Local History Resources: Timeline - Freeport Public Schools

• Freeport's first public school started in a one room school house located at the north end of the triangle formed by the intersection of Main and Church Streets

• 37 students attended school six days a week. On Sundays, the Presbyterian Church held religious services in the school building

• Professor McGee introduced grammar, geography, natural philosophy and an advancement in mathematics. He also introduced the blackboard

• A new one-story school building was constructed on Main Street's west side, slightly north of Merrick Road

• After repeated and unsuccessful attempts to get a bigger school built, a few local residents took matters into their own hands and demolished the old building. While the new school was being constructed, the district rented space from Andy Rhodes' wagon shop for three months. Rhodes was paid $8. The original building was sold to Mr. Daniel Ellison for $50.

• 203 students enrolled. Total expenses for the year: $414.63

• A second story added to school

• Freeport Academy (private school) established by Rev. Marcus Burr

• New building on the northwest corner of Pine Street and Grove Street is constructed for $3,858.75. Old structure is sold for $750

• Uniform system of textbooks introduced

• Caroline G. Atkinson hired as Freeport's fourth teacher (in addition to L. M. Burdick, Phebe Tice, and Louise J. Carpenter). Ms. Atkinson was a graduate of Albany Normal School (University at Albany)

• Thomas H. Wheeler becomes a teacher in the Freeport School around 1858

See Also:

Wheeler, Thomas H.

• Addition added to Grove Street School

• Enrollment was 340. L. M. Burdick, founder of Freeport's first library, held the position of school principal

• (October 7) A motion was passed changing the District School to a Union Free School

• Enrollment reached 528. Charles W. Oley became principal

• (January 10) Wooden school house destroyed by fire

• (July 2) A cornerstone laid to kick off the construction of a $30,000 brick school building 

Source:

"Freeport's Public Schools." The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. July 23.1893, 20. Accessed August 9, 2018. https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/50389760/?terms=freeport%2Bpublic%2Bschool.

• (March 9) Formal opening of the new school located on the corner of Pine and Grove Streets

• First kindergarten class

• Enrollment reached 445

• (October 11) High school grade formally began

• First high school class graduated

• A school census found 761 school-aged children in the district; up from 641 children in 1901

Source:

"Freeport's School Census." The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.  July 21, 1902, 9. Accessed May 23, 2019. https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/50412342/?terms=freeport%2Bschool%2B761.

• Large addition added to school building costing approximately $30,000

• Class of 1905 chose red and white as the school colors

Source:

Deterling, William. "An Old Diary." The Student. April 1935, 12.

• New school building constructed at the corner of Ocean and Seaman Avenues

• The Tattler, a  weekly newspaper, was founded in 1908 by Freeport High School student James E. Stiles.  The newspaper focused on school news and events but was not an official publication of Freeport High School

Source:

Uhlan,Edward. Dynamo Jim Stiles: Pioneer of Progress. New York: Exposition Press, 1959.

• Archer Street School constructed and was known as Lincoln School No. 3

• The Girls' Athletic Association with the Help of the Board of Education were able to get a tennis court constructed on school grounds

Source:

"School Notes." Nassau County Review. June 17, 1910, 1.  Accessed October 29, 2018. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071433/1910-06-17/ed-1/seq-1/.

• Students population by school: Seaman Avenue School, 259 pupils; Archer Street School, 225 pupils; Grove Street School, 519 pupils 

Source: 

"School Notes." Nassau County Review. September 9, 1910, 1. Accessed June 19, 2019. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071433/1911-05-05/ed-1/seq-1/.

• (May 1910) Over a four week period, 125 students were absent due to an outbreak of measles

Source:

Freeport Board of Education Minutes, May 16, 1910.

• Due to school overcrowding, many students placed on part-time schedules. Rooms rented in the Village to provide classroom space
• Caroline G. Atkinson appointed acting school superintendent. She was the only female superintendent on Long Island

Source:

"Our School Superintendent." Nassau County Review. January 19, 1912, 8. Accessed July 26, 2022. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071433/1912-01-19/ed-1/seq-8/.

• Moxey Rigby became the first African American to graduate Freeport High School

Click here for more information about Moxey Rigby.

• Columbus Avenue School constructed

• (June 30) - Former President William Howard Taft addressed graduates at the Freeport High School commencement exercises in the American Theatre

Source: 

"Ex-President Taft to the Graduates." Nassau County Review. June 30, 1916, 1. Accessed August 29, 2019. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071433/1916-06-30/ed-1/seq-1/.

• The Fire Council of the Freeport Fire Department agreed to use the fire whistle to alert students when th school would be closed due to "stormy weather"

Source:

"Fire Whistle to Aid School Children." The Nassau Review. January 19, 1917, 1.  Accessed July 2, 2018. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071433/1917-01-19/ed-1/seq-1/.

• Agnes Earon becomes first women elected to the school board

Source:

"Announces Candidacy for School Trustee of Freeport." The Nassau Post. April 12, 1918, 5. Accessed August 7, 2017. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071434/1918-04-12/ed-1/seq-5/.

• Freeport's night school proposed teaching boat building

Source:

"Night School, to Teach Boat Building." Nassau County Review. February 1, 1918, 1. Accessed June 3, 2019. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071433/1918-02-01/ed-1/seq-1/.

• Flashings, the Freeport High School newspaper, began

• Continuation classes started by the Board of Education for minors 14 and 15 years old who went to work before graduating.  Class took place on Saturdays between 8 a.m. and noon

• Freeport Cemetery chosen as the site for a new school building

• Cornerstone laid for new high school

• Grove Street School overcrowding made it necessary for the district to use space in the neighboring Engine Company No. 1 firehouse, the Presbyterian Church, the Library, and YMCA

• Construction continued on new high school

• New high School building on Pine Street dedicated

Source:

"Freeport to Dedicate Handsome High School on Monday Evening." The Nassau Daily Review. October 25, 1924, 1. Accessed May 2, 2022. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071431/1924-10-25/ed-1/seq-1/.

• Junior-Senior high school enrollment reaches 887

• Dr. John W. Dodd served as superintendent of Freeport schools

Source:

Dodd Retiring as Freeport School Head. Newsday. December 14, 1960, 30.

• First known published usage of "Red Devils" to describe an athletic team from Freeport High School

Source:

Huley, Frank. "Freeport Beats Hempstead Hempstead with Final Spurt 18-15." Nassau Daily Review. December 18, 1933, 12.  Accessed August 7, 2018. fultonhistory.com

• Cleveland Avenue School opened

• Columbus Avenue School enlarged

• Roy Leon Smith, former principal of Freeport High School, died at his home in North Adams, MA.  He was 51 years old

• Gold Star Mothers took the place of the Grand Army of Republic in the Memorial Day Parade

Source: "Gold Star Mothers Supplant G.A.R." The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. March 19, 1935, 9.  Accessed April 3., 2019. https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/53846245/?terms=%22gold%2Bstar%2Bmothers%22%2Bfreeport.

• Caroline G. Atkinson retired after 52 years of teaching

• Junior-Senior high school enrollment skyrocketed to 1,779. Grove Street Elementary School begins housing the 7th grade

• School District publishes a 45 page booklet entitled The School Building Needs of Freeport, Long Island

• Dr. Dodd re-elected president of the New York State Teachers Association

• Willard W. Jones, principal of Archer Street School, entered the Army as a chaplain.  Dana H. Smith succeeded Jones

• Bertha Hull, principal of Seaman Avenue School retired.  Lawrence C. Lobaugh succeed Hull

• Helen E. Ross promoted principal of Columbus Avenue School after the retirement of Augusta M. Lovenguth

• School district rents classroom space from the Lutheran Church to relieve the overcrowding at the Seaman Avenue School

• (September) Freeport High School Fathers' Club was organized.  In 1947, the club reorganized and became the Freeport Fathers' and Boosters' Club of Freeport.

Source:

"E. White and Golden Get Sportsmanship Awards." The Leader. December 19, 1946, 1.  Accessed May 8, 2019. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071064/1946-12-19/ed-1/seq-1/.

"Fathers and Boosters of Schools Organize." The Leader. February 27, 1947, 6. Accessed May 8, 2019. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071064/1947-02-27/ed-1/seq-4/.

• Ground broken for the new Seaman Avenue School (Caroline G. Atkinson School)

• Budge vote for new schools in Northwest and South Area of Freeport 

Source:

Freeport BOE New Schools Proposition 

• Long Island Park Commission gives nine acres of land north of the Cleveland Avenue School to be used as athletic fields for Freeport High School

• Atkinson School constructed. This school was named for Caroline G. Atkinson, a teacher with over 50 years of service in the school district

• Freeport High School Band performed at Yankee Stadium

• Seaman Avenue School used as temporary school housing for over-flow classes

• Freeport High School teachers K. Alice Hoerner and C. Sheard Parker died in a plane crash.  They were returning from summer vacation in upstate New York were they both had homes

• Bayview Avenue School opened

• Buffalo Avenue Field House was constructed for the athletic field north of the Cleveland Avenue School

• Part of Milburn pond area annexed to Freeport

• Freeport High School constructed on the marshy land between the Village of Freeport and Baldwin

• Freeport High School dedicated on November 6, 1960

• (April 30) Dodd Middle School is dedicated

• (January 14) Leo F. Giblyn School dedicated

• Cleveland Avenue School was closed

• Undefeated Freeport High School Football team wins the Rutgers Cup.  Bill Ashley retires as football coach after the winning season

Click here for more information about Bill Ashley

• Freeport leased classroom space from the First Presbyterian Church for 209 first and second graders while $60,000 in renovations were made to Archer Street School

Source:

"Church Leases Space to Archer School Students." The Leader. October 14, 1965, 13. Accessed June 1, 2018. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071064/1965-10-14/ed-1/seq-15/.

"Jewish Group Objects to Church-School Ties." Newsday. November 5, 1965, 15.

• Seaman Avenue School was converted to an administration building

• Athletic field at Freeport High School was named in honor of George Emma

Source:

Benza, A. J. "Keening a Coach's Memory Alive." Newsday. January 3, 1988, 27.

• (October 7) Fire burned the Grove Street School

• Addition added to Freeport High School

• (April 21) March of Dimes, Nassau County Department of Health, and the Freeport Public Schools held an immunization clinic at Columbus Avenue School for rubella (German measles). Vaccinations for rubella became mandatory for New York State school children in 1970

Source:

Planning Immunization Day. The Leader. April 15, 1971, 14.  Accessed May 11, 2022. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071064/1971-04-15/ed-1/seq-14/.

• Freeport acquired the title "Math Capital of the United States"

Source:

"Freeport is Proud of its Mathletes." Newsday. Oct 13, 1972, 2A

• George Emma was named athletic director of the Freeport School District

Source:

"George Emma Dies; Students and Adults Mourn." The Leader. May 19, 1983, 3. Accessed October 26, 2018. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071064/1983-05-19/ed-1/seq-3/.

• Freeport High School football team returned to Freeport Stadium after six years of playing at Hofstra University while the Stadium was undergoing renovations.

Source:

"FHS Football Back to Stadium." Village News. Freeport: NY. November 1974, 1.

• (September 29) - John W. Dodd Junior High School, Phase I Addition Dedication

Source:

Dedication Program

• Freeport High School's men's basketball team won the Nassau Class A title

Source:

"George Emma Dies; Students and Adults Mourn." The Leader. May 19, 1983, 3. Accessed October 26, 2018. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071064/1983-05-19/ed-1/seq-3/.

• District celebrated its centennial

• Flashings, Freeport High School's newspaper, fought censorship over an article it wanted to publish about the arrest of the track coach

• New Visions School of Exploration & Discovery, Freeport's first magnet school, opened

• The William "Bill" Ashley Memorial Sports Complex was dedicated at the Cleveland Avenue Field in Freeport

Source:

Freeport Report, November 2007.

• Archer Street celebrated 100th anniversary

• (October 6) Elinor Smith was awarded a Freeport High School Diploma posthumously

• Columbus Avenue School and Archer Street School are given historic roadside markers by the Freeport Landmarks Preservation Commission

• (August 6) Freeport High School Yearbooks (1927-1970) were made available online

• Freeport High School football team won the Long Island Conference One championship

• Freeport Memorial Library partnered with the Atkinson School to digitize material from the school's basement vault (in progress)