Michigan One Room Schoolhouses

Saturday, September 12, 2020

MECOSTA COUNTY

Unknown School

LOCATION: 21009 205th Avenue

Corner of 21 Mile Road and 205^th Avenue in Section 34 of Green Charter Township near Big Rapids

Current Use: Unknown

If you have any information regarding this school, please leave a message in the COMMENTS section following this post.

Little River School (1905-1935)

LOCATION: 9003 90th Avenue at School Section Lake Veterans Park

Northeast corner of 90th Avenue and 9 Mile Road, Section 15 or 16 of Morton Township

In 2012, Little River School was added to the list of Michigan Historic Sites.

The Paulson House was designated a Michigan Historic Site on February 11, 1972. According to the signage, the upper floor of the cabin was used as a district school in the early part of the 20th century. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 9, 1972.

Location: From M-94 in Au Trainturn south onto Au Train Forest Lake Road in Au Train Township – the log cabin will be on the west side of the road.

Tuesday, May 29, 2018

OGEMAW COUNTY

Atherton School

LOCATION: Corner of Henderson Lake Road and M-55 in Section 25, Churchill Township

Current Use: Private Residence

Thursday, May 24, 2018

GLADWIN COUNTY

Podunk School (1904)

LOCATION: Southeast corner of Shearer Road and Ziemer Road in Section 9, Sage Township

Current Use: Unknown

There is not much left of the town of Podunk but the schoolhouse still stands.

Zion Evangelical Lutheran School (1916-1925)

LOCATION: 3557 N Oberlin Road in Section 35, Sherman Township

(just north of M-18 on the west side of the road)

Current Use: Private Residence

Designated a Michigan Historic Site on November 20, 1987

ARENAC COUNTY

Maple Grove School (1889-1955)

LOCATION: Southeast corner of Hull Road and Conrad Road in Section 29, Arenac Township

Current Use: Church

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

MISSAUKEE COUNTY

Star City School

LOCATION: From Highway 127 (Houghton Lake - Exit 194) go about 9 miles west on M-55 to Star City Road – turn north on Star City Road for about 3 miles. The school is on the east side of Star City Road (just north of Wagner Road) in Section 24, West Branch Township

Current Use: Privately Owned – used for storage

Thursday, November 3, 2016

MUSKEGON COUNTY

Johnson School (1894-1946)

LOCATION: 17460 Sherman Blvd, Casnovia in Section 35, Casnovia Township

School is on the north side of Sherman Blvd between Newaygo Road and Peters Road

Current Use: Museum

While driving around Muskegon County, we were unable to locate the following schools:

- Maple Island School in Cedar Creek Township (burned down Nov. 13, 2009)

Saturday, September 24, 2016

VAN BUREN COUNTY

West Brick School District No. 6 (1871-1960)

West Brick School and Plaque

LOCATION: Corner of CR 378 (aka 30^th Ave) and 69^th Street in Bangor Township

Current Use: The West Brick School Alumni (a non-profit group) is working to preserve this school. This is a labor of love and donations are always appreciated. Thank you to Catherine Green (President of the Alumni Group) for sharing information about this school. When completed, the renovated school will be used as a community center/museum.

Wood School #6 (1869 to Present Day)

LOCATION: Northwest corner of 66^th Street and CR 378 (aka 30^th Ave) in Bangor Township

The approximate address for this school is 29884 66^th St or 66029 30^th Ave depending on which street you use to enter the school grounds. When I Googled “Wood School, Bangor Township Michigan” the search results showed the Wood School address as 35594 66^th St, Bangor. This incorrect address is about 1.5 miles south of its true location.

This is one of a handful of still active one-room schools in Michigan. I have been told by several different sources that there is a waiting list to attend this school.

Current Use: Active One-Room School

Evergreen District No 7 School (early 1860’s - ?)

Evergreen School and Bell Tower

LOCATION: Bloomingdale Depot Museum, 108 Van Buren St, Bloomingdale

The Evergreen School was originally located at the intersection of CR 380 and 44th Street in Section 31 of Bloomingdale Township. In 2012, the Bloomingdale Area Historical Association had the school moved to the Village of Bloomingdale on the Depot Museum property (school is on Spring Street off Van Buren Street). Like any project, the completion of this restoration is dependent upon available funding.

Current Use: The local historical society has plans to create a historic village which will include the school.

Ackley (#7f) School (?? – 1997)

LOCATION: Corner of CR-380 (aka 28^th St) and CR-681 (aka 58^th St) in Geneva Township

Approximate address is 20100 CR-681.

Current Use: Private Residence

Geneva Center (#6f) School

LOCATION: Northwest corner of CR-384 (12^th St) and 64^th St in Geneva Township

Current Use: Private Property

Jericho School (1882-1895)

LOCATION: Intersection of CR-380 (aka 28^th St) and M-43 in Geneva Township

Current Use: Party Store

Riverside District No 8 School of Geneva (1903)

Riverside School and Plaque

LOCATION: 11900 68^th St in Geneva Township

Northwest corner of CR-384 (aka 12^th St) and 68^th St

Current Use: Privately Owned

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

OSCODA COUNTY

Luzerne School (1880’s-1936)

LOCATION: About 22.5 miles east of Grayling on M-72 in Big Prairie Township

(or ½ mile west of Luzerne on north side of road - east of cemetery)

Current Use: Baptist Church

Comins School (1896-1925)

LOCATION: 789 Ryno Road (aka M-72), Mio in Clinton Township

South side of road

Current Use: Episcopal Church

Grandview School (1907-1926)

Grandview School Exterior and Interior

LOCATION: 1889 Caldwell Rd (County Fairgrounds), Fairview in Clinton Township

About 8/10’s of a mile north of M-72 - west side of road is entrance to Fairgrounds

School is to the left of the entrance station

Current Use: Museum

Old North Fairview School (1895)

Log School - Exterior and Interior

LOCATION: Steiner Museum, 1980 Reber Road, Fairview in Clinton Township

2 miles north of Fairview on M-33 on the SW Corner of M-33 and Reber Road

Current Use: Museum

Steiner School (1934 – year on building)

LOCATION: 4331 N 1^st Street, Comins in Clinton Township

One block west of M-33

Current Use: Business

Centerline School (1890-1938)

LOCATION: 1523 W Miller Road (aka East F-32), Mio in Elmer Township

About 3 miles west of M-72 on the south side of the road

Current Use: Private Residence

Kittle School (1938)

LOCATION: 863 Kittle Road (aka 614), Mio in Elmer Township

About 2 miles west of M-72 on the south side of the road

Center/Main building is original school

Current Use: Elmer Township Hall

Thank you to Sondi Holten for providing information/locations on schools in the Mio area.

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

MANISTEE COUNTY

Gabel School

LOCATION: 14022 St Pierre Road in Arcadia Township

Northeast corner of St. Pierre Road and M-22

Current Use: Private Residence

If anyone has information on year built, years used as a school/closed, etc I would appreciate hearing from you. Please leave a message in the COMMENT section following this post.

Warren School (late 1800’s)

LOCATION: 8532 Chippewa Hwy (US-31) in Bear Lake Township

North of Manistee

Current Use: Business - was “Old School Antiques” but now it is a steam cleaning business

While driving around Manistee County, we noted the status on the following one room schools:

- Arcadia Village School in Arcadia Twp (Lake & 4^th Streets) – GONE

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

LAKE COUNTY

Irons School (circa 1900)

Irons School - Exterior and Interior

LOCATION: Martin Johnson Heritage Museum in Eden Township

On the northeast corner at the entrance to Skinner Park (5090 10 ½ Mile Road, Irons, Michigan)

The school was donated to the Museum by Joanne and Sonny Sicilliano

If you have any information regarding this school, please leave a message in the COMMENTS section following this post.

Big Bass Lake School

LOCATION: 8906 W 6 Mile Road, Irons in Sauble Township

Current Use: Sauble Township Hall

Sauble School (1910-??)

LOCATION: North of 1820 Hamilton Road,

School is located on the east side of the road about 4 miles north of the Mason/Lake County Line. This is a six-sided cement block building.

Current Use: Vacant

Monday, November 30, 2015

OAKLAND COUNTY

Howarth School (1859-1955)

LOCATION: Friendship 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)

LOCATION: Troy 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:

Troy Historic Village - Poppleton School

Stoney Creek School (1848-1952)

LOCATION: Rochester 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:

Rochester Hills Museum - Stoney Creek School

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

LOCATION: Preston 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

LOCATION: Preston 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)

LOCATION: Preston 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

LOCATION: Preston 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

LOCATION: Hervey 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

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.