Sodus Schools history

The present village of Sodus was first used as a location for a town meeting in 1815 and has remained the center of the town since that time.

– Built in 1825-26 on land given by the Pultney Estate to the First Baptist Society of Sodus, this church is now owned by the Baptist Rural Cemetery Association of Sodus Center, Inc.

– On land donated by Daniel Arms, founder of Wallington, originally known as Arms Crossroads, the Wallington Cobblestone Schoolhouse was built in 1826-28.

– A cobblestone structure built in 1834 as a tavern and inn near the midpoint between Rochester and Oswego on the Oswego-Lewiston Stage route.

However, there is no direct evidence of a school being built in 1835.

When Pipestone Township was formed in 1843 four school districts were created.

Two of those remained when Sodus Township was formed in 1859 but no record remains of which two.

The first Arbor Day circulars were sent out from Albany in the spring of 1889.

Fred Gleason was the first teacher of record in 1892.

Some supplies purchased in 1903 included: soap 15¢, gold dust 20¢, mop and pail 25¢, stove blacking 10¢. Fall school cleaning that year cost $2 and school insurance was $2.50.

In 1909 the school purchased an organ for $36.

At the May 12, 1910 meeting building a new 24’ x 36’ two-room school was approved, to be funded by selling bonds totaling $3,500 for ten years.

In 1911, a 20-foot x 24-foot room, built of brick by Mr.

The first bond payment for $368 was made July 12, 1912 to F & M Bank.

When school started in 1927 it was in a new school, with a new teacher, Rose Bittner.

By 1934 the millage for general purpose had been raised to 8.5 mills.

Amos Thomas (Laura Shairi) served as Director in 1937, when her husband died and she was asked to finish serving his term.

At a special meeting in 1953, a vote of six to zero authorized the purchase of one-half acre at the back of the property from James Smirinotis.

By 1956, River School had three rooms.

Miss Bittner taught for 37 years at River School, her entire teaching career, until she retired in 1965.

After countywide graduation was discontinued in 1966 River School held its own ceremony, complete with decorations, Pomp and Circumstance, and a speaker.

Pope taught at River School for 50 years, retiring in 1979.

As of the writing of this history in 1993, several former students of River School who are over 80 years of age four still live in the district.