On April 1, 1851, Green Valley School, District 3, Somerset County was opened. The one-room building was located off of Somerset Street near what is now the intersection to Johnston Drive. The school included students from what is now Green Brook, Warren Township, and Watchung. Mr. John Moore was hired with a salary of approximately $60/year to teach all 110 students. In 1852, the building underwent an expansion. Despite this expansion, the school once again became overcrowded and was sold to Mr. Charles Miles.
In 1859, the Washingtonville School was built, located at the intersection of Valley and Stirling Roads. School was held in this building for several decades, and classes were taught by John F. Reger. In 1898, the building was sold to George A. Schmidt for $42 and turned into a post office.
A two-room schoolhouse located on the Spencer property was built in 1898. It was located on Stirling Road, in front of where the Arts Center is now located. James Lyman Spencer sold it to the Borough for $3,000 in 1862 with the stipulation that the building be used for educational purposes only, or the land would revert back to the Spencer family. The building, like many of the schools prior to this, once again became overcrowded. It was also positioned close to the road, causing safety concerns for staff and students.
1910: To address the safety concerns associated with the two-room schoolhouse, the foundation for a new building was dug behind the schoolhouse and a single story building was constructed further from Stirling Road. The original two-room schoolhouse was lifted using a system of pulleys, and placed on top of the single story building, becoming the second story of this new structure. In 1926, the building became known as the Watchung Borough School for grades K-8.
During the 1930’s and into the 1940s, the Watchung Borough School became so overcrowded, that all eighth grade students were sent to Somerset School in North Plainfield. The Kindergarten class then met at the Exempt Firemen’s Hall. In 1948, a new six-room school was built on Valley View Road. In 1950, four additional rooms were added to the westerly side of the building. As the number of pupils increased, a second addition, completed in 1953, added eight classrooms, as well as a gymnasium, library, and music room.
1963: Bayberry School √opened its doors in 1963. Located on ç, this school housed students in grades K-3. The Watchung Borough School was renamed Valley View School, and housed grades 4-8. At the time of construction of Bayberry School, the eastern end of Watchung Borough did not have a central sewage system, so an agreement was reached to link that portion of Watchung Borough to the Berkeley Heights sewage system. An addition was completed to Bayberry School in 1968.
1965: Although Bayberry School had just opened in 1963, the enrollment of students had been increasing rapidly and there were fears of Bayberry School not being able to accommodate the number of students expected in the following years to come. In 1965, a plan for a new school with 20 additional classrooms at what is known today as Phillips Field was presented in a public hearing. The school had a planned opening in September of 1967. Ultimately the enrollment numbers leveled off, and the referendum for the new school was not passed. The addition to Bayberry School was sufficient for the current student growth at that time.
Bayberry Elementary School provides education to grades K-4, with a limited preschool program. Valley View Middle School serves grades 5-8. Additions were made to both schools that were completed in 2004. Students transition to Watchung Hills Regional High School, located in Warren, NJ starting at grade 9.
Watchung Schools - Then and Now
Pail from original Watchung school.
The first Watchung school, now the Watchung Art Center.
This building was built in 1898. During the depression years, when more capacity was needed, the original building was raised and a lower floor with masonry walls was constructed beneath it. Later, a stairway was constructed in the rear and a sun-porch and an upstairs office area was added in the front of the building. Bathrooms were added
At one time the upstairs office served as a kindergarten room.
There were two rooms upstairs and two rooms downstairs that were connected by sliding doors. There were five teachers, one for kindergarten, one for each of the four rooms. Each teacher taught two grades each.
Coffee Pot & Stove from original Watchung school.Pail, Coffee Pot & Stove located in Castle Room
from Jack McColley post to facebook You know you're from WATCHUNG if you remember... group Nov 2024
My first school was an old wooden structure downtown, which later became the library. I went there in 2nd grade and almost half of 3rd grade. We moved to the new Valley View school in the fall of 1948, shortly after Truman was elected.
In those days, Valley View was kindergarten through 8th grade. There was a big field in back where we played touch football and softball. I was the Captain of the Safety Patrol. We manned the street crossings near school. Students, not adults handled this. I remember hay rides, and school fairs. I won a raffle for a lamb one year. We played basketball outside. We also played Horse, and handball using the wall of the school . For lunch, mothers would come in and make soup for us. It was simple, but personal. Mr Greco was the principal, Mr Davis, Mr. Wilgen, and Mrs. Danenger were teachers.
We used to wait for an old unheated pre-world War II bus provided by Scalera bus service. Mr Scalera drove it himself. We all remember waiting for the bus in the cold. We also remember how happy we were when it didn’t come, and we got a day off.
I graduated in 1954. My class had less than 30. After graduation I attended North Plainfield High School. Watchung Hills did not exist until my senior year. I was in the first class to graduate at Watchung Hills in 1958. Mr. Peterson was principal. There were less than 100 in our class.
Now
Bayberry Elementary School serves 26 students in grades PreK – 4, was built in ??, additions made in ?? and underwent extensive renovation in??
More photo including several aerial views at Homes.com
Valley View Middle School serves 271 students in grades 5 – 8. It was built in 1948 (when it served K thru 8), renovated in ?? and ??
More photo including several aerial views at Homes.com
Watchung Hills Regional High School (WHRHS)serves students from Watchung, Warren and Green Brook in Somerset County and Long Hill Township in Morris County. Enrollment of around 1,900 students and 160 classroom teachers. It was built in 1958.
One of many postcards of Mount St Mary’s from ebay where it is listed as being in North Plainfield and Scotch Plains
Mount Saint Mary Academy,
A Catholic, independent college-preparatory school for young women grades 9 to 12. It was built in 1908 at Route 22 W and Terrill Road.
It had been a college, a residential and co-educational in its past.
Video of school’s history.