CLINTON COUNTY

I attended Price School (northeast corner of Price Road and Chandler Road in Victor Township).  If anyone has a photo of this school PLEASE contact me.

Lamb School (1860's-1968/69*)

LOCATION: 1637 DeWitt Road, St Johns, in Section 17, Bingham Township

(on east side of road between Townsend Road and M-21)

Current Use: Township Hall (purchased building in December 1969 for $1 - per Clinton County News article)

Brown School (1858-1966*)

      Brown School in the summer and early spring

LOCATION:  Approximate address is 13772 S Jones Road, Eagle, in Section 18, Eagle Township 

(west side of road just north of Grand River Avenue)

Current Use:  Abandoned (1910 - this building replaced the 1858 log school)

Brown School (?-1960/61) - aka Pike, Pioneer, and Smith School

LOCATION:  2485 Chadwick Road, DeWitt, in Section 32, Olive Township

(southeast corner of Chadwick Road and South DeWitt Road)

Current Use:  Private Residence (I'm told part of this building is the original school)

Eagle Village School (1908)

LOCATION:  About 1/2 mile east of the Village of Eagle on the north side of Grand River Avenue
(between Hinman and Grange Roads) in Section 21, Eagle Township

Current Use:  Privately Owned ("For Sale" in 2015)

Gunnisonville School (1907-1963)

LOCATION:  2030 East Clark Road, in Section 23, DeWitt Township 

(southeast corner of Wood Road and Clark Road)
It was designated a Michigan Historic Site on May 11, 1976.

Current Use:  Museum

Prairie (District No, 1) School (1873-1957) - aka Wolcott School

 

LOCATION:  Southeast corner of Colony Road and Grove Road in Section 36, Essex Township

Current Use:  Unknown

Lemm School (1857-1967*) - aka Fightin' Five School

LOCATION:  Northeast corner of Bond  Road and Chadwick Road in Section 26, Olive Township

Current Use:  Private residence (this brick school was built in 1889)

Clinton County News article (September 19, 1968) indicated school was to be sold at auction.  

Merle Beach School (1865-1966*) - aka Muskrat Lake School

LOCATION:  On DeWitt Rd near "T" intersection of DeWitt Road and Jason Road in Section 8, Olive Township

Current Use:  Abandoned and in disrepair
Clinton County News article (September 19, 1968) indicated school was to be sold at auction.  

North Eagle School (1859-1965)

LOCATION:  Southwest corner of Howe and Hinman Roads in Section 9, Eagle Township

Current Use:  Privately Owned

A former student of this school contacted me.  She attended this school from September 1959-June 1965.

Old Hurd (District No. 1) School (1886/87-1966)

LOCATION:  On the west side of DeWitt Road in Section 20, DeWitt Township

(between Clark Road and Stoll Road - close to Stoll Road - in front of the Hurd Cemetery) 

Current Use:  Privately Owned

Denison/Dennison (Ovid & Victor District No. 4) School (1881/82 - 1963 or 1965)

LOCATION:  6843 Alward Rd, Laingsburg (next to Victor Township Hall)

(north side of road between Shepardsville Road and St. Clair Road)

Current Use:  Deeded to Victor Township Historical Society

The brick school was built in 1881. It was located at the Victor/Ovid Township line in what is now the campground at Sleepy Hollow State Park.  In 1997, this school was moved to its present location. 

Shepardsville (District #3 Fractional) School (1894-1964)

LOCATION:   1210 N Shepardsville Rd, Shepardsville in Section 10, Ovid Township 

(east side of Shepardsville Road near Winfield Road)

Current Use:  The Good Shepherd Chapel & Hall

Sherburne (District No. 8 Fractional) School (1856-1960's)

LOCATION:  Southeast corner of Hollister Road and Kinley Road in Section 1, Ovid Township

Current Use:  Private residence (brick school was built in 1870)

Greenwood (District No. 5 Fractional) School (1908-1968*)

LOCATION:  3550 DeWitt Road in Section 32, Greenbush Township

(east side of DeWitt Road at the T-intersection of DeWitt Road and Banner Road - is any part of this building the original school?

Fitzpatrick (District No. 4) School (1914-1943) - aka Allen School

LOCATION: Northwest corner Maple Rapids Road and Tallman Road in Section 3, Lebanon Twp

Current Use: Storage

We met the owner of the school who took us inside - the original chalkboard still exists.

Strickland School (1873-1959)

LOCATION:  Northeast corner of Wright (aka M-100) and Colony Road in Section 25, Lebanon Township

Current Use:  Township Hall (Township insurance records say this building was built in 1925)

Jesse/Jessie (District 11) School (1867-1964) - aka Baker School

LOCATION: 3001 Shepardsville Road in Section 27, Ovid Township
(southeast corner of Shepardsville Road and Parks Road)
Current Use: Vacant

Sage School (1856-1966 or 1968*)

LOCATION:  North side of Walker Road between Williams Road and Scott Road (about halfway between the two roads) in Section 3, Bingham Township

Current Use:  Abandoned and in disrepair (brick school was built in 1885)

Richmond School (?-1966*) - aka Shelter School

LOCATION:  1883 East French Road, St Johns, in Section 22, Greenbush Township
(north side of road between Scott Road and Williams Road)
Current Use:  Township Hall

Essex Center (District No. 2) School (1884-1957)

LOCATION: Northwest corner of Mead Road and Essex Center Road in Section 16, Essex Township

Current Use: Private Residence

Grove School (1900)

LOCATION: 5510 Maple Rapids Road, in Section 2, Essex Township

(north side of Maple Rapids Road between Grove Road and Lowell Road)

Current Use: Privately Owned

French (District No. 8) School (1892-1966*)

  

LOCATION:  2536 West French Road, St Johns, in Section 20, Greenbush Township

(between DeWitt Road and US-27)

Current Use: Sign in front of building indicates a business

Clark School (1917)

LOCATION: 11970 Francis Road in Section 4, Watertown Township

(northwest corner of Francis Road and Howe Road)

According to the book “One Room Schools: A Brief History of the Rural Schools of Clinton County, Michigan” written by Wayne C. Summers, the bell and cupola from the Clark School was moved to the Watertown Township Hall (12803 Wacousta Road, Grand Ledge).

Bell & Cupola at Watertown Township Hall

Rowell School 

LOCATION: 4010 Hall Road, St Johns in Section 31, Duplain Township

(southeast corner of Hall Road and Chandler Road)

Current Use: Private Residence

Union Home School

LOCATION: 7940 DeWitt Road, St Johns in Section 2, Greenbush Township

(east side of DeWitt Road between Hyde Road and Maple Rapids Road)

Current Use: Private Residence

While driving around Clinton County, we noted the status on the following one room schools
-  Rose or Old Red School in Bath Township (Upton & Stoll Roads) – GONE
-  Goodrich School in DeWitt Township (Schavey & Howe Roads) - GONE
-  Lott School in DeWitt Township (Wood & Howe Roads) - GONE
-  Monroe School in Eagle Township (Howe and Jones Roads) - GONE
-  Pennington School in Eagle Township (Herbison & Tallman Roads) - GONE
-  Blough School in Eagle Township (Howe & Bauer Roads) - GONE
-  Kebler School in Eagle Township (Grand River & Wright Roads) – GONE
-  Fairview Schoo, in Essex Townshio (Wacousta Road between Colony & French Road) - GONE
-  Hammond School in Essex Township (Colony Road between Essex Center & Forest Hill) -GONE
-  Soules/Sowle School in Essex Township (NW Corner Essex Center & Island Roads) – GONE
-  Round School in Lebanon Township (French & Grange Roads) - *GONE
-  Stoddard (Birch) School in Lebanon Township (SE corner Grange & Island Roads) - GONE
-  Merrihew School in Olive Township (Price Road west of US-27) – GONE
-  Olive Center School in Olive Township (Pratt Road & US-27) - GONE
-  Rheubottom School in Olive Township (SE corner of Alward & Krepps Roads) – *GONE
-  Terry School in Olive Township (NE corner of Alward & Krepps Roads) - GONE
-  Jason School in Riley Township (NW corner Jason & Lowell Roads) - GONE
-  Grove (Brunson, Post) School in Victor Township (Price & Shepardsville Roads) - GONE
-  Pierson School in Victor Township (Round Lake Road) - GONE
-  Price School in Victor Township (Price and Chandler Roads) – GONE
-  Reed School in Victor Township (Shepardsville Road) - GONE
-  Starr (Dayton) School in Watertown Township (Grand River & Forest Hill Roads) - GONE
-  Gruber School in Westphalia Township (Gruber Road) - GONE
-  Sanford School in Westphalia Township (Chadwick & Wright Roads) - GONE

*The Round School (a round-shaped building) burned in the mid-1980's
*Michigan One-Room Schoolhouse Association reports the Rheubottom School burned in 1924.  A private residence now exists at this corner. 

*Clinton County News article (September 15, 1966) reported the number of students at Clinton County’s one room schools for the 1966/67 school year.   Also, the May 19, 1967 article reported that students in specific grades would attend certain schools to hopefully make more efficient use of teachers and equipment. Finally, the August 15, 1968 article reported seven schools being used for elementary grades.  Based on this information, I have concluded the estimated closing dates for these schools (indicated by * in the photos/text above) to be after the 1966/67 school year and before the 1969/70 school year.

-  Bengal Center School – 28 students  (3^rd, 4^th & 5^th graders from Harper and Frink Schools will go here in 1967)

-  Brown School - 29 students

-  Cedar Lake School - 30 students

-  Chapman School – 23 students (article says considering grade combo in 1967)

-  County Farm School - 57 students (1st & 2nd graders go here in 1968)

-  Cramer School – 24 students (kindergarten, 1^st & 2^nd graders from Price and Krepps go here in 1967 and 4th graders go here in 1968)

-  East Essex School - 109 students

-  Eureka School - 107 students

-  French School – 26 students (special education use in 1967)

-  Frink School – 22 students (6^th, 7^th & 8^th graders from Harper & Bengal Center Schools go here in 1967)

-  Gardner School - 30 students (3rd graders go here in 1968)

-  Greenwood School - 26 students

-  Harper School – 37 students (kindergarten, 1^st & 2^nd graders from Frink & Bengal Center Schools go here in 1967)

-  Kincaid School - 29 students

-  Krepps School - 47 students (3^rd, 4^th, & 5^th graders from Price and Cramer Schools go here in 1967 and 6th graders go here in 1968)

-  Lamb School – 21 students (article says considering grade combo in 1967 and 1st graders go here in 1968)

-  Lemm School - 30 students

-  Merle Beach School - 30 students (article says considering grade combo in 1967)

-  Merrihew School - 31 students

-  Olive Center School - 79 students

-  Parker School - 25 students

-  Plowman School - 29 students

-  Price School – 25 students (6^th, 7^th & 8^th graders from Cramer & Krepps Schools go here in 1967)

-  Richmond School - 28 students

-  Rowell School – 29 students (kindergarten & 1^st graders from Richmond, Parker & Sage Schools go here in 1967)

-  Sage School - 27 students (5th graders go here in 1968 - but which Sage School)

-  Sherwood School - 31 students

-  Simmons School - 26 students

-  South Riley School – 34 students (article says considering grade combo in 1967)

-  Stoney Creek School 21 students (article says considering grade combo in 1967 and 2nd graders go here in 1968)

Clinton County News article (Sept 19, 1968) states the Board of Education will be selling the following schools that are no longer being used:

-  Bengal Center School (Bengal Twp) – no bids rec’d - action tabled (I never found another article)

-  Parker School (Bingham Twp)

-  Union Home School (Greenbush Twp)

-  Rowell School (Duplain Twp) – Property owner disputed and removed from list

-  Lemm School (Olive Twp)

-  Merle Beach School (Olive Twp)

- Chapman School (Riley Twp) – Property owner disputed – no deeds and poor records – Board of Education accepted payment of $200 and removed from list

-  Jason School (Riley Twp)

-  Simmons School (Riley Twp)

-  South Riley School (Riley Twp) – Property owner disputed - provided deed; removed from list

-  Cedar Lake School (Victor Twp)

The article further states that “...bells were removed from all rural schools which the Board of Education will sell this week. The bells will be sold later at a special public auction.”

Clinton County News article (November 3, 1966) included a notice to sell the following schools:

-  Church School (building only)

-  Page (did they mean Sage?) School and site (Clinton County had two schools named "Sage" - one in Bingham Township and one in Dallas Township).  Which one is this?

Clinton County News article (Oct 21, 1970) reported the sale on the following schools:

-  Gardner School ($70)

-  Harper School & adjacent property ($1,150)

-  Price School ($70) building only

-  Krepps School & contents ($135)

Conditions of Sale: Quit Claim Deeds will be issued by the Board of Education.   High bidders had 90 days (unless it was the property owner) to remove building and content from site and remove all existing foundations and ground leveled.