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The Nunnery
Schoolhouse No. 1 dates back to the original five school districts
established by early 1800's pioneer settlers to the Spafford, New York
area. Located in the picturesque Finger Lakes region of central New
York, the Nunnery School sits perched on a high glacial ridge between
Otisco and Skaneateles Lakes. It is unique being the only stone school
in the district, constructed from hand-hewn ceiling beams and blue
limestone, which was quarried in the nearby vicinity. It served as a
bucolic one-room country schoolhouse for over 130 years....from 1814
until closing in the late 1940's with the formation of the current
Skaneateles Central School District.
Abandoned for decades, the structure was in dire straits when Heather
Bruno-Sears discovered it while taking her beloved grandfather for a
Sunday drive. Despite being completely overgrown with a huge hole in the
roof, missing windows, crumbling stone walls, and a dirt
floor....Heather realized it was a "diamond in the rough," and embarked
on a mission to salvage the historical gem. Currently being renovated
with the eclectic flair of an English Cottage - the schoolhouse is
flanked by Heather's heirloom perennial gardens and streams that form a
tributary, laced with wild life and hidden waterfalls, cascading into
Skaneateles Lake. Upon completion, the quaint property will serve as
Heather's artisan retreat, studio gallery and decorative arts showroom.
Heather Bruno-Sears has established The Finger Lakes Academy of
Decorative Arts, to coincide and celebrate the 200th anniversary of the
original Nunnery School. As Founder and Creative Director, Heather is
pleased to offer her exquisite faux finishes and repertoire of
hand-wrought surface design techniques, ranging from traditional old
world master applications to new cutting-edge design concepts for
interior decor.
Open by appointment
315-420-5200
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View
The Updated Schoolhouse Studio Renovation Slideshow
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