Early School Trivia of Cameron County

I love learning, reading and remembering the history of Cameron County. Here is a little early school trivia compiled from the Cameron County Genealogy Project. Personally I feel our school should offer a 9 week class on the History of Cameron County. Early School Trivia

Although records were not preserved locally education dates back before the incorporation of the county

There is a difference of opinion as to the location of the first. The following is credited from a history of Emporium traced to Chicago

First teacher in all probability was Miss Elisa Dodge who taught the three R’s in a new frame barn at the mouth of North Creek on 1817

She was followed by William Boyd who taught in a Log house that had been built for a dwelling in Lumber Township in 1818

A log House was constructed above Emporium in 1819 Students studied under John Chadwick who taught 1819 -1820

Miss Jedidah Freeman taught the summer term 1820 and Leonard Freeman a winter term in 1820

The first schools of Higher education were established in Sinnamahoning in 1864-65 by John Brooks.

The school was suspended in 1873.

In 1866 Mrs. J. B. Johnson opened a select school in Felt’ Block

In1888 it was reported that were 42 schools in the county with an enrollment of 1427 pupils. Average salary for teachers was Male $49.47 and Female $33.78 monthly

Emporium at that time employed six teachers and enrollment of 373 pupils. Average Salary was Male $85.71 and Female $35.00 per month

County had Four High Schools maintained by the borough of Emporium, Driftwood and Shippen Township

First class to graduate from Emporium High School was in 1889 under the principal of H.H. Weber

High School in Shippen was established in 1907 in charge of H.B.Hourihan.

No records on Driftwood High School that was closed in 1916 due to the shortage of students/

The Emporium Schools are indebted to W. H Howard for a three hundred volume library and a piano. Josiah Howard contributed valuable additions to the library. Other contributors were B.G. Erskine, Guy S. Felt and many others.

Sterling Run School built in 1930 now houses the Cameron County Little Museum.

According to some authorities the first school was built on the Mason farm in 1820 with Dennis Lynch as first teacher.

Consolidation began 1924 in Emporium and secondary students from Driftwood and Sinnamahoning traveled by train to Emporium. Pa railroad ran local trains to accommodate . This was continued until 1941 when World War II forced the Railroad to abandon this practice. The students wer the bussed to Emporium.