Advertisement. Advertise with us

The Otsego School. (Edmeston Museum collection).

Pathfinder forerunner, 'The Otsego School,' helped three imprisoned Japanese-Americans during WWII

By RICHARD McDONOUGH • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

An Edmeston school for children with Down syndrome welcomed three Japanese Americans in 1943, who had been imprisoned by the Federal Government for no other reason than their heritage.

The Otsego School provided employment opportunities for these three women.

The school in Edmeston has evolved through the years.  Its successor is Pathfinder Village, which today provides a variety of educational and support services for people with Down syndrome.

The Oneonta Daily Star reported June 17, 1922, “The Chesebrough place at Edmeston has been remodeled and will soon be opened as the Otsego School for (children with Down syndrome).” The article indicated Susanne Jones and Florence Chesebrough were in charge of the school.

In early 1943, the Otsego School welcomed three new employees – Mary Hiroshige, Hisae Jeanne Mori and Rose Yasui.

You have reached your limit of 3 free articles

To Continue Reading

 

Our hard-copy and online publications cover the news of Otsego County by putting the community back into the newspaper. We are funded entirely by advertising and subscriptions. With your support, we continue to offer local, independent reporting that is not influenced by commercial or political ties.

Posted

Tags

Related Articles

Nettuno: From the Shores of War to the City of Baseball

Nettuno’s connection to the United States began during World War II, when American troops landed on the nearby shores as part of the Allied effort to liberate Rome from Nazi occupation. The fighting was intense and costly.…
June 18, 2026

Berman: Coop, Nettuno Now Sister-cities

For the people of Nettuno, this partnership is much more than a ceremonial agreement. Cooperstown represents the heart and history of the sport they love, and becoming sister cities was met with genuine pride and enthusiasm throughout the community.…
June 11, 2026

The ‘Right’ View: D-Day, Monte Cassino and the Footsteps of Heroes

Visiting Omaha Beach, the hedgerow countryside of Normandy, and the city of St Lo was personal—my father, Sgt. Frank Sempa, fought at those places with the 175th infantry regiment of the 29th Division. On D-Day, he was in a warship in the English Channel waiting for the signal to hit the beach...…
June 8, 2026

PUTTING THE COMMUNITY BACK INTO THE NEWSPAPER

For a limited time, subscribers to AllOtsego.com pay a reduced rate ($25.00 for one year) and can choose to have $5.00 of the subscription fee donated toward refurbishment of Otsego County’s Civil War Memorial.

Visit our “subscribe” page to sign up

SUBSCRIBE