M&M
RED HOTS
Elmira, NY
Est. 1919

Andy Patros
Founder

Dedicated To
The History Of
M&M Red Hots &
The Andy Patros Family

COLDBROOK SCHOOL

Coldbrook School 3rd Grade Class Picture
1970-1971
Mrs. Rachel Holmes

Coldbrook Elementary School
Elmira, NY
Grade 3  1970-1971
Mrs. Rachel Holmes

Row 1: Gay Arnold, Andy Stevens (me), Barb Hart, Tony Ruth, Sue Rosplock, Andre Brosseau, Sharon Clemens
Row 2: Bob Hart, Jackie Quick, Robert Keller, Jr., Gail Beckhorn, Mike Mclaughlin, Vonnie Donaldson, Bob Place
Row 3: Linda Shaline, Carol Scott
Row 4: Pat Andrews, Jean Liddick, Clair Benton, Gary Salisbury (who died that year in a gun accident), Vicki Earley, Randy Minotti
Row 5: Janet Ruth, Kevin Goodwin, Mary Marczyk, Tom Van Ben Coten, Mark Fanelli?, TJ Hart, Tim Rohr

FELLOW CLASSMATES CLASS PICTURE AVAILABLE

Classmates: e-mail me if you would like a copy e-mailed to you. Andy Stevens

The teachers I had for each Grade at Coldbrook School (1967-1974)
Mrs. LaLonde (Kindergarten 1967-1968)
Mrs. Ardis Hardenstine (1st Grade 1968-1969)
Miss Linda Haigh (2nd Grade 1969-1970)
Mrs. Rachel Holmes (3rd Grade 1970-1971)
Mr. Donald W. Wright, Jr. (4th Grade 1971-1972)
Ms. Lynn Steinhelper (5th Grade 1972-1973)
Ms. Cheryl Bennett (6th Grade 1973-1974)

Teachers who were also Teaching during my attendance (1967-1974)
Mrs. Troy
Miss Sweet (6th Grade)

The Coldbrook School Principals during my attendance (1967-1974)
Mrs. Betty Lesser  1965 – 1968
Dr. Issiah Reid  1968 – 1970
Mr. Charles J. Paternoster  1970 – 1974

History Of Coldbrook School / Coldbrook Park School
The beginning of Coldbrook Park School was a one-room country school in Southport known as the Fitzsimmons District. This little country school was located on the corner of Maple Avenue and now Cedar Street. One teacher tried to educate about 45 students in all eight grades. Some of the parents paid the tuition so their children could be educated in the Elmira city Schools.

In the early 1920’s the voters of Southport #3 met to solve the situation in the small school. Of course there were many heated arguments in regard to where and how many schools were to be built. On account of the railroad dividing the area, it has caused many discussions.

Finally after many meetings, in early 1923 the voters decided on building two (2) 2-room schools. On the east side of the railroad track off Maple Ave. on E. Laurentian Place land was purchased from the Wrigley Farm where one school was to be built. And west of the railroad tracks land was bought to erect another school.

Miss Harriett Easterbrook, who was District Superintendent of Schools for the southern part of Chemung County at this time, did a great deal to help the trustees in negotiating and planning for the construction of these two buildings. The Board of Trustees consisted of Arthur Griswold, LaMott Breese and Robert Freeman (all deceased).

Four teachers were hired to educate the students in the two schools. Mrs. Eloise Derry Grace (deceased) was hired as Teaching Principal and Mrs. Marjorie Hamblin Park, Elementary teacher for the building on the east side of the tracks. This school was later called Coldbrook Park School. On the west side of the tracks Mrs. Maude Evenden Johnson was hired as Teaching Principal and Deloris Murphy McCarthy, Elementary Teacher. The school was named Edgeworth.

Edgeworth School was finished September 1924. As Coldbrook Park School was not all constructed, all four teachers taught at the Edgeworth school. The children from the east side were taxied morning and night to the Edgeworth school until mid October 1924.

Although the children from Maple Avenue and area lost their taxi service, everyone was happy to be in their own school.

In 1925 Miss Esterbrook resigned. Mrs. Mededith Cox McWhorter became Superintendent.

For two years the classes steadily increased. In 1926 the voters of Southport #3 voted to build two more rooms on the Coldbrook Park School. In September 1927 two more teachers were hired to teach at the school, Mrs. Julia M. Parsons, 5^th and 6^th grades; Mrs.

Coldbrook Park School -2-

Maude M. Bach, 3^rd and 4^th grades. (both deceased). Mrs. Grace was Teaching Principal and taught 7^th and 8^th grades; Mrs. Park taught 1^st and 2^nd grades.

As time went on our school was getting more and more crowded. We had to utilize the hall, kitchen and auditorium as classrooms. When the first and second grades reached 50 pupils, Mrs. Park appealed to the Board for help. In 1947 plans were made to build on four new rooms (split level).

Of course it took a few months to build on the four new rooms. Mrs. Marie (Dean) Holly was hired to teach first grade from 12:30 – 3:00 pm and Mrs. Park, second grade from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm, Mrs. Bach third grade, Mrs. Edna Bartlett taught fourth grade in the hall. As Mrs. Parsons was transferred to Edgeworth to become Teaching Principal. Mrs. Alice Gelatt taught the fifth and sixth grades, and Mrs. Grace was still Teaching Principal and taught seventh and eighth grades.

In September of 1949 the four new rooms were completed. Mrs. Holly taught the new kindergarten room, Mrs. Ardis Hardenstine, first grade; Mrs. Park, second grade; Mrs. R. Sly, fifth grade; Mrs. Rhea Bryant, sixth grade. All teachers had one grade with the exception of Mrs. Grace who was Teaching Principal and taught seventh and eighth grades on a departmental bases. Special teachers were hired to teach social studies, art, music, and physical education. These special teachers circulated between Coldbrook Park and Edgeworth schools.

Mrs. McWhorter retired and Carlton Jackson was hired to take her place as District Superintendent of Schools.

Through the fine cooperation of parents, teachers, students and the help of the P.T.A., many fine social events took place all through the years.

In 1958 the City of Elmira and the Southport School District #3 voted to consolidate. This was the end of all one-room country schools and all other schools in the outlying towns east, west and south of Elmira. All this area became known as the "Elmira City School District". Many buses had to be purchased so as to transport all these children from outlying districts.

In time, many of the teachers retired. As new teachers and principals were hired at Coldbrook Park School, it was always a fine neighborhood school.

Five principals guided this neighborhood school for fifty-one years:

Mrs. Eloise D. Grace 1924 – 1964

Mr. John Goodwin 1964 – 1965

Mrs. Betty (Lesser) Hydak 1965 – 1968

Dr. Issiah Reid 1968 – 1970

Mr. Charles Paternoster 1970 – 1975

Coldbrook Park School -3-
 

The Elmira City School District Board of Education voted to close Coldbrook Park School in June of 1975. Teachers, students and parents were all very disappointed that the doors were to be closed on the excellent neighborhood school. At least "all" had happy memories as the principal and faculty were one of the finest.

As of now, the school has not been utilized. It stands as a memory to teachers who taught there and children who attended the school.

*Article written by Marjorie H. Park, February 1978

Coldbrook Park School
1945
Photo: P. Miler