A postcard of the Union School, completed in 1899, when education was becoming more centralized in rural New York.
Building Our Education: From Union School to Otselic Valley Central
We’re proud to launch the Otselic Valley Heritage Series, sharing stories, photos, and milestones from our school’s history in partnership with local historian Mike Shuman. In this first segment, we look back at the early days of education in South Otselic, when small schoolhouses were at the heart of the community and set the stage for the schools we know today.
Three buses -- Otselic, North Pharsalia, and Beaver Meadow -- lined up in front of the Union School, bringing students together.
In 1896, the South Otselic Union Free School District was created, leading to the construction of the two-story Union School by 1899. This school quickly became a hub of learning for local children and was expanded to serve older students when it was raised to senior school status in 1908. Three buses -- one each for Otselic, North Pharsalia, and Beaver Meadow -- carried students to and from their classrooms, an important step in uniting the community around education.
By the 1930s, growing enrollment led to the construction of the Maple Avenue school building in 1936, a structure that marked a new chapter in education for the Valley.
Looking back at the addition to the Otselic Valley school building creating more space for learning.
The story of Otselic Valley schools is one of community effort, growth, and change. From one school in the park to new buildings and eventually the creation of the Otselic Valley Central School District in 1970, each step reflected the dedication of families, educators and community members to build a strong foundation for future generations.
Sources for this segment include Otselic Valley History Notes (Facebook), OVCS Historical Tour: How We Came to Be Who We Are (Parts 1 and 2) by Mitchell Gary with significant contributions from local historian Mike Shuman.