SCHOOLS

     The first town legislation we find concerning schools is as follows:

       “We the undersigned, Commissioners of Common Schools of the town of Machias, inn the county of Cattaraugus, do certify that in conformity with the Act entitled an act for the support of common schools, passed April 12, 1819, we have designated a site for a school-house in District No. 5, in said town, and it is to be built on the south-east side of the Ellicottville road, on a gore of land around by O. C. Hubbard’s on Lot No. 23, township 5, range 5.

 Willard Jefferson
   Wiggin M. Farrar

                                                            Commissioners of Common Schools

Machias, April 3, 1828

     In comparison with the foregoing, the following statistics, taken from the report of the School Commissioners of Cattaraugus County for the year ending Sept. 30, 1878, and herewith appended:

     The town contains 12 school districts, with 12 school buildings valued, with site, at $3180; volumes in library, 290, valued at $193. The number of teachers employed was 12, to whom was paid in wages $1974.20.  The number of children of school age was 457; average daily attendance was 194.  Number of weeks taught was 280 2/5.  Amount of money received from State $1284.54; amount of money received from tax, $764.87.

*The above information was obtained from the History of Cattaraugus County, New York by L. H. EVERTS, 1879.