Businesses and Public Institutions

Schools, churches, and post offices were built soon after the earliest settlers arrived. The first school was started in 1818 in Scotchtown. In 1823, there were three school districts and, by 1890, there were thirteen. William D. Stewart became the town’s first postmaster on January 2, 1833. There were several post offices including Erin Center, Herrington Corners, Park, and State Road. The Methodist Episcopal Church was established in 1828. At first they met in schoolhouses with circuit ministers and then they built a dedicated church in 1875. The Presbyterian Church was built in 1836. The Baptist Church was organized in 1864 and a church was built in 1871.

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Erin

Erin School No. 3 The “village school” was built in 1878 and used from 1879 through 1952. After completing grade school in Erin, students went to Breesport or Horseheads for high school. (courtesy of the Erin Historical Society)
Baptist Church Built in 1871, the church offered services in Erin until 1934. The building was later used as a town hall and post office. The Erin Historical Society moved into the building in 1972. (courtesy of the Erin Historical Society)
Rodbourn store and post office The Rodbourn store, built in 1867 on the corner of Breesport and Church Roads, housed the Erin post office from 1871 to 1938. James H. Rodbourn served as the post master until 1889. (courtesy of the Erin Historical Society)
Spud Logging was the first industry in Erin. Trees were cleared to make way for homes and fields and extra timber was sold for profit. (from the collection of the Erin Historical Society)
Moulter rocking chair, 1890s In the 1890s there were still several old time chair makers in the town of Erin. These chairs became known as "Moulter Chiars" in honor of Jake Moulter, the pioneer in this line. (from the collection of the Erin Historical Society)
Portrait of James Dibble James Dibble was a farmer in Erin before becoming a shoemaker. He sold his farm in 1880, moved into a house on Church Street, and built a shop for his cobbler business. After his death in 1892, the shop became a pharmacy and then Blauvelt’s general store. (from the collection of the Erin Historical Society)
Wooden shoe lasts, 1880s These shoe lasts were used by James Dibble of Erin
Leather shoes, 1880s (From the collection of the Erin Historical Society)
Child's leather shoes, 1880s (From the collection of the Erin Historical Society)
Wooden barrel Coopers were one of the many types of tradesmen working in Erin by the middle of the 19th century. (from the collection of the Erin Historical Society)
Barrel hoop (From the collection of the Erin Historical Society)
Tool used to set barrel hoops (From the collection of the Erin Historical Society)

Businesses and Public Institutions

Erin School No. 3

The “village school” was built in 1878 and used from 1879 through 1952. After completing grade school in Erin, students went to Breesport or Horseheads for high school. (courtesy of the Erin Historical Society)

Baptist Church

Built in 1871, the church offered services in Erin until 1934. The building was later used as a town hall and post office. The Erin Historical Society moved into the building in 1972. (courtesy of the Erin Historical Society)

Rodbourn store and post office

The Rodbourn store, built in 1867 on the corner of Breesport and Church Roads, housed the Erin post office from 1871 to 1938. James H. Rodbourn served as the post master until 1889. (courtesy of the Erin Historical Society)

Spud

Logging was the first industry in Erin. Trees were cleared to make way for homes and fields and extra timber was sold for profit. (from the collection of the Erin Historical Society)

Moulter rocking chair, 1890s

In the 1890s there were still several old time chair makers in the town of Erin. These chairs became known as "Moulter Chiars" in honor of Jake Moulter, the pioneer in this line. (from the collection of the Erin Historical Society)

Portrait of James Dibble

Wooden shoe lasts, 1880s

These shoe lasts were used by James Dibble of Erin

Leather shoes, 1880s

(From the collection of the Erin Historical Society)

Child's leather shoes, 1880s

(From the collection of the Erin Historical Society)

Wooden barrel

Coopers were one of the many types of tradesmen working in Erin by the middle of the 19th century. (from the collection of the Erin Historical Society)

Barrel hoop

(From the collection of the Erin Historical Society)

Tool used to set barrel hoops

(From the collection of the Erin Historical Society)