A History of Buckingham Elementary School
Our area was once served by a number of one-room schoolhouses. They were:
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Church
Forest Grove
Friendship
Furlong
Hickory Grove
Holicong
Independent
Mozart
Tyro Hall
Union
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Friendship
Holicong
Tyro Hall |
Tyro Hall was built around 1790 on land given by Thomas Smith. Some of the students who attended Tyro Hall went on to become famous citizens. One was Edward M. Paxson, who became a judge. Another was D. Newlin Fell. He became a member of the State Supreme Court.
Matthew Hughes settled in the area and bought land in 1705. One of his descendents, Amos Austin Hughes, died in 1842. He left a will which provided for the establishment of a school called the Hughsian Free School. The will also set aside over 80 acres of land with buildings. The income from this land was to be used to pay for the operation of the school.
At first the facility operated as a private school. A small tuition was charged. When the Public School System in Pennsylvania was established, the Hughsian School was incorporated into the Buckingham Township School District.
Church School closed in 1930.
In 1932 construction started on a new two-room building adjacent to the Hughsian Building. This space was increased to four classrooms and a gymnasium in 1936.
In 1937 Furlong, Union, and Forest Grove closed their doors. 1939 saw the closing of Independent and Hickory Grove.
The Central Bucks Jointure was created in 1952, and a new Junior-Senior High School was completed. At this time all elementary classes were brought to the central location of the two school buildings.
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Hughsian Building First High School |
The last four one-room schoolhouses, Friendship, Mozart, Holicong, and Tyro Hall, were closed in 1953.
It was clear at this time that a larger school would be needed in the future. Studies were begun to see where a new school could be built, and what size and style would be the best for the community.
Buckingham Township, by agreement with the Hughsian Board, leased approximately 35 acres of the original grant for a 99 year period. The project of building a new school was approved in July of 1952. Final building plans were accepted in April 1954, and in July of 1954 ground was broken for the building of Buckingham Elementary School.
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The doors of Buckingham Elementary School opened to students and teachers in September 1955, and the building was dedicated in October of that year. The school’s first principal was Paul W. Kutz. Subsequent principals were: Mr. George Kallenbach, Dr. James L. Brown, Mrs. Carolyn K. Ambler, Mr. James Marchesani, and our current principal, Mrs. Margaret Solitario. |
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Then and now...... |
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| School Office 1955 School Office 2008 |
In the 1985-1986 school year Buckingham was recognized for outstanding progress toward excellence in education. The school was given the Excellence in Education award. Our principal and one teacher went to the White House for a special ceremony.
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| Cover of the Program Page Detail |
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The 2005-2006 school year marked Buckingham's 50th anniversary.
Renovations took place that same year, providing the school with a gym, an expanded nurse's office, and a new main office suite. The school was rededicated in June of 2006.
Researched and written by Mrs. M. Yates