Laura McNamee
By Laura McNamee
Happy 10th Birthday on the 10th to Morgan Brown!
Best of luck to students, teachers and staff as another school year gets underway!
With school starting again I wanted to share some history of the building that is home to Walden Elementary School, as it turns 100 years old in 2026.
In an essay by Ella Orndorff, she shares how this building came about when the NYS Dept. of Education informed residents that a new school building for the high school was needed immediately. The neighboring school districts surrounding Walden only covered grammar school, so students graduating from eighth grade had an opportunity to come into Walden to attend the four-year high school. This led to overcrowding in the high school building.
The new school building was built on the site of the original school, which was built in 1859. The East Wing and original grout building were completely rebuilt and the West Wing was saved and remodeled in 1930. While this construction was going on, students were housed in a temporary shack they nicknamed the “Chicken Coup” and other rented rooms in the village.
The goal of Walden High School at this time was to prepare students for the ‘outside world’, by offering the best teachers and countless extracurricular activities, focused on helping to build a student’s character. Since college was not a possibility for all students, home economics, industrial arts and a commercial department were all added as class offerings to help the students flourish in different fields of study.
The school colors were yellow and black and it also had many sports teams, clubs and societies. The athletic field for the soccer and track teams was the old race track at the top of Wait Street, and Bradley Field was where the football and baseball teams practiced.
The school remained strong during the Great Depression and opportunity for education remained available to students. Graduates of Walden High School went on to become doctors, nurses, teachers, and lawyers, as well as plumbers, mechanics, electricians, and secretaries. The last class graduated from Walden High School in 1959.
My grandpa has many more tidbits about Walden’s School history so I’ll be sure to share more in the coming weeks!
News from the Library: The Music in the Grove season will end on Wednesday, September 9, with Midnite Image, at 6 p.m. (Note earlier start time). Don’t forget to join us and celebrate a fantastic summer series of terrific local talent! Midnite Image performs a great selection of Rock ‘n Roll, Classic Rock, Southern Rock, Disco, Pop, Motown, 80’s, 90’s, and today! MIB consists of six very talented musicians, each with a variety of experience in different genres of music. This dynamic group combines their talents into one distinct and unique sound that can capture any audience.
What Ever Happened to the Colossal Sculpture: The Indian Buffalo Hunt? Join us at the library on Thursday, September 17, 5:30 p.m. This is a story of two men, Col. Thomas Bradley of Walden, Congressman and community leader, and Henry Kirke Bush-Brown of Newburgh, renowned American artist and historic preservationist. Learn of their friendship and their combined effort during the early decades of the 20th century to bring beauty and culture to the community and their interest to protect the natural environment of the Hudson Valley. For more information, please call the library at 845-778-7621.
Walden UMC on Route 52 is hosting a Craft and Vendor Fair September 26 from 10-3 with indoor and outdoor spaces available. Come support local crafters and vendors. Hand turned wood pens, boards and decor, sports themed items, 3-D printed items and laser cut sun catchers, pottery, Avon, jewelry, and much more! Contact Scott @845-978-4354 for more information
Walden Rec is offering Little Acorns Fall Sport Clinics for Ages 5-7. It will be Saturdays Sept. 12 - Oct. 24, 10 - 11:30 a.m. with many sports. Registration is $40 per child. To register, visit waldenrecreation.sportngin.com.
They are also organizing an Adult Kickball League on Saturdays September 12th-October 17th $20 per player, 18 and older. Games will take place at Bradley Park. Register today at waldenrecreation.sportngin.com
Village of Walden Outdoor Soccer Registration is open. Boys and Girls Ages 5-13, games to tentatively begin in September and take place at Bradley Park on Mondays and Wednesdays at 6 p.m. Village of Walden Residents $50, Town of Montgomery Resident $60, plus online registration fee. To register, visit waldenrecreation.sportngin.com or call 845-778-2177 x1524.