Historian’s column: Postcard images show 2 schools that served Waterport

This school building served the Waterport community beginning in the fall 1887. The graduation classes were small with the biggest class at 11 grads in 1936.

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 5, No. 25

WATERPORT – Those who travel through Waterport are no doubt familiar with the distinctive building pictured above. At this point some people may not even realize that it was originally built as a school and served as such for 67 years.

The Waterport Union School (upper image) was established by the State Legislature in 1887. The Orleans Republican on August 31, 1887 noted that “The full term of the Waterport Union School will commence on Monday, September 7, with Prof. Filer as principal. The outlook for the school is very flattering.”

It appears that it served primarily as an elementary school. Graduation figures were low. There was one graduate in 1902, three in 1903 and none in the years 1904-6, 1908-9, 1915, 1917, 1918 and 1919. The largest graduating class, that of 1936, numbered 11 students.

In 1922, only 35 years after it had been built, a contract of $38,000 was awarded for the construction of a new school in Waterport, on a site south of the location of the original frame school. The site cost $1,500.

This building became a grades K-12 school in 1922. It was later only an elementary school before being closed in 1989. The building is now used for apartments.

The new building would be of cement with a stucco finish. Originally referred to as the Waterport High and Grammar School, it had a capacity for 150 students, kg. to high school.

One particular student, Geraldine Hill, distinguished herself as a proficient speller from 1937-1940. She was Orleans County champion and also a Western New York finalist.

In 1944, the high school was discontinued. High school students were bused to Albion. The Waterport Grammar School then concentrated on being a “town center elementary school.”

In 1954, improvements to the Waterport school building were approved. Several rooms were added, a cafeteria kitchen was installed, the stairway was revamped, heating and lighting systems were upgraded, all at a cost of $160,000.

In 1989, citing space constraints, asbestos issues, roof problems and the cost of repairs, the Albion School Board voted to close the Waterport School and bus the remaining 158 students to Albion. This was not a popular decision.

Waterport residents strongly objected but to no avail. The building was sold to Lissow Development in 1989 for $95,000 and was subsequently converted to apartments. It currently operates as Lake Country Gardens.