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NE Historical society exhibits schools through the ages

NE Historical society exhibits schools through the ages

Coleman Station school around 1920 “shows the diversity of the student body.”

Provided by North East Historical Society

MILLERTON — Patrons at the NorthEast-Millerton Library got a lesson in education history in the area thanks to the November exhibit created by Ed and Meg Downey of the North East Historical Society. Ed’s work focused on the years following the creation of the Webutuck School District while Meg’s concentrated on earlier history.

Meg designed the exhibit to take advantage of the library’s entire space.

The display contained dozens of images including photos of the area’s multiple schools through the ages, maps describing districts’ boundries, an extensive history of education dating back to the Pilgrims, hundreds of faces of local educators and their students and even a teacher’s contract from nearly a century ago. All were accompanied by extensive explanations researched and written by the Downeys.

Provided by North East Historical Society

The students in this 1904 photo of the Mount Riga School looked serious but were led by a teacher who smiled for the camera, despite the practice of the time.

Carol Kneeland

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