were brought in and a further rally call sent out later succeeded in bringing school voters from their dinner tables to register their approval of the new school.  The last hour of polling showed a distinct majority.

There was no attempt at organized opposition such as was encountered last year when the school board's proposal [remainder of article illegible due to torn missing portion of page]"

Source:  School Voters Approve A $290,000 Bond Issue to Fund Rebuilding Colonial School, The Pelham Sun, Jan. 22, 1926, p. 1, cols. 6-7.  

"COLONIAL SCHOOL TO RETAIN ITS NAME

The new school on Highbrook avenue will retain its name of Colonial School.  The decision was arrived at last night after the Board of Education read a communication from William R. Montgomery which pleaded for retention of the name as possessing historical association.

Some sentiment had been found for changing the school name to that of one of the presidents of the United States."

Source:  COLONIAL SCHOOL TO RETAIN ITS NAME, The Pelham Sun, Nov. 12, 1926, p. 8, col. 4.  

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