The Copake Grange Hall and the Old School House

Thanks to Chris for sharing those pictures of the Copake Grange Hall and the old school house I attended, as well as a few others in the community that are still here. At the school there were two separate rooms for the students - one for lower grades and the other room for students up thru the sixth grade. There were two teachers I remember while I was there: Mrs. Edna Moore, wife of Wally Moore our local electrician, and Virgil Thompkins. I believe there were three grades in each room, each student absorbed all the information taught to each grade - not bad, right? Our class had a formal graduation in 1941 at the Roeliff Jansen Central School, placing us in the seventh grade there in the fall. We left there with many happy memories - with great anticipation of being a part of the infamous 'big school - Roe Jan'. However, I am sad to see that our little old country school was not preserved as a memorable part of the past of Copake.


I also attended many meetings at the Grange Hall with my parents who operated Center Hill Farm until 1949 when they retired and moved to Florida. The meetings were all very informative and of great interest to a then mostly farming community, composed of very tight friendships and helpfulness among neighbors. Copake was a very special place to grow up - where neighbors really cared about each other and our town.

Iris

Historic Buildings

Not being from Copake, I may be presuming when I point out that McIntyre's Ice Cream was opposite the theater in what had been Rockefeller's Homemade Ice Cream and later became The Hub. For some time, they also had a little popcorn stand adjacent to the theater.


If I am not wrong, Liz's Flowers was in the triangle in front of the clock. At one time, that housed Bray's Coffee Shop and then the Independent. On that note, I know that Elinor Mettler, Copake historian and founder of the Independent will further clarify the location of these buildings.

A note of interest, the original Rockefeller Homemade Ice Cream started in the little stand about to fall in ruins near the intersection of Wiltsie Bridge Road and County Route 3. I suppose the cream was then produced on what was then a farm.
Joan

Good Things Are Brewing in Copake

I must admit that i couldn't wait to open this issue of Copake Cronicle because I though the headline was hinting that a coffee shop was opening in town (wishful thinking!).


Amy

Copake Chronicle - Good Things Are Brewing in Copake

Geez Bob - you had me going for a minute there. I thought you were announcing the opening of a brew pub in Copake!
:-)

George

Of The Copake Grange Hall and the Old School House

Thanks to Chris for sharing those pictures of the Copake Grange Hall and the old school house I attended, as well as a few others in the community that are still here.  At the school there were two separate rooms for the students - one for lower grades and the other room for students up thru the sixth grade.  There were two teachers I remember while I was there:  Mrs. Edna Moore, wife of Wally Moore our local electrician, and Virgil Thompkins.  I believe there were three grades in each room,  each student absorbed all the information taught to each grade - not bad, right?  Our class had a formal graduation in 1941 at the Roeliff Jansen Central School, placing us in the seventh grade there in the fall.  We left there with many happy memories - with great anticipation of being a part of the infamous 'big school - Roe Jan'.  However, I am sad to see that our little old country school was not preserved as a memorable part of the past of Copake.

I also attended many meetings at the Grange Hall with my parents who operated Center Hill Farm until 1949 when they retired and moved to Florida.  The meetings were all very informative and of great interest to a then mostly farming community, composed of very tight friendships and helpfulness among neighbors.  Copake was a very special place to grow up - where neighbors really cared about each other and our town.

Iris Haner Sachs


P.S.  Thank you Bob for using my picture of the Copake Theatre, also a warm place in my heart.