![]() It was upon the height of a large swell of land, gently sloping in every direction. A historian later described it as “beautiful for situation. The petition to the King required that the ‘town compact’ (i.e., the Square) be situated “in as defensive a posture as the land will allow”. The original center of the town was the Square. It has served as the community center for West Nottingham and has seen its share of dances, graduations and other social gatherings.Ĭongregational Church – Located on Route 152 and built in the mid 1970’s, this church is in the meetinghouse style and was designed and built along the lines of a Revolutionary period church in Newington. ![]() The church has fine old features such as tin ceilings and stained glass windows.įreeman Hall – Located at the corner of Freeman Hall and Garland Roads and built in the mid 1800’s, this large old meetinghouse, presently owned by the Liberty Baptist Church, has had a wide variety of functions, including a store, which once was run in the basement. Prior to its construction, services were held in the schoolhouse at Gebig corner and in Freeman Hall. Liberty Baptist Church – Located on Freeman Hall Road and built in 1892, this church is in the ‘New England Meetinghouse’ style. Since then, the church suffered a fire, but was rebuilt. An ell built onto the church contains classrooms and a dining/meeting area. In 1997, a few years later, we have three churches and our ministers probably do better than 300 dollars a year (at least we hope so.)Ĭommunity Church – Located at the corner of Church Street and Rte 152 and built in 1881, this church, in the ‘American Gothic’ style, was originally a Universalist Church it has a large bell and most of its old interior and exterior features have been retained. So went the course of religious matters in 1798. ![]() The minister, however, declined the offer and the next year no money was voted ‘for preaching’. In 1798, a potential minister for the town was offered an annual salary of 300 dollars, twenty cords of good hardwood, and the use and improvement of the hundred-acre school and parsonage lots. In 1954, the Center (or, Dame) School was moved to its present site.Īnd, of course, to bring this history up to date, construction of the new Nottingham Elementary School began in 1994, with the opening in 1995, and the ‘old’ school became our Community Center.Ī few pictures from the Nottingham Square Schoolhouse museum. In 1952, construction began on the Nottingham Elementary School, with dedication ceremonies the following year. In 1926, a school lunch program began 1927 saw the first health program and the first PTA was organized.ĭuring the 1930’s and 40’s, elementary school enrollment dropped to 38 and Gebig was closed, but by 1951, thee were 50 students and Gebig was reopened. Consolidation of the system continued and in 1921 there were four schools in three buildings a year later, two schools remained – Center and Gebig. The Mountain and Square schools closed in 1920. Five students were attending high school in Dover and at Coe-Brown Academy – total tuition costs: $233.75. In 1919 there were 15 teachers in seven schools, with a total salary for the year of $2,656.00. The first bus routes opened with the total fill for 1902 coming to $96.60. It was decided to close some of the least-attended districts and North Summer was the first to shut down, the students being transferred to the Center School. The decline continued until 1904, with six schools open. ![]() ![]() A decrease in population was apparent in 1901, when only nine schools were in operation. In was not uncommon to have thirteen schools open one year and seven the next. A school tax was levied, a specific amount of firewood was required from each family to heat the school, and school repairs and the boarding of the teacher were also the responsibility of the parents. The parents of school children were solely responsible for the schoolhouse in their district. There usually were two sessions, the Fall term and the Spring term, the length of which was determined by weather and attendance. Eventually there were thirteen – Square, Center, Bean Hill, South Summer, North Summer, Independent, Gebig, Lower Turnpike, Mountain, tavern Hill, Upper North and Lower North. As the town population increased, the Square attendance was divided into four school districts and others were added as the need arose. As families settled in areas away from the Square, it was necessary to establish additional schools. But we know that classes were held in the meetinghouse on the Square until a schoolhouse could be built. Very early records of the Nottingham schools are incomplete. ![]()
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