The First High School

Not mentioned last week was that Ezra Welch, an early settler of Eden was a teacher in the one room school system from 1842-1874. He then accepted a position in the Buffalo Public School System. He retired to his farm at 8429 N. Main St. about 1880.

Pictured is the school house built in 1881 to replace the one room school house on East Church St. (where the Town Hall is now). This location is known as District #4. By 1894 three teachers were hired making a total of five. On June 19th, 1896, the Eden Union Free District was established by an almost unanimous vote under the school law. The first class was graduated in 1899. It wasn't until 1925 that it became a fully recognized high school.

(Courtesy of the Eden Town Historian's Office)