Prattsburgh History

"Franklin Academy is located in the pleasant, and very romantic village of Prattsburgh, Steuben Co. N.Y. A place affording every faculty for mental and moral culture. The undisputed healthfulness of the place, and the surrounding region of country, and the character of the town for morality and intelligence particularly commend it to parents."  #1

According to Prattsburgh history records there were four schools established before 1812. The largest was located next to the church in the present location of Franklin Academy and Prattsburgh Central School. The largest Franklin Academy contributor was Robert Porter, who was the first president of the Board of Trustees, a graduate of Yale and head of what is now Hamilton College before coming to Prattsburgh. By 1924 the people of Prattsburgh funded a school house in the amount of $2,000 and had a budget of about $4,000 for maintenance and support. It was a two story high structure and some of the rooms were used for boarding students who attended the academy.

Our school records indicate that the first regents charter was given by the State of New York on February 23, 1824. It's original name was Franklin Academy and Collegiate Institute. Through the efforts of Robert Porter, and Dr. Niles, a minister, Franklin Academy was offering two years of college by 1928. The Reverend William Beardsley was the first principal and training was largely for the ministry. An interesting note"In 1827 the fortune of this institution was deemed adequate, and its future success seemed to demand a separate female department. That year witnessed this beneficial change."  #2 By 1868 the district was called Franklin Academy and Union Free School and in 1898 the name was changed to the Franklin Academy and Prattsburgh High School.

The school prospered until February 28, 1923 when the school and church burned, with the loss of the school building placed at $100,000 and found out the school building was only insured for $15,000. It was almost a total loss to the community. Various places around town held classes while the school was being rebuilt. The Baptist Church, Methodist Church, Grange Hall and Odd Fellows Hall were used for temporary classrooms.

Due to an increasing enrollment and the formation of centralization the school became known in 1935 as Franklin Academy and Prattsburgh Central School with students attending from parts of the Townships of Prattsburgh, Urbana, Wheeler, Pulteney, Italy and Jerusalem.

As George T. Farley explained in "The Life and Times of the Farley's" "rumblings of the centralization of schools began to fill the air. Local interest was fired by the availability of PWA grants to help build necessary new buildings. On August 6, 1935 a special meeting of the District 6 voters was called to consider the matter of making application for Federal funds to carry out such a project locally. The vote was affirmative 39-3, and the rather long and difficult fight was on. Petitions in the rural districts were circulated. Discussion forums were held, long friendships came to abrupt ends, and the tense conflict was joined. On October 25, 1935 a meeting was held of the legal voters of the proposed control district to vote on the proposition to request the Commissioner of Education to lay out a district in this area, the resulting vote was over 2 to 1 in the affirmative. We were under the deadline and a Federal grant of $37,000 was made available for the remodeling of the 1924 building and the construction of an addition. Then came the floating of our own bond issue, the approval of plans and the letting of contracts. When opened these were, unhappily, well over the figures anticipated by the architect, and we were in real financial trouble. A second bond issue and more Federal funds were both needed. the first was not so difficult, but the latter required a trip by Charlie and me to PWA headquarters in New York. There we were told nothing could be done because funds were exhausted but, in the same breath, we were advised to go to Washington. Col. Clarke put it this way, "Mr. Clarke, you have presented the plight of these poor people in Prattsburgh so piteously that I can almost feel tears in my eyes." Of course, we went on to Washington, both sleeping in the single upper berth on a hot August night to save the district expense money. There I think Col. Clark had done some groundwork for us as we came away with a half-promise of more funds, but not all of the $26,000 for which we were asking. To celebrate we went out to see the Yankees play the Senators(at our own expense) and were fortunate in being on hand for Joe DiMaggio's historic tape measure job--over the bleachers in dead center field. Two days after we returned home (by daycoach) we received notice of a supplemental grant of $24,000. We were overjoyed as this made the building project certain of completion. It also make the local opponents of the project eat a little crow as they had taken some delight in smugly saying the project would never be finished. It was finished and since then this area's youngsters have received there the best of public school education's. We were one of the three New York State centralization's of over 140 applicants to receive a supplemental grant of Federal funds. PA then also came into the picture and, under Ed Ringrose and Joe Allen, the present ball diamond and athletic field were built with little local expense. We proudly began the 1936 school year as Central School District No. 1 of the Towns of Prattsburgh, Pulteney, Wheeler and Urbana, Steuben Co. , and Italy and Jerusalem, Yates Co."  #3

During World War II, many of our students and graduates went off to war and it was through the efforts of Geo. T. Farley, District Principal who wrote a newsletter to our boys in the Armed Service from April 22, 1943 through December 14, 1945. These letters are contained in a book entitled PCS NEWSLETTERS by Geo. T. Farley. This book contains an interesting exchange of letters between our school and the boys in the service of our country. A copy of this book is now located in our school Library Media Center.

In 1956 a new Elementary wing was added to the north end of the school building to accommodate the baby boom following World War II.

In 1967 a new music addition was added to accommodate our growing music program. During the past 30 years, our band has participated in many music festivals including Canisteo Pageant of Bands, Seneca Falls Pageant, Gorham Pageant, Dansville Dogwood Festival and Cohocton Fall Foliage. The band has completed regularly and has taken many honors throughout western New York State in marching and concert. In 1977 Prattsburgh Central School started their own Pageant of Bands, after Canisteo dropped their Pageant. Every year there have been 10-20 bands participating in an annual project that not only uses the school facilities, but the Town Park in the center of Prattsburgh, This has been a two day event and accommodates the many small rural schools in this area.

Until 1968 Prattsburgh School had only one science lab. A second science teacher was added and two new science labs were built in the bottom of the 1924 building. One room accommodates the Biology/Earth Science instruction, and the other room accommodates Physics and Chemistry instruction.

Steuben-Allegany Board of Cooperative Educational Services started providing our students with vocational learning in Hornell and Corning after a County wide referendum for Vocational Education buildings was held. While student participation has been limited due to distance to either location, the program is still available to our students. Over the years our Business, Homemaking and Agricultural vocational programs at Prattsburgh have expanded.

In 1972 the school purchased property known as the old bank building in front of the school and built a separate building to house agriculture and industrial arts programs. That same year due to new fire regulations required by insurance companies, a complete renovation project was launched by the Board of Education. The 1924 building was completely renovated. An enlarged gym area was built to accommodate two gym classes at one time, and a new fuel oil boiler system was installed beside reconditioning all classrooms. Once again it was necessary to hold school in several locations around the village. Classes were held in the Catholic Church, Baptist Church, Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church, Fire House, Prattsburgh Youth Center, and the Mobil Gas Station.

The flood of 1972 hit our new gym floor and part of it had to be rebuilt. Part of the Ag farm was washed away and federal disaster funds were utilized to repair the damages.

During the late 1970's and early 80's schools were required in New York State to provide special instruction for handicapped students. As a result of increased needs for this type of instruction, Prattsburgh has added two resource rooms, a special education room, and sends students to a handicapped program provided by BOCES and Bath.

In early 1980"s computers were introduced to provide course work in keyboarding for the most part in all instructional areas. A separate computer lab was created.

In 1985 a new kindergarten room was added to the end of the elementary school and a new playground was developed, including an enlarged parking lot that required the purchase of two properties north of the school on Route 53, known as the McGlynn and VanHousen properties.

In 1988 a pre-kindergarten program was added and housed in a double trailer on the east side of the school. This program accommodated two groups, a morning and afternoon group.

From it's earliest beginning in 1824, Prattsburgh has maintained an excellent program in school with a fine faculty and student body.

It might be interesting to note a list of principals/superintendents who have been in charge of this school since 1824:

Rev. Wm. Beardsley, A.M.....................................1824-1828

Eli Eddy, A.M.....................................................1828-1829

Seymour Gookins, A.M.........................................1829-1831

Rev. O.S. Taylor, A.M., M.D..................................1831-1834

Rev. Samuel Schaffer, A.M. .................................1834-1835

Rev. John Humphrey, A.M. ...................................1835-1836

Rev. Horace Woodruff, A.M. .................................1836-1839

Rev. Flavel S. Gaylord, A.M...................................1839-1845

Curtis C. Baldwin, A.M..........................................1845-1846

Hon. Seth B. Cole, A.M.........................................1846-1854

Charles L. Porter.................................................1854-1855

William H. Jackson, A.M........................................1855-1858

Wm. S. Searls, A.M.*...........................................1858-1858

Wm. Kreutzer, A.M...............................................1858-1859

W. D. Taylor, A.B.................................................1859-1860

Sherril E. Smith, A.B.............................................1860-1866

N.W. Ayers, A.M..................................................1866-1867

J.C.Whiting.........................................................1867-1868

G.E. McMaster....................................................1868-1869

J. Wesley Eddy, *...............................................1869-1869

S.F. Bagg..........................................................1869-1871

E. Wilmot Cummings*...........................................1871-1871

Paul C. Howe......................................................1871-1872

H.A. Smith, *......................................................1872-1872

A.J. Osborne.......................................................1872-1874

James A. Christie.................................................1874-1877

W.F. Gelston.......................................................1877-1878

Frank E. Wells.....................................................1878-1880

I.H. Rogers.........................................................1880-1881

Roland S. Keyser.................................................1881-1883

Frederick W. Palmer.............................................1883-1885

George A. Knapp.................................................1885-1888

G.H. Witherhead.................................................1888-1889

Curtis B. Miller, A.B.............................................1889-1895

F.J. DeLaFleur, A.B.............................................1895-1897

James. M. Glass.................................................1897-1902

Jared M. Scoville, A.M.........................................1902-1905

Albert J. Chidester..............................................1905-1906

Fred D. Pitts......................................................1906-1910

W. A. McConnell.................................................1910-1913

Clarence A. Todd................................................1913-1916

G. Harold Carl, A.B..............................................1916-1918

Lee Waldorf*.....................................................1918-1918

Elizabeth Deighton..............................................1918-1920

Maurice W. Comstock..........................................1920-1926

Frank E. Richards................................................1926-1929

Geo. T. Farley....................................................1929-1966

Harry E. Bartz....................................................1967-1989

James A. McCormick............................................1989-2002

Jeffrey A. Black..................................................2002-2007

Joseph L. Rumsey...............................................2008-2013

Jeffrey A. Black..................................................2013 - 2019

Kory G. Bay.......................................................Present

* - Part of a term.

 #1 Annual Catalogue of Officers and Students of Franklin Academy -Prattsburgh, Steuben Co. N.Y. 1842-1843.

 #2 History of Steuben co. New York by Prof. W.W. Clayton - p.359

 #3 Geo. T. Farley, The Life and Times of the Farley's, Dec. 31, 1966

 #4 Annual Catalogue of Officers and Students Franklin Academy, Prattsburgh, Steuben Co. N.Y. 1842-1843.