schoolhouse

schoolhouse

Cicero Union School

Cicero, New York

This structure was built in 1867 on the corner of U.S. Route 11 and State Route 31 in Cicero New York. It was used as a two room schoolhouse with upper classes being taught on the second floor. It was used as a schoolhouse until 1920 when it was condemned for use as a schoolhouse. Subsequently, it became an Oddfellows Temple, and later shared with the American Legion. The Oddfellows ceased using the structure in 1950s. The American Legion remained in the structure until 1997. It was sold to a private party and was then used as a dance studio and is currently used as a law office.

1886

1872

1991

The structure had undergone several substantial changes over the years. Shortly after

it was condemned for use as a school and sold to a private individual, the floor on the

first floor was raised two feet to make a full basement. It is presumed that the

purpose of raising the floor was to accomodate a boiler in the basement, as the structure had been heretofore heated with pot-bellied stoves. Window openings on the

first and second floor were bricked in and signifficantly smaller windows replaced the

original ten-foot tall 18 pane double-hung windows. The bell house was removed from the roof. also removed were the duel chimneys. A wood frame addition was added. The original staircase was removed. Drop ceilings were added on both floors and the entire structure was paneled. Two Large I beams were added in the first floor to support the second floor.

The structure is currently undergoing a privately funded restoration. The original bell is currently in the possession of the Cicero Historical Society where it has been in storage for the last 40 years. Nevertheless, The Cicero Historical Society has decided to retain the bell rather than allow the owner of this schoolhouse to restore the belfry with the original bell.

Second Floor - 10/05

04/25/06

page created with Easy Designer