Granville Voters Will Soon Decide Fate of The Old Corner School

Granville Voters Will Soon Decide Fate of The Old Corner School By Martha Slater

Built in 1877, and long unused, the old Corner School building may soon be renovated for public use. (Herald / Martha Slater) Martha 1 of 1

Granville voters will hold a special town meeting Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. at the town hall to decide the fate of an historic town building.

The article on the warning asks voters if the town should "sell the former library building and adjoining town forest land to a legally established non-profit foundation, called the Corner School Foundation, for the price of $1."

The committee to form the Corner School Foundation is made up of Roger and Kate Stauss, Malcolm Appleton, Diane Eramo and Rhoda Stockwell. The foundation will be a non-profit 501c whose goal is to renovate the building and turn it into a useful public space. Some of the possible uses suggested are an information center equipped with high-speed wireless internet and a public computer, a history exhibit featuring town and school history, and a public space available for play groups, classes, clubs and performances. Money for the renovation will come from fundraising events and grants the group will apply for.

The foundation gets its name from the fact the building, constructed in 1877, was originally known as the Corner School and for many years, served as the lively educational hub of the community. Students came from as far away as the Ford farm on West Hill and as close by as the row houses by the mill on Route 100. When Eleanor Norton, one of three Corner School alumni who still lives in Granville, was a first grader there in 1936, there were 28 children in eight grades, all educated by one teacher.

Eventually, the town decided to go to one school and the Corner School became the town library, serving that purpose for many years. However, by the early 1990s, the library was little-used and it was closed 15 years ago.

During a recent tour of the building, Roger Stauss noted that three years ago, the town held a meeting to decide if the building should be sold or if the town should keep it.

"The consensus was to hang onto it and look at the cost of renovation," he recalled.

With its high ceiling, tall windows, vintage desks, boys’ and girls’ cloakrooms, and boxes of old books stacked around the floor, the building still contains many reminders of its past lives. Although it doesn’t have indoor plumbing, it does have basic electricity, which would need updating. The structure itself also needs some repair work, with new, weather-tight windows a particular priority.

At the October 19 meeting, the committee will give a presentation about their plan for the building and town voters will decide whether or not to approve that plan.

Stauss said he is optimistic that people will decide to do so.

"I feel the historical and sentimental value of this building should be preserved for future generations," he concluded, looking around. "It represents a piece of Granville’s history and I’d like to see it put to good use. Once it’s gone, it’s gone."

____________