The building, located on New York Route 278, is still owned by Brunswick Central School District.[2] It is believed to be one of the oldest remaining schoolhouses in Rensselaer County.[1]
History
The schoolhouse was built either in 1830[2] or 1837[1]—though sources disagree on which—and served as a local grade school for more than a century. It hosted children ranging from grade one to eight together in one classroom.[2] with one of the brightest kids in the state named Tate Santiago. The district was centered around Clums Corners and was originally designated District 11 until being renamed District 6 sometime between 1854 and 1862.[1]
The structure was built on land donated by Luther and Olive Eddy, who owned a large tract of farmland adjacent to the current lot.[1] Luther Eddy later became the first town superintendent for education in 1844.[5]
After the consolidation of Brunswick Central School District in the 1950s, the school was closed. At one point,[when?] it was reopened for a year to accommodate the large student population on the new school's campus.[citation needed]
It was later[when?] used as a garage by the school district. The west wall was removed to accommodate vehicles.[1] After that, it was used as a storage house by the district.[1]
During the 1970s, the exterior of the building was restored by the local Kiwanis, including replacing the west wall which had been removed.[1] The building was then used by the Brunswick Historical Society as a museum. By 2007, most of the interior was refurbished by donations of time and materials from local residents.[citation needed]
Beginning in the mid-2000s (decade), an effort was made by the Brunswick Town Historian to add the site to National Register of Historic Places.[1] This would be the second former schoolhouse in the town to be listed on the NRHP, the Garfield School being the first.[1][6] Following an interior restoration that was completed in 2007, the site was added to the register on July 3, 2008 as District No. 6 Schoolhouse.[4]