Michigan One Room Schoolhouses: Sturgeon Point Lighthouse

Friday, May 29, 2015

ALCONA COUNTY

Bailey School (1907-1941)

Bailey School - Exterior and Interior

LOCATION: On the grounds of Sturgeon Point Lighthouse & Museum

It is approximately 1.5 miles North of Harrisville - turn right on Lake Shore Drive then turn right (east) on Point Road. The entrance to the Lighthouse and Bailey School will be on the left.

Current Use; Museum - In 1998, this log school was moved to the Sturgeon Point Lighthouse grounds. The Alcona Historical Society has assumed the operation and maintenance of the old Bailey School. It is one of the few remaining one-room log schoolhouses in Michigan.

Greenbush School (1870-1947)

Greenbush School - Exterior and Interior

LOCATION: 5029 Campbell, Greenbush (north side of street)

Current Use: Museum - In 1979, it was moved from its original location (across the street where the Fire Hall is now located) to the property adjacent to the township hall. It is a Michigan Registered Historic Site. The school is owned and operated by Greenbush Historical Society.

Mitchell School

LOCATION: 6849 West Tower Road, Curran

Current Use: Mitchell Township Hall

French Town School (1880)

Front Door of French Town School

LOCATION: On the south side of French Road about ½ mile east of Highway F41 (aka Barlow Rd) in Haynes Township

Current Use: Storage Building

Johnson District No. 4 School (1927-1947)

LOCATION: 3930 E McNeil Rd in Haynes Township

(just west of McGregor Rd)

It is an Alcona County Historic Site.

Current Use: Haynes Township Hall (since 1963)

Mt Joy School (1888-1948)

LOCATION: 5130 Alcona Road in Haynes Township

(on south side of the road between US-23 and Lake Shore Drive)

It is an Alcona County Historic Site.

Current Use: Private Residence

Low School (late 1880’s)/Site

Low School Site & Low School Bell

LOCATION: The vacant school site is located at the southwest corner of Lakeshore Drive and Alger Smith Road in Alcona Township. It is an Alcona County Historic Site.

The bell from the Low School is in front of the Alcona Township Hall (5576 US-23, Black River, MI)

Pine (aka Pyne) School (1901-1945)

LOCATION: On the east side of Poor Farm Road in Haynes Township

(1/4 mile south of Quick Road)

Current Use: Abandoned

Pine Grove School (1902-1939)

LOCATION: 6540 Hickey Hill Rd, Hubbard Lake

1/8 mile west of Hubbard Lake Road on the NE Corner of Hickey Hill Road and Jenison Grove Road in Caledonia Township
Current Use: Private Residence

Cedarville School (1908)/Second Site

LOCATION: SE Corner of M-72 and Kohler Road in Millen Township at the Reid Lake Trail Head Parking Lot

Alcona Historic Historical Society has posted a sign indicating the school was built in 1908 and moved to this second location in 1930. The original location was about ¾ mile north of M-72 on Kohler Road.

Thank you to Linda at the Alcona Historical Society for providing information/locations about the schools included in the “Driving Tours of Alcona County Historic Sites”.

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.