Widow Smith’s School

According to Minard’s History of Allegany County of 1895, the first school here was taught in 1804-05 by “Widow Smith.” Schools of this sort were supported by private subscriptions. Neighborhood people would look for a young lady to teach scholars reading, writing, and spelling. Higher levels included upper-level mathematics such as division or the Rule of Three of Interest. Subscriptions consisted of bushels of Indian Corn, wheat or buckwheat, cords of wood, and quarters of beef that paid for student attendance.

Districts were eventually formed. The State showed interest in the schools as highlighted from an 1831 receipt of twelve dollars and thirty six cents in aid! From this time three inspectors were elected in each town to look after and examine the teachers. Trustees hired the teachers, paying them “the public money and the balance by rate bill.”

School houses of this period were constructed of logs with a large stone chimney. Desks were placed around the outside of the room. A dunce block was placed in the corner, where refractory pupils wearing a “fool’s cap” were made a laughing stock of the school. Teachers spent the first half an hour of the morning making or mending the quill pens for the day. Spelling books were only used for reading by the smaller scholars until they were ready to read primers, readers, and manuals.

The “Widow’s” school was located very near the present-day American Hotel.  It is speculated the building had been moved to its current location on East Main Street. The western portion of the home was the original Widow Smith's schoolhouse. The eastern two-story addition was added later. During a remodel, the original chalkboards along with school books were discovered inside the walls!