Four Cattaraugus School buildings were located on very nearly the exact same spot near the corner of Jefferson and South Streets in the Village of Cattaraugus, NY. In 1852 the wooden school house (New Albion District No. 1 or Cattaraugus Village) stood there. In 1887 a much larger brick school (the Cattaraugus Union Free School and Academy) was built alongside the earlier school. It burned down on Feb. 20, 1893. By the end of 1893 a third school (brick) was constructed which was destroyed by fire in 1918. The fourth High School to be constructed on this site was occupied by 1920 and later became the Elementary School many of us attended. (Information from Ron Pfeffer, Otto, NY)
The students in the first photo were from various class years: the five in the back row- Nellie Davis, Adelle Easton, Lena Lattin, Professor J. L. Walthart and Dora Barker, the next three sitting: Mrs. Robert Eddie, Ida Russell, and Mina Luce. In the front sitting: Grace Alstrom
The second photo of the 1891 graduating class: Cattaraugus Union Free School and Academy the first graduating class of the Academic Department under the supervision of the New York State Board of Regents, June 1891 from left to right standing: Clarence B. Farrar, Inez P. Rich, Nellie E. Rich, seated: Lena L. Latin