We invited you to play Vintage Essex Trivia when we posted this old photo on the Essex on Lake Champlain Facebook page last week. This photo of the old Essex High School in Essex, NY was found on an old postcard shared with us by Mary Wade (Thank you, Mary!).

This square, brick school was built in 1908, and replaced the Union School situated in the center of town. The school closed down sometime in the late 1960’s according to the memories of various people. Perhaps you can give us a more precise date?

School Day Reminiscing

We asked the community to tell us what they thought of the photo and if they could identify the building. Take a look at a few of the comments we received about the photo and see the nostalgia that it evoked!

Tilly Close: Essex school, 1-12, built in the 1920s?

Johnnie Tazz Mock: Yes it was.

Rose Marie Mello: I remember Mrs Cross well, and her paddle, but she was one of my favorites. My aunt Geace taught 5th snd 6th grade. Mrs McCormick was the cook, and Reta Estus too!

Peter Cross: Cynthia Estus, Bumpy that’s right, my step grandfather, on my mothers side. I remember going to the boiler room to help shovel coal into the boiler. Well I likely just watched at that age.

Joan Estus FitzGerald: I remember hearing a story about how my father and probably Robert Carson put a hay rake on the roof of the school one Halloween. Also about how he nailed a teacher’s strap onto the desk. My mother (Aileen French) graduated from Essex in 1946. She was valedictorian and Betty Colville Pierce was salutatorian. I think they had maybe 6 in their class. My mother also went to the octagonal one-room school house in Boquet that was right across from the house she grew up in.

Judy Richardson: I went there from kindergarten to 5th! Our house was the first one down the hill!

Peter Cross: Oh yes, the Essex school I attended until 2nd grade, I think. So it went OOS in 1966 or so. My Grandmother was Principal so I was always in good behavior. First memory that comes to mind is lunch. There was a big table in the kitchen we ate at. You had to eat all your lunch to get desert. I remember sitting at the table, holding my nose and eating the Sweet Potatoes so I could have ice cream.

Cynthia Estus: Geraldine Sayward, Naomi Cross, Catherine Lawrence, Claire LaPine, Nancy Hatch , Barbara Sweatt playing piano for us and the custodian fondly referred to as Bumpy. Mrs Mac Cormack and Mom in the cafeteria. K thru 6 for me Always loved the Christmas program at the Legion Hall. What wonderful memories.

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