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Dozens of diplomas from across the years, never distributed, were found in envelopes and file folders. This one, from 1931, was made out to Dorothy Louise James.

Unearthing years of records

Middle School safe yields boxes of historical documents

WATKINS GLEN, Aug. 14 -- A safe containing boxes full of old Watkins Glen School District minutes, memoranda, programs, diplomas, deeds and photos was accessed Tuesday afternoon, its contents released to sunlight for the first time in years.

The safe, standing in the former classroom of Jim Murphy on the second floor of the Watkins Glen Middle School, had been locked for years, according to district officials, with no easy means to open it.

But a couple of district workers "somehow figured how to get into it this afternoon," said Superintendent Tom Phillips, who Tuesday night was poring over some of its contents after the material had been delivered to his office on what is now the district's single campus. The Middle School, several blocks away, is being sold to a Binghamton-area developer, and will be turned into senior apartments, with its auditorium and gym maintained for community use.

Among the documents, said Phillips and School Board President Mike Myers, was a deed from the mid-1800s, when community leader Cynthia Freer gave to the school district the land upon which the Middle School (at first a high school) would eventually sit.

And there was a document from The University of the State of New York detailing a "Change of Name of Watkins Glen High School" granted in mid-September 1950. The name was changed to Watkins Glen Central School at that point.

And there were diplomas -- originals, Phillips noted, with raised seals -- that were evidently never distributed. There were various of those, one or more from different years. Among them was that of William N. Ellison, Class of 1946. He went on to become a County and State Supreme Court Judge.

And there was a resignation in there, on Watkins Salt Company letterhead, from the company's president, Warren W. Clute, written to the Board of Education on Jan. 4, 1935. "I regret to advise that on account of my health I must ask you to accept my resignation as a member of your Board," it said.

There were photos, too -- a group shot of a class from many years ago, some junior varsity cheerleaders, and a view of construction when the current high school was being built. And there minutes of board meetings; and report cards, and postcards specifying that various students, circa 1910, had passed Regents exams.

There was also a ticket to a 1930 Senior Ball featuring Curley Johnson's Rhythm Kings, and a 1950 Playbill for The Summer Theatre with advertising from "Venico Fraboni, Domestic & Imported Groceries" at 200 Franklin Street; "Joe's Restaurant, Specializing in Steaks - Chops - Pizza" at the corner of 10th and Magee; Baxter's Dairy; and Nick's Red and White, among others. The program notes that "Guy Kibbee will be the welcome guest star of the Summer Theatre for the second week's engagement and portray the lovable role of Grandpapa in 'On Borrowed Time.'"

There was no order to the material. "It was just thrown into boxes," said one official.

And some of the documents were in handwriting that was difficult to decipher. "We need someone who can read hieroglyphics," said Phillips, adding as he looked through the material: "Crazy, just crazy the stuff you find."

Photos in text: Superintendent Tom Phillips and district Business Manager Gayle Sedlack pore over some of the documents; a photo from when the current high school was being built.

A report card from 1923 was among the many artifacts.

Document marking the name change of the Watkins Glen High School
to that of Watkins Glen Central School.

There was no marking on this cheerleading photo to indicate its year.

One of many documents found among the safe's contents.

A 1950 Summer Theatre playbill.

The resignation of Board of Education member Warren W. Clute in 1935.

 

 

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