Athens Weekly Review

May 29, 1941

About Cross Roads School in 1879

The following was taken from a letter written by J. B. THOMPSON of Route 1, Cayuga, May 5, 1941, to Professor PIRTLE, superintendent of the Cross Roads school:

The first school in that community was taught by Miss Fannie J. TUGGLE; who lived in what was known as the Judson THOMPSON settlement. My father, J. M. THOMPSON, employed her to teach. She received $10.00 per month and her board. My father paid her the $10.00 monthly; the scholars were to pay $1.50 per month. Miss Fanny boarded at my father's. At the end of the term Miss Fannie made out a bill for each pupil and turned the account over to my father. The term was three months.

"The school house was a log house, 14 feet square, with a dirt floor; it was just a few yards from our house. And it was on May 5, 1879, that the school was started with eight scholars, namely: Peter De LAUFAUSE, who was in the third reader. Most of the rest of us knew our letters. It was from A-B-C to the third reader. As I am very proud of the school that is there now. I just thought you would like to know the improvement made since 1879. Very truly yours, J. B. THOMPSON.

P.S. The house was started by running a 1 x 12 pine plank around two sides of the house on blocks about a foot high.

J. B. T.

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