Shacksboro History

History of the Shacksboro Schoolhouse Museum
aka "The Little Schoolhouse That Took a Road Trip"

About the Museum:

     The Museum at the Shacksboro Schoolhouse is dedicated to the collection and preservation of the local history of the Greater Baldwinsville, New York area, including the Towns of Lysander and Van Buren. The Museum is housed in the Shacksboro Schoolhouse, a 19th century former country school building.

Schoolhouse Past:

    Erected in 1879 in the Town of Van Buren, the schoolhouse was originally located on Canton Street Road at the juncture of Turner Road. That area was the site of a number of primitive homes occupied by tenant farmers and was locally known as "Shacksboro". Hence, the building was known as "Shacksboro Schoolhouse".

    The one room school served as the elementary school for all youngsters in Van Buren School District No. 8 from its opening in 1879 until it closed in 1952. Unable to meet the state mandate that required that all schools have running water, the school closed. Its student body was incorporated into the newly centralized Baldwinsville Central School District. Following its closing, the building was used for storage and occasional square dances.

    In 1976, the former country school was identified as the focal point of Baldwinsville's project in honor of the celebration of our nation's Bicentennial. The local committee decided to preserve the former country school as a local history museum to perpetuate the community's rich heritage. It was decided to relocate the building to a site more readily accessible to the public.

    To this purpose, the building was purchased by the committee using federal bicentennial grant money that had been designated for the express purpose of encouraging significant local projects such as Baldwinsville's. The building was then moved 2 miles north from its original site to its present location in the village's McHarrie Park. With donations and volunteer labor the building was placed upon a foundation, roofed, insulated and painted. A number of school related and general social history artifacts which were donated or loaned were put on display. The museum was open Sunday afternoons during the summer months.

    Responsibility for the project was assumed by McHarrie's Legacy, Inc. in 1986. The local historic preservation organization, McHarrie's Legacy, Inc., completed restoration of the structure, including the installation of central heat and running water. A year round facility featuring changing exhibitions, programming and a museum shop was opened to the public the following year.

Schoolhouse Present:

   The Museum collects and preserves local history artifacts and archival materials and makes them available to researchers as well as to the general public. Through its exhibition series and a variety of outreach activities ranging from speaking engagements to walking tours, participation in local festivals, traveling exhibitions and maintaining a local history exhibit case in the Baldwinsville Public Library, The Museum at the Shacksboro Schoolhouse continues to promulgate the story of Baldwinsville's rich heritage.

    The Museum is funded through memberships, donations, proceeds from the Museum Shop, an annual used book sale and various other fund raising activities. The Museum has enjoyed collaborative ventures with both the Village of Baldwinsville and the Baldwinsville Public Library.

    Today the Museum is open year round and offers changing exhibitions, programs and a museum shop. Its Heritage Peony Project is especially noteworthy.

      Although the structure has been moved from its original location, its architectural integrity has been maintained. The building's original classroom is used as an exhibition gallery. The former cloakroom serves as the visitor welcoming site and houses the Museum Shop. The shop carries a variety of publications of local and regional interest, specialty Baldwinsville items, children's things and items supporting museum exhibitions.

History of the Shacksboro Schoolhouse Museumaka "The Little Schoolhouse That Took a Road Trip"

History of the Shacksboro Schoolhouse Museum
aka "The Little Schoolhouse That Took a Road Trip"