Historic Sites

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

 

Sodus District 23 Schoolhouse aka Salt Works School

Historic Site #:12-115   (Exists)   Type: D,E3 Town:Sodus
Site Name:Sodus District 23 Schoolhouse aka Salt Works SchoolGPS Coordinates:43.25212, -76.99212
Address:6970 Rt 14 Sodus Point New York
Description:
Sodus District 23 Schoolhouse was also known as the Salt Works School. According to NYGEN Town of Sodus Teachers web page, it was open from 1833 to 1943.


 
Circa 1933 photo courtesy of Phyllis Lent1938 photo of children attending the Salt Works School House. This picture was taken at the NE corner of the school. Photo from Ron Bill
Miss Alice Weiss who taught at the school for 10 years. Photo from Ron Bill1938 Class List. Photo from Bette Bugni
The Salt Works School as a VFW building. Photo from Bette BugniPhoto from 1967 Soduskan Yearbook
The Salt Works School today is owned by Ron and Alice Bill. Ron restores boats in it. Photo by Edith Farrington
 
Historic narrative:

For 110 years, the Salt Works School House was Sodus Point’s other schoolhouse. According to Sodus School History compiled by Bette Bugni, it opened in 1833 and closed its doors for the last time in 1943. During the final 10 years, Miss Alice Weis was its last teacher (1934-1943). The schoolhouse is located on the east side of Route 14 just as you leave the Village heading toward Alton.
 
How did the school get its name?
 
the following information is from the book “Great Sodus Bay History, Reminiscences, Anecdotes and Legends” by Walter Henry Green (Sodus, N.Y. 1947) p 50: The Salt Works school house got its name from a nearby salt spring. In the 1830s, Charles Field and brother manufactured salt. Because of these springs the locality is called Salt Hallow, the east and west road, the Salt Hollow Road (editors note: now called Morley Road), and on the Alton-Sodus Point highway is the Salt Works schoolhouse.
 
In 1881 the Sodus Manufacturing Company was incorporated with Manley Sturgis of Sodus Center as president. Wells were sunk but the venture proved unprofitable. But little salt was manufactured and the company soon went out of existence.
 
In the 1890s, the School House was also used for a series of revival meetings.
 
The Salt Works School served as a one room school house to the children from the surrounding farms on the Alton-Sodus Point Road. The school house was also the source of the nickname for boys from the “south side” of Sodus Point which was “Salt house boys”. Miss Alice Weiss taught here until the school merged with the Sodus Point Intermediate, where she continued teaching.

After 1943, the schoolhouse became a VFW Post and today it is owned by Ron and Alice Bill. Ron restores antique boats at the facility.


District #23 Salt Works
6970 Rt. 14
Sodus Point, NY

Teachers

1833-date school opened
1869-1870 Mry Kelmer
1870-1871 Hattie Preston
1875-1876 Miss H. M. Lewis
1876-1877 Miss H. M. Lewis and Miss Berry
1883-1884 Clive D. Seager and Mamie Stacy
1884-1885 Clive D. Seager and Mamie Stacy
1886-1887 Clive D. Seager
1888-1889 Charles Emery
1891-1892 Clive Seager
1898-1899 George Emery
1899-1900 George Emery
1900-1901 May Belden
1901-1902 George Emery
1911-1912 Gladys Hill
1913-1914 Bertha Kansier
1914-1915 Bertha Kansier
1925-1926 Frank McMaster
1928-1929 Frank McMaster
1934-1935 Alice Weiss
1935-1936 Alice Weiss
1936-1937 Alice Weiss
1937-1938 Alice Weiss
1938-1939 Alice Weiss
1939-1940 Alice Weiss
1940-1941 Alice Weiss
1941-1942 Alice Weiss
1942-1943 Alice Weiss







References:

“Great Sodus Bay History, Reminiscences, Anecdotes and Legends” by Walter Henry Green (Sodus, N.Y. 1947) p 50

Historic Sodus Point web page

Photo from 1967 Soduskan Yearbook P. 85

NYGEN Town of Sodus Teachers web page