Waterville Valley Elementary School History

Many of these facts were supplied by Joan Sweeney.

1829 The Town of Waterville is incorporated. The town has two school districts, probably on the north and south sides.

1836 District 1 has 18 students housed in a schoolhouse with an annual budget of $41.30 per year. District 2 has 6 students housed in a private home with an annual budget of $13.78. School sessions were 6 – 8 weeks, sometimes in summer, sometimes in winter.

1851 Hannah M. Bryant was the teacher in District 1 with 9 students who attended an 8 week session in July and August.

1852 Mrs. Bryant in District 1 taught reading and spelling to 2 students for 6 weeks during the summer.

1854 Mary Shute was the teacher in District 2. She taught reading, writing, spelling, arithmetic, grammar, geography, philosophy and chemistry.

1856 Florence Blaisdell, teacher in District 2, was paid $5 per month for instructing 8 students.

1885 A new schoolhouse was built which is the current library. The townspeople approved $100 for building the school, procuring the land, furniture etc. The schoolhouse was located at the present entrance to the Golf Pro Shop.

1895-1905 There is no mention of a school. It is probable that there were no students.

1905 The Town paid $20 per year to Plymouth High School.

1906 $12 was paid that year for “carrying the Gilman girl to school”.

1916 There were no children. The schoolhouse became the townhouse.

1930s Durwald Ducret, Deborah and Nancy Austin attend classes in the Osceola Cottage.

1944 The Town tuitioned students out to Plymouth and Holderness.

1966 Town Meeting votes to convert Town House into the school, sharing space with the library.

1968 The 1st annual School District Meeting appropriated $11,912.86 with revenues of $9,257.86. Mildred Uhlman is the teacher.

1971 Sue Hern and Axle Magnuson taught 16 children in grades 1 – 7. There were no fourth graders.

1973 The School District authorizes borrowing $250,000 for a new school.

1974 The new elementary school opens.

1990 An addition is constructed bringing the school to its present size and structure. The Waterville Recreation Department establishes its offices and programs in the new addition.

2001 Mrs. Mary Seeger retires after serving as a teacher/principal for 21 years.

2005 Major renovation work is completed on both the inside and outside of the building.