District #3 - Washington Hill
District #3 was Washington Hill, the area around the present-day intersection of Routes 179, and 219. Most local residents are familiar with the brick Washington Hill Methodist meeting house which dates to 1834. There was a school just to the west of the church as early as 1815 when this area was known as Horse Hill. In 1822 the local school committee voted to build a new school and to collect a special tax to pay for it. Over the next few decades this school seems to have been very poorly maintained. When it was replaced in 1881, its condition can be judged from this comment in the town records: “… a new school-house is in process of erection which renders unnecessary the somewhat painful description of the old one.” The new building remained in use as a school until 1937. The building was later sold and moved off site.
Class Photos & Schoolhouse Memories Archive
Washington Hill School, 1908
Post card. Inscription says Maude Francis Seymour. Post mark date is June 8, 1908.
According to the Annual Town Report, Maude Francis was the teacher at Washington Hill School for only the 1907/1908 school year. Enrollment for the year was listed at eleven, but average attendance at 7.9.
Digital Image: MD-10
Washington Hill School, 1908
Back row: David ……, [Name Missing], …… Wilson, Leslie ?, Mahel Parnell, Judson LeGeyt
Teachr: Eve Booth
Bottom row: Ralph Galpin, Lillian ……, Theodore K. LeGeyt, Sr., Hattie Parnell
A note on the back of the photo indicates that this is the Washington Hill School in 1908. The teacher is identified as “Miss Booth” and the boy to her left as “Judson LeGeyt.” Very faint writing on the back identifies the others.
Eve Brooks is listed in Town records as being the teacher at Washington Hill School in 1908-1909.
Digital image: Item MD-26.
Washington Hill School, Date unknow
An undated photo showing a group of nine children (three girls, six boys) apparently playing baseball in front of the Washington Hill School.
Digital image: Item MD-49.
Washington Hill School, 1915
Teacher: Hollis M. French (in doorway)
Front row: Ralph Galpin, Dwight Hoskins, Irene Galpin, Carl Adams, William Adams
Back row: Theodore LeGeyt, Marguerite Bradley, Ruth Galpin, David Hoskins, Francis Bradley
This image was used in an article in The Lure of the Litchfield Hills, entitled “Teaching and Learning on Horse Hill and Hartland.” by Hollis French. Vol. XXXlll #1 (1973), p. 21.
Digital Image: MD-11.