Historic Sites

If you find errors OR have additional information about this site, please send a message to contact@waynehistorians.org.

 

Ontario District #10 Schoolhouse

Historic Site #:08-047   (Exists)   Type: E3 Town:Ontario
Site Name:Ontario District #10 SchoolhouseGPS Coordinates:43.2404914, -77.3726063
Address:176 Berg Road
Description:
Ontario District No. 10 or Berg School is located in the northwest section of Ontario Township, on the Berg Road. Earlier it was called or spelled "Burg," a Scotch name for borough. The Berg is a community within itself, with a church included. Of Ontario's 13 school districts, it was the only one that extended into an adjoining county, which is Monroe. by Cora Michielson (1957)

 
Photo taken in 1917Google Street View Sep 2016
 
Historic narrative:
It seems that the original building was not located on the present day site, but farther back and about 50 yards to the right. Remains of the wall and a hollow spot can still be found there today. Pupils of early school days still residing in and around the school area recall happy memories of playing around it and in the swamps near by.

When the present day building was erected about 1880, the old school building was purchased by William Ray, who moved its wooden frame structure to his property. Today, that is the Langdon farm and until a few years ago the old school was still standing and used for housing farm tools.

Early teachers of the Berg School were Enos Willets, Anna (Stokes) Martin, Jennie and Alice Hicks, John Smith, Wallace Horn, J. Bills, Arthur Leaty, Arthur Fisher, Pearl Barnhart, Dwight and Liza Eaton, Winifred Bilger, and Gertie Johnville. It is told that Grace Huston walked cross-lots each day from Boston Road to teach in the Berg. Nellie Bennett, whose father ran a meat market in Ontario Center rode her bicycle to and fro from the Berg School each day. Bridget Kearnes taught for seven dollars per week. Most of the teachers named above were of local descent or from Walworth and Williamson. Following these, some came from counties to the east and also from Brockport. Names familiar tehn were: Robertson, Moore, Wyland, Shearer and Halsey. In the '30's the school was under the fine tutelage of Mary Plyter. Mr. and Mrs. Ed Johnville opened their home to many of these teachers. Mrs. Bessie Schlegel of Webster, an early pupil in the Berg, still possesses her fourth grade reader by Sanders. Many a good time spent at picnics and entertainments at the school can be recalled by the Berg folks even to its closing in 1949.

by Cora Michielson (1957)

References:

Ontario History: 1807-1993 as Preserved at Heritage Square