Getting The New School Built
by George Holcomb • Transcribed by Betty McClave • Edited by Alex Brooks
Monday, January 27, 1845: Today we returned home from Mr. James Bush’s from Brunswick.
Monday, Feb. 3: This afternoon I walked over to the Presbyterian Meeting House to an anti-rent meeting. Tonight Mr. Ichabod Johnson began to board with us for John F. going to school on the hill near Gustus Rollo’s and tonight Avery Minor from Windsor stayed with us with a two-horse sleigh, he is in pursuit of a load of corn.
Tuesday: This morning A. Minor returned home and today a snow storm and a blow which continued through the day and until midnight. The wind did considerable damage in many places and it did some damage to our barracks in blowing off part of the straw from the roof and one corner settling, the pin breaking and my barn yard gate blowing down and breaking.
Wednesday: We shovelled snow on the highway, John F, and myself, and we cleaned snow out of our buildings.
Friday: I rode over to Sylvenas Carpenter’s the second with Mr. Marcer, he came and fetched a bill what he would build our school house for to have the Seventh Day Baptist Church and find all his needs he will do it for 250 dollars and we find all, he will do the work for 140 dollars.
Saturday: We got a few of the neighbors and we let down the roof of the barracks and I drew a pung load of wood to the school house on the hill.
Monday: I called on Mr. Russell Brown and Mr. Zebulon Simmons to give in a bill what they would build our district school house for and then I rode up to Simon Cranston’s to a Van Rensselaer or a Tory meeting but I returned home in a short time.
Saturday: I took my ox team and John F. with me, we drew out four loads of alders from my swamp. A thaw began and tonight rainy.
Sunday: The thaw continues today. I walked to Calvin Jones to see how his wife was. She has bleeding spells at the stomach. Today John F. quite unwell with swelled face and bad cold.
Tuesday: Today I made sap troughs out of popple.
Wednesday: Today I made sap troughs out of popple.
Thursday: Today I drew a load of wood home that I had left on the road on Saturday on account of the road being drifted and my oxen crowded.