Michigan One Room Schoolhouses: September 2015

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

LOCATION: 1969 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)

LOCATION: 3366 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)

LOCATION: 11509 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)

LOCATION: 2592 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 128^th Avenue (aka A42) in Heath Township

Current Use: Privately Owned

Fairview School

LOCATION: Southwest corner of 130^th Avenue and 26^th Street in Monterey Township

Current Use: This two-story brick school is now privately owned/residence

Frayer/Fraser School

LOCATION: Southeast corner of 38^th Street and 136^th Avenue in Heath Township

Current Use: Privately Owned - Demolished Fall of 2016

Hoyer (aka Oakview) District No. 6 School (1899)

LOCATION: Northeast corner of 130^th Avenue and 34^th 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

LOCATION: 6292 124^th Ave (aka M-89), Fennville, in Section 2, Ganges Township

At the southeast corner of 124^th & 63^rd 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 102^nd Avenue and 62^nd Street in Section 35, Casco Township

Current Use: Abandoned

Ferris (District #4) School

LOCATION: 624 46^th Street (north of 106^th Avenue) in Section 18, Cheshire Township

Current Use: Privately Owned/Residence

Jones (District 2f) School

LOCATION: 1697 146^th Avenue in Section 3, Dorr Township

(northeast corner of 146^th Avenue and 17^th Street)

Current Use: Privately Owned/Residence

Orr (District #7) School

LOCATION: Corner of 113^th Avenue and 62^nd Street in Section 35, Ganges Township

Current Use: Privately Owned/Residence

Reid (District #5) School

LOCATION: Corner of 119^th Avenue and 64^th Street in Section 13, Ganges Township

Current Use: Township Hall

Dunningville (District #1) School (1888)

LOCATION: Corner of M-40 and 126^th Street in Section 27, Heath Township

Current Use: Privately Owned

Lemon (aka Hillcrest District #2) School (1892)

School and Plaque

LOCATION: Northeast corner of 126^th Avenue and 38^th Street in Section 25, Heath Township

Current Use: Privately Owned/Residence

Plainview (District #9) School

LOCATION: Northeast corner of 142^nd Avenue and 26^th 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)

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

OTTAWA COUNTY

DeWitt District No. 6 School (1891-1957)

LOCATION: 17710 West Taft in Spring Lake Township (south side of road)

Current Use: Museum

It was designated a Michigan Historic Site (MHS) on January 29, 1979 as “DeWitt Bicentennial One Room School”.

New Groningen School (1881-1952)

LOCATION: 10573 Paw Paw Drive, Zeeland in Holland Township

Current Use: Museum operated by the Zeeland Historical Society

During our visit, the school was being used by a group so we were unable to see the inside of it. However, I understand the school was originally a two-room school. Currently, half of it is setup as a 30-seat school while the other half serves as a community room for various events.

Pigeon Creek School (1878-1961)

LOCATION: Southeast corner of Pierce Street and 168^th Avenue in Grand Haven Township

Current Use: Unknown

IONIA COUNTY

Berlin Township District No. 4 School (1898)

LOCATION: On Riverside Road in Ionia State Recreation Area in Berlin Township

The school is known as the “Posse House”

Current Use: Deeded to Ionia County for use by Sheriff’s Posse

Hartwell School District No. 7 (1872)

LOCATION: Northwest corner of Hartwell Road and David Highway in Section 5, Berlin Township

(street number is 4020)

Current Use: Business

Sessions (aka County Farm) School (1847)

Stone Schoolhouse

LOCATION: On Riverside Road in Ionia State Recreation Area (visible from Posse House but on opposite side of the road) in Section 34, Berlin Township

It was designated a Michigan Historic Site (MHS) on May 17, 1973 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on February 11, 1985.

Current Use: This unique cobblestone school is a historic site located within the Recreation Area property. It was restored in 1918.

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.