Interior of the Tucker School, 1931-32.
This week’s story is about the Tucker School, District #10, fifth in a series regarding our early schools. Tucker School, also known earlier as the Brickhouse School, sits at the crossroads of Patchett, River and Hicks roads. After snapping several shots of one house on the corner, I decided to follow-up with the folks at the Belgium-Cold Springs Fire Department next door. Well, if you’re looking for people or places in Cold Springs, start with Kit Thompson at the firehouse. Kit had good news and bad news. The good news is that I had come to the right place. The bad news was that I had the wrong house.
Kit told me that the actual Tucker School sits across Patchett Road from the firehouse on the northeast corner of the intersection, and is now a private residence. She also told me that Fred Patchett, her husband’s grandfather was “clerk of the works” in the Tucker school district in 1921 or 1922. Apparently, Kit is the “clerk of the works” today. Within 24 hours she had lined up several former students of the school, all with photos to share and stories to tell. But, first I wanted to get a sense for the history of the school building and the people who put it there.
In 1844, at the age of 15, Edward W. Tucker and his parents relocated from Madison County to the Judge Bigelow farm in Cold Springs. In 1850 he married Sarah J. Abbott, daughter of Solomon Abbott of Cold Springs. Ten years later the Tuckers moved to the farm of “Squire” Nathaniel Milliman and his wife, Desire, about two and a half miles north of Baldwinsville. Tucker, a prominent local farmer and merchant, would later become Lysander Town Supervisor in 1892. According to a 1951 Messenger article by Pearl Palmer, “At a special meeting of the legal voters in 1872, E. W. Tucker was named chairman. On motion it was resolved to build a school house and upon balloting it was resolved to build of brick.” Hence, the first name, the “Brickhouse School.” Tucker likely donated land from his property to the district for the school. Hence, the second name, the “Tucker School.”
On Nov. 29, 1883, the Baldwinsville Gazette & Farmers’ Journal reported that “During the gale last Thursday morning, the south end of the school house in the Tucker district was blown in. Temporary repairs were made and the school was continued with but one lost day.” Apparently, weather was often unkind to the school. On Dec. 19, 1921, the list of casualties in the Syracuse Post-Standard from a 70 mile-an-hour gale included the “Tucker district school, roof pulled off” and “Fred Niver’s farm, Cold Springs road, demolished shed.” On May 11, 1922, the Gazette reported that the “Tucker School District, No. 10, has purchased of Fred Niver three-fourths of an acre of land adjoining their present property and will erect a modern school building on the site of the one destroyed by the heavy wind early last fall.”
Cameron “Tully” Turner Cook spent first through fifth grade in this second school building from 1946 to 1952. “There were only two others in my class at Tucker, who went all the way through with me: John Thompson (Kit’s brother-in-law) and Jane Ayott.” Bob Scherfling, who started first grade at the Tucker School in 1948 or 1949, said, “There was a well in front where we used to get our water. It was always a rusty color. There was a coat room in the front for the girls on one side and boys on the other. There was a porcelain cooler or jug with a spigot on it.” Tully added, “Of course, there was no running water. It was hard in the winter because the water in the crock would freeze. We all walked to school, so we would all place our coats around the stove to dry them out in time for recess.”
Tully said, “Recess was my favorite time. We went outside every day. There was this huge tree that had limbs low to the ground, so we played on them pretending to ride horses.” Bob said, “We all went to recess alone. The teacher didn’t go with us. She’d just ring the bell when it was time to come back in.” Tully added, “The older ones watched the younger ones. The teacher didn’t come outside unless someone got hurt. Today that would never happen.”
Tully continued, “No one was well-off. We were all farmers for the most part, so no one had any more money than anyone else. We were just average people. We raised our own food and bought meat from the local farmers. I lived on River Road (next to where Bano Lawn Maintenance is today). My dad’s property went up to the school. We had ponies and chickens, and you name it. A little bit of everything.” Bob added, “I was probably the furthest away. I lived down past Doyle Road. I used to get in trouble all the time, because I would never get home on time. I’d stop at all of these farms. Tully had a horse and a pony, and the Moyers had a cow. If you could climb up, their cow would let you ride it.”
Bob continued, “One day I walked all the way to school, and no one was there. I was late, but they had closed the school because of a bad snow storm. That didn’t happen very often. But, when it did, folks watched out for me.” Tully thought awhile and said “I really feel that you and your parents were held accountable for your behavior. Everyone was so trusting. No one locked their doors. Everyone knew everyone else. Everyone always had their eyes out for the kids. You knew that everyone was watching out for you.”
On Aug. 11, 1955, the Messenger reported, “Qualified voters of former Lysander No. 10 (Tucker) school district voted to close the school permanently .Meeting in a special session at the school house those attending voted 35-13 to close the school .Those present approved by a vote of 47-2 to dispose of the school house, the site and all other property belonging to the former district.”
On Oct. 13, the Messenger reported, “R. L. Hicks of Hicks Rd. purchased the school, building, garage and land of former School District No. 10 of the Town of Lysander for $2,300. The auction was held at the school house, commonly known as the Tucker school. Contents of the schoolhouse were sold to various persons, proceeds totaling $22.50.”
The school district ended then and there, but not the building. On Aug. 28, 1958, Raphael and Maude Hicks sold the property at 3363 Patchett Road to Thomas Milliman (no relation to the squire) and his wife, Winifred. Kit Thompson was kind enough to point me in the direction of “Winnie” Milliman, who lived in the house until 1973. Winnie Milliman has fond memories of her former neighborhood and home. She said that the building was still in its original state when they purchased it, right up to the beautiful wainscoting that ran around the main room.
The school is gone now, but not forgotten. What made it so special were the teachers. Bob Scherfling said, “Mrs. (Doris) Cooper would play the piano and we would sing.” Tully Cook added, “When we came in from recess, she always read a series to us as a group. She was just the kindest person.”
By the way, Doris Cooper was my fifth grade teacher at Van Buren Elementary School.
Another Tucker teacher was Miss Susie Connor, who retired in 1956 after 50 years of service to area schools. She spent six of those years teaching in the Tucker school, including 1921, the year it was damaged by the cyclone. On Nov. 4, 1956, the Messenger reported on the occasion of Susie’s retirement, “More than 600 of her friends and former pupils gathered .Entire families, complete with grandparents, parents and children were on hand to pay their respects and wish her well .The whole afternoon was something of a dream for Miss Susie, for it had never occurred to her that so many would want to give up a whole afternoon of a beautiful Sunday in October just to attend a tea for her.”
If you get the chance, perhaps you could reach out to a former teacher who has made a difference in your life. Just as Susie did then, I’m sure that he or she would appreciate it now.
In two weeks read the next article in the series, “Lysander Goes to School.” Looking Backward will appear in the Messenger every other week, as long as there are stories to tell. If you have questions about this story or suggestions for future ones, including any local historical images or information, please contact me via e-mail at [email protected].
