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This book explores the creation of the Putnam Valley Central School District. Upon his arrival to Putnam Valley in the early ’20s, author Israel Ben Scheiber was treated to a “housewarming gift” in the form of a burning cross on his lawn. Being an urban-born and educated Jewish man, few would have blamed Scheiber if he had decided to leave and never return. Instead, he used his experience in education as a weapon against the Ku Klux Klan by creating the Putnam Valley Central School District. While Scheiber makes it clear that he wishes to avoid the “personal pronoun” to avoid it becoming an autobiography, his personal history is crucial to understanding the full impact of the school’s creation on this community. The transition from several one-room schoolhouses scattered across the countryside into a unified school district that was the envy of towns throughout the county is nothing short of amazing. In terms of local history, the Putnam Valley Central School brought Putnam Valley into the modern era. But measuring this book by its local significance underscores its greatest strength. Scheiber expertly demonstrates the importance of mutual aid and community, showcasing the struggles and triumphs of neighbors who hoped to give future generations the means to forge a better world. On a personal note, this story hits close to home because I was a Jewish kid who graduated from the very school he constructed. Through his efforts, I was gifted. Hence, it would be criminal to not share this wonderful book and preserve this important story.
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