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School #3 Canadice NY

Also known as the Becker District

Holmes Road and County Road 37

Livonia Gazette

22 May 1952

by Mrs. W. H. Preston

District No. 3 was originally District No. 4, being changed (no date available) years later to its present designation of No. 3. This is copied from the first page of the clerk’s book of 1842, which is in my possession.

“At the annual meeting of the free holders and inhabitants of this school district No. 4 in the town of Canadice held pursuant to agreement at the school house in said district on the third of October 1842 at 6 o’clock p.m. A vote taken that Jonathan Robinson be moderator and George Smith, district clerk. A vote taken that Isaac Westbrook be librarian. A vote taken that O. TerBush, Daniel Smith, and Jess Mills be Trustees. Voted that James Northrup be collector. Voted that one third of the public money be applied to the summer school. A vote that we have three months schooling this winter. A vote that this meeting be adjourned until the first Monday in October next at 6 o’clock p.m.” This was signed by Jonathan Robinson, moderator and George Smith clerk.

At a special meeting in 1843 it was voted to repair the inside of the school house. This indicates that it must have been built for some time. It was also voted to hold school three months during the winter and that O. TerBush pay Mark Ray, the teacher, $18.50. It was voted to pay one third of the public money for summer school. It was also voted that each person sending pupils to school should furnish one half cord of wood for each child sent and that meetings of all religious denominations be held there.

In 1844 the sum of $21.20, or two thirds of the public money, was paid to Allen Huff for winter school. (Mr. Huff was the grand father of Mrs. Jay Becker.)

“June 2, 1846, paid to the summer teacher $16.06 of the public money and bill made out for balance of wages $6.22. On January 2, 1850, at a special meeting, voted there be three months winter and five months summer school, and that $37.85 be raised for same, and that $1.50 be paid for use of stove. In 1851 voted if there is any money left after winter and summer school it shall continue until money is used up.”

About 1880 or 1881 the school house was damaged by fire and school was held in the house which stood where Dayton Becker now lives. Mrs. Eva Hyde Salter was the teacher. Some winters around 1889 and 1890 there were 30 pupils.

Our school was closed in 1937 for lack of pupils. Mrs. Marion Van Duyn Sutton was the last teacher, teaching for four years. Her grandfather, Marion Becker, taught several terms there. Pupils who attended here are scattered over several states; several of the later ones attended college and taught. Of the earlier ones we have no records.

Some of those who attended school here and who taught were: Mrs. Sadie Sanford Perkins, now of Lancaster, N.Y.; Clarence Branch, Rochester; Mrs. Mabel Cronin Colt (deceased); Mrs. Marion Van Duyn Sutton, Sprata; Mrs. Leah Becker Ace, Canadice; Mrs. Barbara Preston Outhouse, Canandaigua.

Those who went to school here and are still living in town are: Jay Becker, Dayton Becker, Esther Preston Becker, Burdette Hoppough, Leah Becker Ace, Clifford Becker, Marion Preston, Mina Preston Johnson, William Preston and Spedee Becker Preston.

Out school house was sold in 1947. From the Ontario County History, 1893 - “During the current year the school tax of the town was $857.97. From all sources there was raised $2014.91 of which $1679.00 was paid to the 16 teachers in town. The school population was 222.”