Michigan One Room Schoolhouses: August 2015

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

TUSCOLA COUNTY

Mast (District No. 3) School (1898-1947)

LOCATION: Thumb Octagon Barn, 6948 Richie Road, Gagetown in Elmwood Township

Originally located in Sebewaing, the school was moved to the Thumb Octagon Barn site in 2005.

Current Use: Museum

West Dayton (District No 2) School (1911)

LOCATION: Mayvllle Museum of History, 2124 Ohmer Road, Mayville in Fremont Township

Current Use: Museum

North Grove (District No. 6) School (1910 – 1966)

LOCATION: Southwest corner of Mertz (M-24) and North Grove Road in Fremont Township

Current Use: Abandoned – it was a K-8 grade school

On August 24, 2016, Andrew Dietderich (editor of the Tuscola County Advertiser) posted an article regarding this school's dismal future. To read the article, please click on the following link:

North Grove School - Tuscola County Advertiser

SANILAC COUNTY

Marlette School District No. 2 (1896)

LOCATION: Northwest corner of French Line Road and M-53

Current Use: Unknown

SAGINAW COUNTY

Fowler School (1882-1943)

LOCATION: Hartley Outdoor Education Center, 12633 Beaver Road, St Charles

In 1988, it was moved from its original location (corner of Burt and Chapin Roads in Marion Township) to the Hartley Outdoor Education Center complex – at the Murphy Farm (in Swan Creek Township). It is a mile or so walk to the school through the woods from the Beaver Road parking lot or you can drive to it. The Murphy Farm is located on the north side of the road at approximately 13300 West Townline Road, St. Charles. The Murphy Farm is a Michigan Historic Site.

Current Use: Museum

Hart School (1860-1921)

LOCATION: Grandpa Tiny’s Farm, 7775 Weiss St, Frankenmuth

Originally located in Tuscola County, it was moved to Frankenmuth in 2000 and is now part of Grandpa Tiny's Farm. However, the school itself is located at the southeast corner of Gera (M-83) and Townline Road.

Current Use: Museum

County Line School

LOCATION: Birch Run Community Park, 13001-13175 Maple Road, Birch Run

Corner of Maple Road and Burt Road – entrance off Maple Road

Current Use: Museum

Hill School (1890-1952)

LOCATION: 1146 Holland Road (aka M-46) in Section 26, Blumfield Township

On the north side of the road between Block Road and Gera Road (aka M-83)

Michigan Historic Site: July 26, 1978

Current Use: Business

Oakley School

LOCATION: Corner of First Street and Parshall Street, Oakley in Brady Township

Current Use: Oakley Village Park Property

Oakdale School (1925-1961)

LOCATION: 18147 West Brant Road, Brant in Brant Township

(on the south side of the road between Stevens Road and Fowler Road)

Current Use: This former Standard School is now a private residence

Leidein School (1899-1958)

LOCATION: Pride & Country Village, 5965 East Holland Road, Saginaw in Section 26, Buena Vista Township

(corner of M-46 and Portsmouth Road – driveway next to school is off Portsmouth Road)

Current Use: Business

Frink School

LOCATION: 6004 Bishop Road, Chesaning in Section 18, Maple Grove Township

(northwest corner of Bishop Road and Peet Road – aka M-57 – between Gasper Road and Briggs Road)

Current Use: Private Residence

Smith School

LOCATION: 17980 Gratiot Road in Section 29, Richland Township

(northeast corner of Gratiot Road – aka M-46 – and Iva Road)

Current Use: This former Standard School is now a business

If you have additional information regarding the above schools, please leave a message in the COMMENT section following this post.

HURON COUNTY

Adams School District No. 3 (1930-1988)

Old Adams School - Exterior and Interior

LOCATION: Grice House Museum, 865 N Huron Ave, Harbor Beach

Next to Waterworks Park

In 1988, the school was moved to the Grice House Museum in Sand Beach Township

Current Use: Museum

Adams School (1988 – still active)

New Adams School - Exterior and Interior

LOCATION: 4151 Section Line Road, Bad Axe

North side of road between McDonald & McKichen Roads in Sigel Township

When we arrived, work was being done on the exterior and interior of the school

Current Use: K-8 School

Ashmore School (1927-1958)

LOCATION: Northeast corner of Eppenbrock and Toppin Roads in Sand Beach Township

Current Use: Privately Owned – storage building

Big Burning School District No. 1 (1891 – still active)

LOCATION: 1501 Van Dyke Road

Northwest corner of Van Dyke (aka M-53) and Richardson Road in Colfax Township

Current Use: K-8 School

Eccles School District No. 4 (1886- still active)

LOCATION: 5754 Section Line Road, Harbor Beach

South side of road between Minden and Parisville Roads in Sigel Township

Current Use: K-8 School

Kipper School District No. 6 (1907 – still active)

LOCATION: 4499 Kipper Road, Harbor Beach

Northwest corner of McDonald and Kipper Roads in Sigel Township

Current Use: K-8 School

Red School aka Bloomfield No. 1 and Stuart School (1887-2000)

LOCATION: 4500 Filion Road

Southeast corner of McDonald and Filion Roads in Bloomfield Township

Obviously, the red school is no longer red.

Current Use: Bloomfield Township Hall
The dates (1887-2000) were provided by a Bloomfield Township Official

Rock Falls School aka Sand Beach No. 2 (1873-1956)

LOCATION: 1198 S Lakeshore Road, Harbor Beach

Northwest corner of M-25 and Jenks Road in Sand Beach Township

Current Use: VFW Hall for Post 9344

Schulte School

LOCATION: Southeast corner of Sand Beach (aka M-142) and Eppenbrock Road in Sand Beach Township

Current Use: Private Residence

While driving in Huron County, we noted the status on the following one room schools:

- Swayze School in Bloomfield Twp (Minnick & Minden Roads) – GONE (2013)

- Gore School in Gore Twp (Pochert & M-25) – GONE (2011)

Monday, August 17, 2015

BARRY COUNTY

Brown School (1873)

LOCATION: 7135 W Delton Road, Delton in Prairieville Township

Current Use: Museum - part of Bernard Historical Museum

Refer to my Blog Post on Bernard Historical Village for more photos and information by clicking on the following link:

Denice's Bernard Historical Village Blog

Coats Grove School (1874)

Side and Front View of School

LOCATION: Corner of Coats Grove Road and Durkee Road, Coats Grove in Carlton Township

Current Use: Privately Owned

Hinds (District No. 4) School (1872-1963)

(notice the outhouses - right hand side)

A peek through the window ...

LOCATION: 5498 Cedar Creek Road, Hastings in Hope Township

Current Use: Museum and State of Michigan Historic Site

Lee (District No. 7) School (1869-1923)

A peek through the window ...

LOCATION: Historic Charlton Park, 2545 Charlton Park Road, Hastings

Current Use: Museum – part of Historic Charlton Park

Refer to my Blog Post on Historic Charlton Park for more photos and information by clicking on the following link:

Denice's Historic Charlton Park Blog

Moe School (1850’s)

Moe School - Exterior and Interior

LOCATION: Historic Bowens Mills (entrance at 55 Briggs Road), Middleton, Michigan in Yankee Springs Township (269) 795-7530

Originally located at the corner of Parmalee Road and Moe Road in Middleville, the school was moved to the historic village and restored.

Current Use: Museum – part of Historic Bowens Mills Village

Refer to my Blog Post on Historic Bowen Mills for more photos and information by clicking on the following link:

Denice's Historic Bowens Mills Blog

Ragla School (1904)

LOCATION: Corner of Gary Carpenter Road and Ragla Road in Carlton Township

Current Use: Privately Owned

Barryville (aka Mudge) School (1865-1957)

LOCATION: 6092 M-79 in Section 8, Castleton Township adjacent to Barryville Cemetery

Current Use: Peace United Methodist Church

Quimby School (1869-1965)

LOCATION: Northwest corner of Thornapple Drive and M-79 in Section 26, Hastings Township

Current Use: Private Residence

Fisher School (1858-1961)

LOCATION: Northwest corner East State Road and Fisher Road in Section 11, Hastings Township

I spoke with a lady who lives across the road from the school. She has lived in the area for 20+ years. She indicated the school was for sale but due to the need for extensive repairs and the asking price, it never sold.

Current Use: Former private residence – now vacant

Dowd or Doud School (1876-1956)

LOCATION: 8008 Cloverdale Rd in Section 26, Hope Township

(southwest corner of Cedar Creek Road and Cloverdale Road)

Current Use: Private Residence

Filmore (District No. 7) School (1886-1955)

School Plaque

LOCATION: 7500 Wood School Road, Freeport in Irving Township

(southeast corner of Wood School Road and Eckert Road)

Current Use: Unknown

Little Red Brick School (1868-1963)

LOCATION: 2024 Hammond Road in Section 36, Irving Township

(northwest corner of Hammond Road and Woodruff Road)

Current Use: Private Residence

Wood School (1850-1963)

LOCATION: 4493 Wood School Road, Hastings in Section 22, Irving Township

(southwest corner of Wood School Road and West Wing Road)

Current Use: Unknown

Bristol School (1842-1965)

LOCATION: Southwest corner of M-37 at Pifer Road in Section 4, Johnstown Township

Current Use: Private Residence

McKelvey School (1858-1945)

LOCATION: Southeast corner of Assyria Road and Bivens Road in Section 9, Maple Grove Township

Current Use: Private Residence

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

OCEANA COUNTY

Maple Grove School (1906-1950’s)

LOCATION: On 120th Avenue (east side of road) just south of Thistle Road

Current Use: Private Residence

Randall School (1875-1964)

LOCATION: Hart Historic District – corner of Union and Lincoln Streets, Hart

Originally located in Section 11 of Hart Township, it was donated to the Hart Historical District and moved to Hart in 1993.

Current Use: Museum

Marshville (#4) School (?-1956)

LOCATION: 5610 Marshville Dam Rd, Shelby in Section 26, Benona Township

(near 56^th Avenue)

Current Use: Private Residence

Gardiner (#3) School

LOCATION: 7169 W Baker Rd, Shelby in Section 21, Benona Township

(southeast corner of Baker Road and 40^th Avenue)

We met a gentleman who provided a little background. The school was located next to the Benona Township Hall. The Township Hall was built in 1899. He wasn’t sure if the school was built before or after 1899 but it was located about 60 feet from the Township hall. Unfortunately, the school burned down around 2011. However, the original school bell still exists on the property.

Brady (aka Bradyville) School (1897)

LOCATION: Southeast corner of West Stony Lake Road and 52^nd Avenue in Section 2, Claybanks Township

Current Use: Private Residence

Smith's Corners (#2) School

LOCATION: On the north side of Monroe Road just west of Oceana Drive in Section 20, Weare Township

Current Use: Privately Owned

While driving through Oceana County, we noted the status on the following one-room schools:

- Cleveland School (Jackson Rd & 128th St in Crystal Township) - GONE

Michigan One-Room Schoolhouses

I enjoy traveling and history and I document everything through another hobby – photography. Among my favorite subjects to photograph are one-room schoolhouses.

Okay, I am going to date myself but I attended a one-room school (Price School in Victor Township, Clinton County). The building was sold a long time ago and a field of corn now grows where the schoolhouse once stood. If anyone has a photo of Price School I would love to receive a copy!!

Those schoolhouses that have survived may now serve as museums through preservation efforts by local historical societies. Some have been converted into private residences, businesses, or are used by local government units. Unfortunately, most have been torn down or have been left in a state of decay. These disappearing structures represent a piece of history and looking for them is like going on a scavenger hunt.

Most schools were named after the land owner who provided the land for the school, a nearby town, or a local natural feature. Price School was named after its location (northeast corner of Price and Chandler Roads).

Everyday I walked about a mile to Price School – uphill, in the snowy winter, carrying my books … okay, during good weather I rode my bike. Since children walked to school back then, these one-room schools were built every few miles – depending on available funds and population of school-age children. Often the one-room schools were located in the township’s sixteenth section because that was the center of the township.

Like most one-room country schools, Price School had one front entry door but a few schools had separate doors – one for the boys and one for the girls.

Generally schoolhouses were painted white (cheaper) but there are some schools painted red. In Michigan, wood was plentiful and it was the most often used material for building the school. However, brick (and a few stone) schoolhouses were built too.

So, when we travel through each county in Michigan, I always keep watching and hoping to photograph these buildings before they disappear from the rural landscape that is part of our American history.

This blog site will be a work in progress. Each time I discover and photograph a historic schoolhouse, I will add that photo and whatever information I have on the school by editing the blog post that corresponds to the Michigan County the schoolhouse is located.

Please respect private property and view those former schoolhouses from the public right-of-way.

Some information (e.g. school names or dates) contained in this blog was obtained from Historical Societies, the Michigan One-Room Schoolhouse Association, or County Equalization Departments.