Michigan One Room Schoolhouses

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

BRANCH COUNTY

Boone School Quincy District No. 3 (1881)

LOCATION: On US-12 (aka Chicago Road) between the towns of Coldwater and Quincy - specifically between Freemont and Ridge Roads – south side of road in Quincy Township

Current Use: Privately Owned – For Sale as Commercial Property

Quincy School (1841)

LOCATION: Branch County Fairgrounds, 262 S Sprague Street, Coldwater

(from Sprague Street, turn west onto Fairgrounds Drive to access entrance drive)

Current Use: Museum

CALHOUN COUNTY

Battle Creek (aka Beckley) School (1859-1957)

LOCATION: 3019 Beckley Road, Battle Creek

(Northeast corner of Helmer and Beckley Roads in Battle Creek Township)

Current Use: Unknown - it is a Michigan Historic Site (August 27, 1970)

Duck Lake School (1883-1888)

LOCATION: At the curve of U Drive and 26 1/2 Mile Road in Clarence Township

Current Use: Unknown – it is a Michigan Historic Site

Kellogg School (1873-1960)

LOCATION: At the northeast corner of 28 Mile Road and M Drive in Clarence Township

Current Use: Privately Owned

Capitol Hill School (1860-1961)

LOCATION: 603 Washington St, Marshall

Across from the County Fairgrounds at the corner of Maple and Washington Streets. In 1971, this 2-room brick school was designated a Michigan Historic Site. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Current Use: Museum

Houston School District No. 1

Houston School - Exterior & Interior

LOCATION: Calhoun County Fairgrounds, 720 Fair St, Marshall

The school was originally located on C Drive South in Fredonia Township. In 2005, it was moved to the County Fairgrounds.

Current Use: Museum

Bell School

LOCATION: Originally the Bell School was located in Clarence Township. The school bell was donated by the Glendon Gifford family and is now located at the Calhoun County Fairgrounds in Marshall next to the Houston School.

Current Use: Museum

Cleveland School

LOCATION: The Cleveland School was originally located on the Southwest corner of L Drive North and 14 Mile Road in Marshall Township. In 2011, the family of “Pete” Whitney donated the bell to be displayed next to the Houston School at the Calhoun County Fairgrounds in Marshall.

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

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.