Question: Take a good look at this photo. Scenes like this were a common sight for a lot of years. Do you know what is going on, what streets are seen here? What do you know about the surroundings? Can you give the approximate date?
Last week’s answer: Last week’s photo was taken Sunday afternoon, July 4, 1976, at the dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony marking the Shacksboro Schoolhouse as Baldwinsville’s local history museum. The photographer seen at the right hand side of the photo is Al Baker, editor of the Messenger.
Dedication of the former one-room schoolhouse marked the culmination of more than 16 months of planning. The United States of America was on the eve of celebrating its 200th birthday and Baldwinsville was getting on the bandwagon. Greater Baldwinsville had caught bicentennial fever.
A grassroots call brought 35 people together on April 17, 1975. A steering committee was appointed that evening. Members included General Chairman Norma Hook, Secretary Barbara Wager, Treasurer Jack Baker; Dence Schoolhouse, Anne Kohler, Sarah Baker and Nancy Noble; Parade, Ralph Gates; Bicentennial Page Editor Charles Coon; Master Calendar Chairman Ralph Gates; Legal Services Norman Martin; and Real Estate Advisor Jack Baker.
The focal point of the celebration would be acquisition of the one-room Shacksboro Schoolhouse and turning it into a museum. Built in 1879 on Canton Street Road across from Turner Road, the old school had closed in 1952. Ownership had reverted to Joseph Dence, owner of the adjacent farm. Project cost was estimated to be $18,000. Federal monies budgeted for the celebration had been totally committed to federal and state projects; all $18,000 must be raised locally.
Baldwinsville soldiered on with ever increasing fervor. Application was made to the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration seeking Baldwinsville’s designation as an official bicentennial community. Requirements included a comprehensive plan with a focal point and a variety of supportive cultural events and activities.
The schoolhouse project was Baldwinsville’s focal point. Additional activities would include planting red, white and blue flowers in public spaces, a bicentennial holiday, dance recital, a tri-weekly bicentennial page published in the Messenger, a bicentennial choir, parade, and historical markers for public and historic buildings. An additional 35 projects were also under consideration, including window displays, art exhibits, historical floats for the parade, festivals and more.
Word came in December 1975 that Baldwinsville was one of 7,500 communities designated as an official bicentennial community. An official bicentennial flag and certificate from the federal government soon followed.
Village and town funds provided half of the $18,000 needed for the schoolhouse project. Individual donors and community projects were called into action to raise the remaining $9,000. Youth groups went door to door soliciting funds. Any individual who contributed $1 or more received a scroll commemorating their participation.
Area churches sponsored events from the Methodist Church’s 26 week series “Our Founding Fathers and the Presence and Sovereignty of God” to an inspirational film shown at Grace Episcopal Church and a Bicentennial Holiday Fair put on by St. Mary’s Mothers Club.
Period costumes popped up everywhere along with red, white and blue color themes and bicentennial flags of every size. Children’s choir rehearsals began for youngsters in grades 2-6. From cub scouts to the senior citizen kitchen band, the bicentennial buzz grew ever more vibrant.
On May 5, 1976, hundreds of spectators lined Canton Street as the schoolhouse made its 2.8-mile journey to McHarrie Park. The village had excavated the cellar; the Kiwanis Club built the foundation walls. Supplies were donated: paint from Fay’s Drugs and True Value Hardware, grass seed and fertilizer from Beck’s Hardware, and the list went on. Scouts from troops 80 and 107, including Diane Parry, Stephen Parry (a former Shacksboro student), Jim Hook, Ron Granberg Jr., Paul Norton, Allan Jenkins, Todd Gunerman, Ken James, Rick Allen and David James applied the primer. Another crew followed a week later with the finish coat while the interior was being refurbished by yet another subcommittee.
Community spirit reached its zenith Friday, July 2, as the Bicentennial Parade stepped off at 6:30 p.m. The momentum was sustained. Scores of celebrants filled McHarrie Park Sunday afternoon, July 4, 1976. At 1:30 p.m. School Superintendent Dr. Richard Mace delivered the keynote, “Happy Birthday to Us!” Rheta Jenks directed the flag-waving Bicentennial Children’s Choir and co-chairmen Ann Kohler and Sarah Baker cut the ribbon. B’villians were then touring the new museum, feasting on treats and cookies, and reveling in the spirit of ’76. Baldwinsville’s schoolhouse museum project had become a reality.
The following Wednesday, Editor Baker published this message: “Sunday’s dedication of the Shacksboro Historical Museum went just beautifully in a setting that just warmed our small town heart. A ‘well done’ to everyone involved!”
Jacob Neish called the Messenger with the correct answer.
Email your guess to [email protected] or leave a message at 315-434-8889 ext. 332 with your guess by noon Friday. If you are the first person to correctly identify an element in the photo before the deadline, your name and guess will appear in next week’s newspaper, along with another History Mystery feature. History Mystery is a joint project of the Museum at the Shacksboro Schoolhouse and the Baldwinsville Public Library.
