The History of Cayuga County 1789-1879 page 468
Town of Moravia

school-house was built. It was a substantial frame structure, and stood on the site of Andrew Perry's dwelling, to make room for which it was torn down about 1859. It was abandoned as a school-house in 1813, and was afterwards used for various purposes. Mr. Goodrich was also the first teacher in the new house, in the winter of I798-'9, and was succeeded there by Miss Emma Skinner in the summer of 1799; David 'Wright, in the winter of 1799-1800. Mr. Goodrich again taught in the winter of 1801-'2, and, being in ill health, was assisted by William Wattles, Jr.

In 1812-'13, a brick school-house was erected on the site of the Masonic building, by the joint efforts of the school district, the Congregational Society and the Masons. The former two bore the expense of building the walls of the first story, and the Masons, that of the second ; while the building and repair of the roof was a joint expense. Mr. Goodrich was also the first teacher in this house, in the winter of 1813-'14. At the first school district meeting, held in the school-house in July, 1813, after the division of the town into school districts under the school system organized in 1812, the district bought the interest of the Congregational Society for $400, and, in the spring of 1840, the location being too public, sold to the Masons for $500. The lower portion of the building was afterwards used for various purposes, and the whole structure was torn down in the fall of 1876, to make room for the new Masonic building on North Main street. A new wood school-house was built on Cayuga street in the spring of 1840, the job of erecting it being taken by Amasa Dunbar, who built the house, furnishing all the material, for $100.

On the division of the village into two districts in 1839, a school-house was built on School street, by District No. 2, at a cost, including lot, of $275. These buildings were used for school purposes till the spring of 1870, when that in District No. 1, which stood on a lot leased for $5 per year, was sold at auction to Ezra Reynolds, for $125, and, having been moved to Keeler Avenue, was torn down by W. G. Wolsey in the summer of 1876; that in District No. 2, together with the lot, was sold to Peter Decker, for $475. One part of the building still stands on the original site, and the other on Grove street, next south of the Catholic church; both are used as dwellings.

In the meantime, the district school then existing in the village not meeting the demand for a higher education, the Moravia Institute was projected and commenced operations in the spring of 1839, in a wooden building erected for the purpose the preceding fall and winter. It was incorporated by the Regents January 23d, 1840. It was supported entirely by tuitions paid by the students and the moneys drawn from the Regents. In conformity to its charter its affairs were managed by a board of twelve resident trustees, who held office during their pleasure, provided they continued to reside in the town and attended to their duties, and had power to fill all vacancies in their number. The first board of trustees were Hon. Rowland Day, President; Calvin Whitwood, Dr. Hilem Bennett, Deacon John Stoyell, Leonard 0. Aiken, Hon.. Ebenezer Smith, Artemas Cady, Chauncey Wright, Orsamus Dibble, Robert Mitchell, Daniel Goodrich and Loyal Stoyell. The first teachers were Rev. Elbridge Hosmer and wife, assisted by Elizabeth Sabin. They were succeeded by Samuel D. Carr and wife; Watts C. Livingston, in 1850; William Parett, assisted by his sister Rachel Parett, 1851; Sanford B. Kinney and Eunice Knapp, assisted in the classics by Julius Townsend; Andrew Merrill, assisted by Matilda A. Goodrich, in fall of 1851, one term; Rev. John Leach, assisted by Etta Hoskins, 1854 - '5 ; Robert Mitchell, 1856; Westel Willoughby, 1857; Rev. Martin Moody and C. W. Holbrook; Watson C. Squires, assisted by Amy Frost, 1859 - '60; John G. Williams, 1860 - '2; Rev. C. A. Conant; Wm. P. Goodell, 1863-4; J. M. Proctor, 1864 - '6; -----Lyon ; J. P. Dysart; David A. Burnett, assisted by L. M. Townsend and Martha J. Atwood; Miles G. Hyde, 1866 - '7 ; Alexander H. Rogers and Sophronia Lowe, 1867 - 8. The Institute had twenty-three principals in twenty-nine years. Mr. Hosmer remained five years, leaving a little more than one year for the average time of each of the other twenty-two.

Twenty-nine annual reports were made to the Regents. The aggregate number of students reported as having pursued classical or higher English studies for at least thirteen weeks was 2052, for the instruction of whom the trustees received from the Regents $4,953.63. Eleven annual State teachers' classes were reported as having been instructed, each class for a term of thirteen

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