Erie's First School

The first schoolhouse built in Erie was in the year 1806, on the southwest corner of Seventh and Holland streets. It was of hewed logs, about 18x20 feet in size, and was built for the sum of thirty dollars, which was paid by contributions of the citizens. This first temple of learning was surrounded by the native forest, a foot-path leading to the school from the village, which was mostly collected in the vicinity of German Street, below Fourth Street. The roll of the school during the year 1812 is preserved as a historic relic. It contains the names of thirty girls and forty boys, as follows:

Girls — Hannah Rees, Sarah Brown, Betsy Dobbins, Julia Bell, Eleanor Stuart, Ann Laird, Mary Wilkins, Sarah Bell, Eliza Wilson, Mary Wallace, Mary Curtis, Jane Hughes, Ann Teel, Mary Wilson, Eliza Hoskinson, Rebecca Rees, Kate Oiler, Harriet Rees, Sarah Forster, Mary Brewster, Mary McSparren, Mary McNair, Dorcas McDonald, Caroline Kelso, Eliza Cummings, Adeline Kelso, Eleanor Lapsley, Zebinia Schantz, Mary Ann Lapsley and CatharineMcFarland.

Boys — Alexander Brewster, Dunning McNair, John McSparren, Zedekiah Curtis, Daniel Gillespie, Edward Hildebrand, Charles Reed, William Brown, Harry Rees, Edwin Kelso, George Dunn, Cyrus Reed, John Dunn, William Bell, John Teel, Albert Kelso, James Gray, Samuel Irwin, James Wilson, Robert Erwin, Henry Schantz, William W. Dobbins, William Hoskinson, Laird Forster, John Hughes, Charles Wilkins, Alexander Irwin, Jacob Snavely, George Gallagher, Barney Gillespie, Johnson Laird, Samuel Brown, William McDonald, James Hughes, Thomas Growotz, Benjamin Wallace, John McFarland, Charles Growotz, Archibald Stuart and Richard McCreary.

Lot No. 1378, upon which the schoolhouse was built, was bought from the State, August 4, 1804, by James Baird, for the sum of twenty-five dollars. It was afterward purchased by means of contribution collected by Captain, Daniel Dobbins, and was patented in the name of the Presque Isle Academy. This name appears to have been informally given by the contributors, as no record can be found of a corporation having been formed with that title. For the next quarter of a century nothing occurred of special importance connected with the schools of Erie, ex­cept the establishment of the Erie Academy. The schools that were kept up during this period were all maintained by private contributions.

In 1860 the log schoolhouse was replaced by School No. 2, which was a three-story brick building. Later named for Erie’s School Superintendent, Henry S. Jones, this building was designed by Joseph Frank. It had 10 rooms and 436 seats on a lot that measured, 206 x 165 feet. In 1899 Jones School was replaced once again (photo below) by the current structure that stands there today, the third and last school to stand at this location before becoming the law offices of the Elderkin Law Firm.

The third and final school to be erected on the site where Erie’s first school once stood.