VAN HORNESVILLE, N.Y. — It was a celebration a century and a half in the making. Local residents and descendants of Owen D. Young gathered at the school he donated to the local community to honor him and celebrate his 150th birthday.
Those in attendance enjoyed ice cream and cupcakes while learning about the founder of Owen D. Young Central School from the people who knew him best, including his great-granddaughter, Suzannah Young Ciernia, and former alumni like Patricia Pullis.
“Driving by the school, I’m always struck by how beautiful it is, and how fortunate this village is that they had this gift, which is still serving the community, and the importance that he put on education,” said Ciernia.
Added Pullis, “Owen D. Young was such a gentle man that had thoughts that we would never have imagined what a school could do. Originally, it was a one room school. It was a tiny little place, but he …