At times all historians have been known to “jump up and down with joy” and at times even become hysterical when the never ending search for history gives up facts or photos of the long lost pages of history. Such is the case with District #3 - Columbus Center. To all who are unfamiliar with Columbus Center, the location is exactly where named - what is now the small hamlet of Columbus located on New York State Route 80 approximately half way between New Berlin and Sherburne.

The photo accompanying this article is copied directly from the original in the possession of the Chenango County Historian’s office as is the poem that will be given below. The photo of District #3 was taken in 1913 - 1914 and we are most fortunate that the names of the students in this photo were identified, which we will list now: Front Row: #1 - Calhoun Beardsley - #1 -#2 -Mercian Spurr (she would later be Mrs. Ted Whitney and deeply involved with the Chenango County Historical Society for many years) - #3 - Charles Horstman - #4 -Ruth Williams - #5 - Frances Bingham - #6 - Alice Dewey. Back row: #1 - Floyd Rowe - #2 - Clifford Gibson - #3 - Reed Bowers - #4 Lee Barings - #5 - Lynn Rowe - #6 - Blanche Bingham (teacher) - #7 - Edwin Beardsley - #8 - Nathan Spurr and #9 - Alice Spurr.