Joseph B Radez--the Building
The first school house in Richmondville was built in 1807, of log construction. It was built near the road on Summit Street; look for the historical marker. It was small, crudely built and poorly lit. It burned down in 1862, but wasn't replaced until Maccabee Hall was erected in 1865-66, for about $2000.00. An old one room school house still stands on Brooker Hollow Road, now renovated as a home. The Richmondville Union Free School was organized in 1900 in a red brick building that stood on East Main Street. It was torn down to make way for the Richmondville Central School, completed in 1933. The present cafeteria was added in 1952; the gym addition, classrooms and library in 1987-88. The Richmondville Central School District merged with the Cobleskill Central School district in July of 1993, forming the Cobleskill-Richmondville School District.
The first school house in Richmondville was built in 1807, of log construction. It was built near the road on Summit Street; look for the historical marker. It was small, crudely built and poorly lit. It burned down in 1862, but wasn't replaced until Maccabee Hall was erected in 1865-66, for about $2000.00. An old one room school house still stands on Brooker Hollow Road, now renovated as a home. The Richmondville Union Free School was organized in 1900 in a red brick building that stood on East Main Street. It was torn down to make way for the Richmondville Central School, completed in 1933. The present cafeteria was added in 1952; the gym addition, classrooms and library in 1987-88. The Richmondville Central School District merged with the Cobleskill Central School district in July of 1993, forming the Cobleskill-Richmondville School District.
Joseph B. Radez--the Man
Have you noticed that on both the school library and the school building bear the name "Joseph B. Radez"? Have you wondered why? Let me tell you a little bit about the man behind the name.
Once upon a time there was a six year old boy whose parents moved to East Worcester, New York. The family stayed with friends while they looked for a farm of their own. The parents had come a long way before they arrived here; they both started their trip form the province of Slovenia, in Yugoslavia. At that time, before World War I, Slovenia was a part of Austria. The parents did not know each other at that time, but met in Indianapolis, Indiana where they both went to stay with relatives. Since they came from Europe to America by boat, do you know how and where they entered our country? Yes, they came here by way of Ellis Island. They probably stood out on the deck of their ships and gazed upon the Statue of Liberty, wondering how their lives would change. Well, after they met, fell in love and married in Indiana, they had three daughters before moving to Harris County, Texas. Here they had another daughter and three sons, the eldest of whom was our very own Joseph B. Radez. He, of course is the six year old boy from our first sentence. And the family did find a farm, too, on Brooker Hollow Road.
For eight years young Mr. Radez attended school in the one room school house that still stands on Brooker Hollow Road, although it is now a house. He went on to attend high school at Richmondville Union Free School that was in the village of Richmondville at that time, where our school is now. When Mr. Radez was in his second year, the school classes were moved to the long white building on River Street, while the old school was torn down and our present school built. This reorganization and building resulted in the Richmondville Central School, from which he graduated in 1933. He worked on a farm after graduating, until he and a sister took an entrance exam and were accepted at the Oneonta Normal School. A "normal" school is what they called schools that prepared students to become teachers. After three years at Normal School, Mr. Radez returned to teach for two years at the East Worcester one room school house that he had once attended. Then he taught in Waterford, New York; two years in 5th grade, two in 6th. He met Henrietta S. Drumm during this time, and they married.
Mr. Radez spent his evenings, Saturdays and summer vacations being a student. He earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Albany State College. He left Waterford to teach Junior High School Science for two years in East Greenbush, then came to Richmondville to teach Junior High Science, math and English. He wanted to be close by to help his father on the farm because his two younger brothers had both been drafted into the Army. When a vacancy occurred, Mr. Radez got the job of teaching high school agriculture and shop (which later developed into our Technology program.) This change meant Mr. Radez had to become a student again, and he took courses for two summers at Cornell University. Finally an opening occurred here for Supervising Principal, which is the equivalent of Superintendent. Mr. Radez accepted that position and held it for 25 years! Mr. Radez recently confirmed the rumor that, yes, he also drove the bus occasionally for an ill bus driver, and yes, he occasionally had to help with building maintenance. He even filled in as substitute teacher! He probably knows our building better than anyone else around! He retired from his Supervising Principal's position July 31, 1975.
So now you know a little bit about the warm hearted, caring man who spent 14 years teaching and 25 years being our leader. He's always been very special to us who worked for him or who knew him as a teacher. Very soft spoken, always interested in learning new things, he makes a generous contribution to the school library every year so that we can make a special surprise purchase that we wouldn't have had otherwise. He has served the community, too, over the years, belonging to the Fire Department, leading the Boy Scouts troop. He is active in his church and the Knights of Columbus, serving as their Grand Knight for a term, by serving the Retired Teachers as President. He was recognized for all he has done by the Cobleskill Elks organization, who named him Citizen of the Year, and by the Boy Scouts who gave him their silver Beaver Award. All of these things together make Mr. Joseph B. Radez a very special man, one for whom we are very proud to name our Library and our school.
Have you noticed that on both the school library and the school building bear the name "Joseph B. Radez"? Have you wondered why? Let me tell you a little bit about the man behind the name.
Once upon a time there was a six year old boy whose parents moved to East Worcester, New York. The family stayed with friends while they looked for a farm of their own. The parents had come a long way before they arrived here; they both started their trip form the province of Slovenia, in Yugoslavia. At that time, before World War I, Slovenia was a part of Austria. The parents did not know each other at that time, but met in Indianapolis, Indiana where they both went to stay with relatives. Since they came from Europe to America by boat, do you know how and where they entered our country? Yes, they came here by way of Ellis Island. They probably stood out on the deck of their ships and gazed upon the Statue of Liberty, wondering how their lives would change. Well, after they met, fell in love and married in Indiana, they had three daughters before moving to Harris County, Texas. Here they had another daughter and three sons, the eldest of whom was our very own Joseph B. Radez. He, of course is the six year old boy from our first sentence. And the family did find a farm, too, on Brooker Hollow Road.
For eight years young Mr. Radez attended school in the one room school house that still stands on Brooker Hollow Road, although it is now a house. He went on to attend high school at Richmondville Union Free School that was in the village of Richmondville at that time, where our school is now. When Mr. Radez was in his second year, the school classes were moved to the long white building on River Street, while the old school was torn down and our present school built. This reorganization and building resulted in the Richmondville Central School, from which he graduated in 1933. He worked on a farm after graduating, until he and a sister took an entrance exam and were accepted at the Oneonta Normal School. A "normal" school is what they called schools that prepared students to become teachers. After three years at Normal School, Mr. Radez returned to teach for two years at the East Worcester one room school house that he had once attended. Then he taught in Waterford, New York; two years in 5th grade, two in 6th. He met Henrietta S. Drumm during this time, and they married.
Mr. Radez spent his evenings, Saturdays and summer vacations being a student. He earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Albany State College. He left Waterford to teach Junior High School Science for two years in East Greenbush, then came to Richmondville to teach Junior High Science, math and English. He wanted to be close by to help his father on the farm because his two younger brothers had both been drafted into the Army. When a vacancy occurred, Mr. Radez got the job of teaching high school agriculture and shop (which later developed into our Technology program.) This change meant Mr. Radez had to become a student again, and he took courses for two summers at Cornell University. Finally an opening occurred here for Supervising Principal, which is the equivalent of Superintendent. Mr. Radez accepted that position and held it for 25 years! Mr. Radez recently confirmed the rumor that, yes, he also drove the bus occasionally for an ill bus driver, and yes, he occasionally had to help with building maintenance. He even filled in as substitute teacher! He probably knows our building better than anyone else around! He retired from his Supervising Principal's position July 31, 1975.
So now you know a little bit about the warm hearted, caring man who spent 14 years teaching and 25 years being our leader. He's always been very special to us who worked for him or who knew him as a teacher. Very soft spoken, always interested in learning new things, he makes a generous contribution to the school library every year so that we can make a special surprise purchase that we wouldn't have had otherwise. He has served the community, too, over the years, belonging to the Fire Department, leading the Boy Scouts troop. He is active in his church and the Knights of Columbus, serving as their Grand Knight for a term, by serving the Retired Teachers as President. He was recognized for all he has done by the Cobleskill Elks organization, who named him Citizen of the Year, and by the Boy Scouts who gave him their silver Beaver Award. All of these things together make Mr. Joseph B. Radez a very special man, one for whom we are very proud to name our Library and our school.
Maccabee Hall- 1863
first school in Schoharie County with classrooms
divided by grade level
first school in Schoharie County with classrooms
divided by grade level
Richmondville Union Free School, built 1900
located on the site of the Radez building
was known as The Red Brick School
located on the site of the Radez building
was known as The Red Brick School
1931- campaigning for centralization
1932- construction of Richmondville Central School
students were housed at the Glove Shop on River Street
while school was being constructed
students were housed at the Glove Shop on River Street
while school was being constructed
Richmondville Central School
Last photo of RCS faculty, staff and administration
taken last day of school, June 1993.
taken last day of school, June 1993.
Faculty, staff, administration and student body spell out
goodbye as a farewell gesture before merging with
Cobleskill Central School District in 1993.
goodbye as a farewell gesture before merging with
Cobleskill Central School District in 1993.
Joseph Radez at the dedication service renaming the
school in his honor in 1994.
school in his honor in 1994.