The work done by Glenette Forgea in her scrapbook is really incredible. Through looking at maps and historical records and interviewing "old-timers," she was able to reconstruct some of the vanished landscapes of the village. Above is the downtown business section of the village with all of the old businesses, circa 1880, including where those businesses moved over time.
This sketch is of Geer Pond, near the Spencer Optical Works. It was destroyed when Kirby Pond was drained. Glenette created this sketch based on a drawing and a description sent to her by Lewis Wilt, who worked with his father and brother in the Optical Works in the 1880s and moved to Newark when the Optical Works moved there.
This sketch was made by George Wilt, Lewis's brother, and shows the vanished communities of Kirbyville and New Castle Corners. Note the Episcopal Church (St. Mark's) between the homes of Daniel Carpenter and William Halstead.
Lastly, this sketch shows the old schoolhouse or "Sand Bank Academy," located on a sand bank near the railroad tracks and the Presbyterian Church. Its successor was known as "Swamp College," for reasons you can easily guess. The historical village was, as it is now, a very wet place.
This is really amazing! The time and work and care to research and draw these maps was quite a job! I am so glad this was preserved. It deserves special care at the Historical Society. LK
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