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The Canadice Gull School circa 1967. Photo courtesy of Douglas Morgan.

School #8 Canadice NY

County Road #37 north of Canadice Hill Road

Livonia Gazette

22 May 1952

by Mrs. Jay Becker

There were nine school districts in our town that I remember; some of the older residents report that there were 11 or 12. Now the little red school house doors have been closed and the building sold. Today the children from the town are transported to Wayland Central School, Springwater Grad, Hemlock High School and Honeoye Central School.

The first school house in the town was built of logs in the year 1809, and history tells us it was located near an elm tree on the Thomas Costello farm north of Canadice Lake. The next school house was erected in 1812 on the Kimball Hill near the cemetery. The first school house was then used for church meetings. Some of the first teachers were Betsey Walker, Belinda Jackson and Eliza Wilds.

As I reside in District No. 8 and attended school there I will try and give you a brief history of this district. This record is obtained from the trustees’ books, which date back to the year of 1845. The first school meeting that is recorded was held September 9, 1845, with Abram Slingerland moderator, and Benjamin Rogers as clerk. At this meeting a resolution was passed that the parents were to furnish one-quarter cord of two-foot wood for each child they sent to school and that the teacher was to board among the families of the district. A resolution was also offered to remove the school house site to the central part of the district, but voted in the negative. The teacher’s salary at this time was $70.00 for the year.

At a meeting held April 4, 1846, another site was suggested on a farm owned by George Brown on a spot of ground west of the Methodist meeting house in Canadice and on the north side of the highway. Discussions followed as to the location and price to be paid. A building committee of three was appointed: A. W. Austin, E. Miller, and John Haley. The district voted to raise $300 for the purpose of purchasing a site, and building a new school house. A decision was finally reached at a meeting held May 22, 1855, when they purchased a site from Abram Slingerland. A vote was also taken as to the dimensions of the building. This site was located about one mile north of Canadice Corners.

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Remains of the foundation of Canadice Gull School in 2013. Photo courtesy of Scott Wilkerson.

District No. 8 consisted of a portion of the southern part of the town of Richmond and, up to the time of the purchase of the site it is believed that District No. 7 (Canadice Corners) was also included in No. 8.

In the year 1933 the school burned to the ground and the school term was finished at Crook’s store at Canadice Corners. Mrs. Sanford Bush was the last teacher. The last officers of the school district were: Aubrey Hayward, trustee; Mrs. George Affolter, clerk; Mrs. Everette Affolter, collector. The district voed to transport the pupils to Honeoye High School, where they have been in attendance ever since Honeoye centralized in 1947. After a few years the school site was sold to Henry Kurtz of Rochester.

Officers of the early school days were: N. N. Herrick, Moses Huff, Abel Short, Henry Hoagland, J. H. Gay, Asa Lucas, A. T. Winch, Joseph Tague, A. Stark, Joel Coykendall, Fredrick Hoppough, Allen Huff, J. Noble and Seneca Swan.

Teachers were: Mrs. Elizabeth Huff Wright, Mrs. Myrtle Swan Clemons, Mrs. Ola Huff Adams, Mrs. Ione Hicks Gilbert, Miss Anna White, Miss Edna Richmond, Mrs. Bertha Bray Pingrey, Miss Bertha Wheaton, Mrs. Minnie Norgate Hargrave, Miss Nancy Lahey, Miss Ryan, Miss Julia M. Sweeney, Mrs. Mary Richarson Glover, Mrs. Lucy O’Neill Monihan, Miss Destie Wilbur, Mrs. Susie Stanley Becker, Mrs. Ruth Bush Barnard, Mrs. Lyra Patterson Green, Mrs. Leola Salter Carney, Miss Nora Lahey, Mrs. Ruth Affolter Goetzman, Miss Mary Seamans, Miss Frances Wilbur, Miss Viola McMillan, Miss Esther Thiers, Mrs. Elenor Crooks Rayton, Miss Grace Treble, Earl Mastin.