Historical marker unveiled at preserved schoolhouse in Newfield

The Newfield Historical Society has made efforts over the years to ensure people know the rich history of the Kellogg’s Corners schoolhouse.

The schoolhouse, located on the front lawn of the Newfield Central School District (CSD) on Main Street, has officially been memorialized by a historical marker — thanks to grant funding from William G. Pomeroy Foundation.

The marker says the following:

“One Room School. Kellogg’s Corners School. Built Ca. 1883, aka District No. 18. Closed 1939 when area schools consolidated. Moved here from Vankirk Rd., 1992.”

“The entire community was proud enough of this to help move it, and Newfield Central School keeps its maintenance,” said Joleen Krogman, vice president of the historical society. “It is a symbol of the importance the town has in its children’s education. A William G. Pomeroy marker in front of it lets everyone visiting Newfield know this is a place of importance.”

The historical marker at the school is now the fourth erected in the town of Newfield. In October 2023, the historical society placed a marker honoring Kate Dean, a Newfield native and Civil War patriotic singer, on Main Street.

Another marker is at the corner of Vankirk Road and Irish Hill Road at a place called Picnic Corners. Krogman said the marker tells the story of President Theodore Roosevelt’s visit to Newfield in 1910.

A third marker has also been installed at the historic covered bridge.

The schoolhouse, originally located at the corner of Vankirk Road and Kellogg’s Corners in Newfield, is the third structure that was built between the early 1800s and around 1883. Construction of the current schoolhouse was completed in 1887.

The Kellogg’s Corners schoolhouse was one of 21 schoolhouses in town in the 1800s. The current schoolhouse, which closed in 1939, was a prominent piece of the town for 52 years.

“A lot of the other [20 schools] were turned into houses,” Krogman said in the past, noting that schoolhouses in Newfield were two miles apart from each other.

The schoolhouse had no more than 20 students per school year, Krogman said, noting that the building would be temporarily closed if there weren’t enough students to fill it.

The schoolhouse closed due to the centralization of education, which led to the modern-day Newfield CSD. When the schoolhouse closed, the structure was bought for a dollar and became the Kellogg’s Corners Arts and Crafts Club “for many years,” Krogman said.

The building on Main Street returned to being a schoolhouse in 1976, when Newfield CSD’s teachers and students spent a day in the building in honor of America’s 200th birthday.

In 1992, the schoolhouse moved from Kellogg’s Corners to Main Street after the community raised funds for maintenance and preservation of the building.

The building is owned by Newfield CSD, but Krogman said that the Newfield Historical Society continues to collect funds to preserve it.

“The schoolhouse served its noble purpose,” Krogman said.

As one of the last remaining single-room schoolhouses not only in Newfield but in the county, Krogman said its continued preservation and the historical marker “designate an important piece” of the town’s history.

“It is important that our community knows and recognizes our town’s past,” Krogman said. “We, as a historical society, are excited and proud to have a hand in preserving our history. It is a symbol of the pride and importance of education for our children in Newfield. It brings in visitors who would not likely see Newfield without it.”

Krogman noted that the historical society has a list of potential places where markers could be erected, noting that there are plans to apply for more markers in the near future.

“Newfield has many stories that should be told,” Krogman said.

According to Krogman, the Pomeroy Foundation allows more than one historical marker application per year. Krogman added that due to a shortage of historical society volunteers, the town opted to fill out one application a year.

For more information on the Kellogg’s Corners schoolhouse, go to newfieldhistoricalsociety.org.

Newfield Notes appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.

In brief:

Newfield’s annual Christmas tree lighting is Dec. 7

The town of Newfield will hold its annual Christmas tree lighting event on Dec. 7 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Masonic Temple on Main Street.

The Christmas tree will be lit at 6:30 p.m. The event will include music, horse-drawn carriage rides and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Food will be available at the event, including hot dogs, chili, cookies and cocoa.

For more information, contact Karen Trask at ks297@cornell.edu.

Yoga for beginners held every Saturday

A yoga for beginners class will be held every Saturday at Newfield Public Library from 10 to 11 a.m.

Phyllis KuanYin Chi, a yoga teacher certified through Yoga Farm in Lansing, will lead the class. The instructor also has additional training in trauma-informed yoga.

The class is on the second floor of the library. It is suitable for people new to yoga or those with mobility issues. There is also an opportunity to deepen poses for those with more experience.

The class is for ages 18 and older. Participants must have their own yoga mat or blanket. The class is free, but there is a suggested donation of $10.