Monday, November 30, 2015

OAKLAND COUNTY

Howarth School (1859-1955)

LOCATIONFriendship Park, 3380 W Clarkston Road, Orion Township
(on the east side of Clarkston Road just south of Baldwin Road)
Current Use:  Museum - It was designated a Michigan Historic Site on January 27, 1983.
               
Howarth School was moved from its original location at the corner of Silver Bell Road and Bald Mountain Road in Orion Township to Friendship Park.  We stopped and talked with a kind and helpful woman working at the current Howarth Church.  She told us the school was moved about five years ago (making it 2010).

Poppleton School Troy #8 (1877-1978)
LOCATIONTroy Historic Village, 60 West Wattles (aka 17 Mile Road) in Troy
(just west of Livernois near the northwest corner of Wattles and Livernois)
Current Use:  Museum - It was designated a Michigan Historic Site on August 22, 1981.  
This brick school was moved from its original location at the intersection of Big Beaver and Crooks Roads to the Troy Historic Village in 1980.  

For information on the Troy Historic Village, please click on the following link:

Stoney Creek School (1848-1952)

LOCATIONRochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm, Rochester Hills, Avon Township
The address for the farm is 1005 Van Hoosen Road; however, the Michigan One Room Schoolhouse Association lists the address for the school at 1051 Washington Road
Current Use:  Museum
Since we went to the Farm first, we drove a short distance to the school via Van Hoosen Road (a dirt road) which curves to the left.  We found the school near Washington Road (left side of road). 

A coatroom was added in 1935.  In 1949-50 “the middle lobby and north wing” were added to accommodate the rising number of students. 

The school was added to Michigan’s list of registered historical sites in 2006.

For more information on the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm, please click on the following link:   



Friday, November 13, 2015

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY

Nottawa School District No. 3 (1870-1950 or 1961)
Nottawa School - Stone Building
LOCATION:  26456 East M-86, Nottawa in Nottawa Township
Michigan One Room Schoolhouse Association indicates school closed in 1950.  The Southwest Michigan River Country web site states 1961.

Current Use:   Museum and a Michigan State Historic Site in 1971


HILLSDALE COUNTY

Beebe School (1890)
 Beebe School - Exterior & Interior
LOCATIONPreston Gaslight Village, 8651 W Chicago Road (US-12), Allen
Originally located north of Hillsdale

Current Use:  Museum – as of November 2015, this Historic Village was for sale

Ferguson School (1879)
 Ferguson School - Exterior & Interior
LOCATIONPreston Gaslight Village, 8651 W Chicago Road (US-12), Allen

Current Use:  Museum – as of November 2015, this Historic Village was for sale

Guy School (1845)
LOCATIONPreston Gaslight Village, 8651 W Chicago Road (US-12), Allen
Originally located between Jonesville & Allen

Current Use:  Museum – as of November 2015, this Historic Village was for sale

South Allen District No. 4 School (1843)
South Allen School - Exterior & Interior
LOCATIONPreston Gaslight Village, 8651 W Chicago Road (US-12), Allen
Originally located at the southwest corner of Allen and Arkansas Roads, it is the oldest framed building in Hillsdale County.

Current Use:  Museum – as of November 2015, this Historic Village was for sale
                              
Sand Creek School (1875-1940)
Sand Creek School - Exterior & Interior
LOCATIONHervey Smith Park, 153 Mill Street, Litchfield
Originally located M-49 and Genesee Road, it was donated to the Litchfield Area Historical Society in 1986. 

Current Use:  Museum

 
  



BRANCH COUNTY

Boone School Quincy District No. 3 (1881)
LOCATION:   On US-12 (aka Chicago Road) between the towns of Coldwater and Quincy - specifically between Freemont and Ridge Roads – south side of road in Quincy Township

Current Use:  Privately Owned – For Sale as Commercial Property

Quincy School (1841)
LOCATIONBranch County Fairgrounds, 262 S Sprague Street, Coldwater
(from Sprague Street, turn west onto Fairgrounds Drive to access entrance drive)

Current Use:  Museum


CALHOUN COUNTY

Battle Creek (aka Beckley) School (1859-1957)

LOCATION3019 Beckley Road, Battle Creek
(Northeast corner of Helmer and Beckley Roads in Battle Creek Township)
Current Use:  Unknown - it is a Michigan Historic Site (August 27, 1970)

Duck Lake School (1883-1888)

LOCATION:  At the curve of U Drive and 26 1/2 Mile Road in Clarence Township
Current Use:  Unknown – it is a Michigan Historic Site

Kellogg School (1873-1960)
LOCATION:  At the northeast corner of 28 Mile Road and M Drive in Clarence Township
Current Use:  Privately Owned


Capitol Hill School (1860-1961)

LOCATION603 Washington St, Marshall 
Across from the County Fairgrounds at the corner of Maple and Washington Streets.  In 1971, this 2-room brick school was designated a Michigan Historic Site. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  
Current Use:  Museum

Houston School District No. 1
 Houston School - Exterior & Interior
LOCATION:  Calhoun County Fairgrounds, 720 Fair St, Marshall
The school was originally located on C Drive South in Fredonia Township.  In 2005, it was moved to the County Fairgrounds
Current Use:  Museum

Bell School
LOCATION:  Originally the Bell School was located in Clarence Township.  The school bell was donated by the Glendon Gifford family and is now located at the Calhoun County Fairgrounds in Marshall next to the Houston School.  
Current Use:  Museum

Cleveland School
LOCATION:  The Cleveland School was originally located on the Southwest corner of L Drive North and 14 Mile Road in Marshall Township.  In 2011, the family of “Pete” Whitney donated the bell to be displayed next to the Houston School at the Calhoun County Fairgrounds in Marshall

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

GRATIOT COUNTY

At one time, Gratiot County had over 130 schools - many of them were one-room schools.  

I wish to thank Carol Douglas at the Gratiot County Genealogy Library in Ithaca. Michigan for all her help and information she provided on the Gratiot County one-room schools.  

Rooks (Bethany #5) School
LOCATION:  Northwest corner of Blair Road and Monroe Road (aka M-46) in Section 23, Bethany Township
Current Use:  Garage/Storage Building

Brick (Bethany District No. 3) School (1895)
School Plaque
LOCATION:  3743 Monroe Road (aka M-46) in Section 27, Bethany Township
(on the south side of the road between Crapo Road and Bush Road)
Current Use:  Attached to pole barn/storage building

Herron (Emerson District No. 9) School (1902)
Emerson School Exterior & School Plaque
LOCATION:  2571 E St. Charles Road, Ithaca in Section 28, Emerson Townshhip
(on the north side of the road about ¼ mile west of Baldwin Road - east of Ithaca)
Current Use:  Storage

Green School
LOCATION:  Approximate address is 6707 Lumberjack Road, Riverdale, in Section 31, Seville Township
(northwest corner of Lumberjack Road and NW Williams Road in the town of Riverdale - north end of town on the Fred Meijer Heartland Trail)
Current Use:  Museum - moved from Isabella County to its present location in 1988

Ola Corners (District No. 7) School
LOCATION1969 East Garfield Road, Ashley in Section 5, Washington Township
(northwest corner of Garfield and Bagley Road – aka US-127)
This brick school replaced the older school which no longer exists.
Current Use:  Business

Frost (Lafayette #5) School










LOCATION:  Southwest corner of Barry Road (aka CR505) and St. Charles Road in Section 33, Lafayette Township
Current Use: Privately Owned

Mellinger (District #5) School (1882?)











I think the sign reads "Ithaca No. 78 Grange"
LOCATION:  2258 Fillmore Road in Section 9, North Star Township
(on the south side of the road between Baldwin Road and Bagley Road (aka old US-27).  It is closer to Bagley Road.
Current Use: Abandoned

While driving around Gratiot County, we noted the status of the following one-room schools:
-  Beebe School (Emerson Township) Tyler & Baldwin Road - GONE

ANTRIM COUNTY

Alba School (1881)
LOCATION3366 Jordan River Road, Alba in Chestonia Township
On the southwest corner of Jordan River Road and Elm Street but it can be seen from US-131
Current Use:  Alba Historical Museum

South Milton School (1850-1865)
LOCATION11509 Cherry Road, Rapid City
(Between Hoopfer Road and Wingash Road)
Current Use:  Private Residence (it was a gift shop but not any more)

Torch Lake School (1880)
LOCATION2592 US-31 Highway North, Kewadin in Torch Lake Township
Current Use:  Business (September 2015 - For Sale sign in front of school)

Unknown School (could it be East Star or Ostrom School?)
 As seen from C-42 heading east
As seen from C-42 heading west toward Alba
LOCATION:  On the south side of the road about 2-3 miles east of Alba on C-42 (aka Alba Highway) in Star Township (west of Olds Road)
Current Use:  Private Residence

If you know the identity of this school or have any other information about it, please leave a comment following this post. 

Settlement (District No. 2) School
LOCATION: Southwest corner of M-32 and St. Johns Road in Section 9, Jordan Township
Current Use: Probably a community building

Brown (aka Sunny valley) School
LOCATION: 4473 Big Marsh Road or 4891 M-32 on the southwest corner of M-32 and Big Marsh Road in Section 11, Jordan Township
Current Use: Private Residence
This school is listed as a Michigan Historic Site (designation date August 3, 1979)



Thursday, September 17, 2015

ALLEGAN COUNTY

Burton School (1886)
LOCATION:  Southeast corner of M-40 and 128th Avenue (aka A42) in Heath Township
Current Use:  Privately Owned

Fairview School
LOCATION:  Southwest corner of 130th Avenue and 26th Street in Monterey Township
Current Use:  This two-story brick school is now privately owned/residence

Frayer/Fraser School
LOCATION:  Southeast corner of 38th Street and 136th Avenue in Heath Township
Current Use:  Privately Owned - Demolished Fall of 2016

Hoyer (aka Oakview) District No. 6 School (1899)
LOCATION:  Northeast corner of 130th Avenue and 34th Street (just before the pavement ends) in Monterey Township
Current Use:  Privately Owned

Jewitt (aka Brownell) School District No. 5 (1918)
 Jewitt School - Exterior & Interior
LOCATION:  Allegan County Fairgrounds, 150 Douglas Street, Allegan in Allegan Township 
Current Use:  Museum - part of the John Pahl Historical Village at the County Fairgrounds  In 1971, the school was moved from its original location to the Historical Village.
Refer to my Blog Post on the John Pahl Historical Village for more photos and information by clicking on the following link:
Allegan County Fair - John Pahl Historical Village


Peachbelt (Ganges Fractional District No. 1) School (1867-1971)
Peachtree School in Ganges Twp & Sign
LOCATION6292 124th Ave (aka M-89), Fennville, in Section 2, Ganges Township
At the southeast corner of 124th & 63rd Streets
Michigan Historic Site:  July 26, 1978      
Current Use:  Peachbelt Studio Gallery

Wetmore (District No. 4) School (1898)
LOCATION:  Northeast corner of 30th Street and 122nd Avenue in Section 3, Allegan Township
Current Use:  Private Residence

Brown School
LOCATION:  180 46th Street in Section 32, Cheshire Township
(southeast corner of 46th Street and 102nd Avenue)
Current Use:  Private Residence

Wildwood School
LOCATION:  Corner of 103rd Avenue and 54th Street in Section 27, Lee Township
Current Use:  Unknown - good condition with rusty swingset on property

Monterey Center (District No. 2) School (1874)

LOCATION:  2971 30th Street (aproximate address) in Section 21, Monterey Township
(west side of road - a little south of 130th Street, Monterey Center)
Current Use:  Private Residence

Pickle Street School
LOCATION:  2991 134th Avenue (approximate address) in Section 10, Monterey Township
(on the south side of the road just east of 30th Street)
Current Use:  Art Studio

South Monterey (District No. 1) School (1867)
LOCATION:  2646 30th Street in Section 33, Monterey Township
(southwest corner of 30th Street and 127th Avenue - about 8/10's mile south of A-42)
Current Use:  Private Residence

Foster School (1888)
LOCATION:  Southeast corner of 32nd Street and M-40 in Section 20, Trowbridge Township
(north of 104th Avenue)
Current Use:  Private Residence - center section is the brick building

Crow (District #4) School (1869-1904)
LOCATION: Southwest corner of 102nd Avenue and 62nd Street in Section 35, Casco Township
Current Use: Abandoned

Ferris (District #4) School
LOCATION: 624 46th Street (north of 106th Avenue) in Section 18, Cheshire Township
Current Use: Privately Owned/Residence

Jones (District 2f) School
LOCATION: 1697 146th Avenue in Section 3, Dorr Township
(northeast corner of 146th Avenue and 17th Street)
Current Use: Privately Owned/Residence

Orr (District #7) School
LOCATION: Corner of 113th Avenue and 62nd Street in Section 35, Ganges Township
Current Use: Privately Owned/Residence

Reid (District #5) School
LOCATION: Corner of 119th Avenue and 64th Street in Section 13, Ganges Township
Current Use: Township Hall

Dunningville (District #1) School (1888)
LOCATION: Corner of M-40 and 126th Street in Section 27, Heath Township
Current Use: Privately Owned

Lemon (aka Hillcrest District #2) School (1892)
                            School and Plaque
LOCATION: Northeast corner of 126th Avenue and 38th Street in Section 25, Heath Township
Current Use: Privately Owned/Residence

Plainview (District #9) School
LOCATION: Northeast corner of 142nd Avenue and 26th Street in Section 13, Salem Township
Current Use: Privately Owned/Residence

Status of other one-room schools in Allegan County:
Lindsley School (Cheshire Township) - GONE (torn down many years age - per guest comment)
Sycamore (District #2) School in Dorr Township - DEMOLISHED (per guest comment)