Volunteer Labor Expanding Old Willow Creek School (in Summer 1951)
The Ithaca Journal, Jul 12 1951, P. 5, Cols. 2-3, with photo
"Willow Creek and Taughannock residents are adding a room and remodeling the schoolhouse by their own labors this Summer.
Men and boys are doing the job at a series of work bees held every fair evening and every Saturday and Sunday since school closed. Elmer Woodams is in charge of general construction and Herbert Heathwaite is chairman of the building committee.
The Willow Creek School, one of the oldest in the county and probably in the state, first opened nearly 103 years ago—-in October, 1848. Its centennial was celebrated with a program at which Liberty Hyde Bailey was principal speaker.
At the annual school meeting in May, residents of Ulysses District 11 voted not to join Trumansburg for the next school year but to add on a room for housing the seventh grade. Up to now, youngsters through the sixth grade have been taught by one teacher in one room. Another teacher will join Miss Marion Evans of Spencer next Fall. Among the teachers there in recent years have been Mrs. Lydia Sears, Mrs. Ruth Holley, and Mrs. Marion Agard.
'The less we have to spend on labor, the less we will have to raise in taxes.' Reasoning this way, residents determined to do the work themselves. A new heating plant and some additional plumbing and wiring are being added, as well as the new room.
Directors of various phases of the job are Ed Lutz, sanitary engineer; Earl Margeson, heating engineer; Paul Vann, landscaping: Mrs. Barbara Krumhansl, interior decorating, and Heathwaite, plumbing and electricity. Serving with the latter on the building committee are Vann, Lutz, Woodams, and Margeson. The three school trustees are James Armsworthy, Mrs. Krumhansl, and Lutz.
Willow Creek School is located on the White School Rd. (named for it) just south of Taughannock Falls State Park and about a block north of the boulevard.
Caption for photo: VOLUNTEERS ARE adding a room to Willow Creek School and remodeling the century-old building this Summer. Pictured are (from left) Betty Woodams, Eddie Woodams, Herbert Heathwaite, Luigi Petricola, and Elmer Woodams.