Hunting for History- Where are Michigan's 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.

Michigan, Allegan County, Ganges FR District 1 (now an art gallery)

Okay, I am going to date myself but I attended a one-room country schoolhouse for a few years.  It was torn down a long time ago and a field of corn now grows where the schoolhouse once stood. 

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.  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.  I am ready to go hunting!

Most schools were named after the land owner who provided the land for the school, a nearby town, or a local natural feature.  The school I attended was called Price School (the name of the road it was on).

Everyday I walked a little over 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.  

Many schoolhouses were painted white (cheaper) but there were some schools that were painted red.   In Michigan, wood was plentiful and it was the most often used material for building the schools.  However, brick (and a few stone) schoolhouses were built too.  

So, when we travel, I always keep watching and hoping to photograph them before they disappear from the rural landscape that is part of our American history.  Since we live in Michigan, it is easier to take a weekend drive through the countryside looking for one-room schoolhouses in my home state.  The following are some of my favorites.

To view my complete photo essay of one-room schoolhouses, please visit my other blog site at: 
Michigan One Room Schoolhouses .  

       

 Michigan, Alcona County, Bailey School (built 1907)

Michigan, Baraga County, Pelkie Grade School

(Notice the antique horse-drawn school bus on the right)

Michigan, Clinton County, Merle Beach (aka Muskrat Lake) School

Michigan, Eaton County, Strange School Oneida District No. 3
(built 1879 - still active as a school)

 Michigan, Emmet County, Five Mile Creek School (built 1915)

Michigan, Gogebic County Erwin Central School (1909-1931)

 Michigan, Grand Traverse County, Bates School

 Michigan, Grand Traverse County, Old Red School House 

(located at Interlochen Center for the Arts Campus) 

(Notice separate doors for boys and girls)

Michigan, Ingham County, Pink Schoolhouse
(located at 707 W Ash St, Mason)
This school (1854-1965) has always been pink.

 Michigan, Isabella County, Bohannon Schoolhouse (built 1901) 

Located on Central Michigan University Campus

Michigan, Kent County, Vergennes District No. School (built 1867) 

Located near Lowell - Fallasburg Pioneer Village 

(Notice separate doors for boys and girls)

Michigan, Keweenaw County, Copper Harbor School 
(still active as a school)

 Michigan, Leelanau County, North Unity School 

Located in Sleeping Bear Dunes NLS 

 Michigan, Mason County, County Elm Flats School
(built 1876 - now a business)

 Michigan, Mason County, French Standard School

Michigan, Midland County, Log Schoolhouse (built 1870) 

Located in Chippewa Nature Center

 Michigan, Newaygo County, Dickinson School

Michigan, Newaygo County, Schanck or Schenck School 

(outhouse door in foreground)

Michigan, Wayne County, Scotch Settlement School (built 1861) 

Located in Greenfield Village

Michigan, Wexford County, Greenwood School
(1874-1967 - now Township Hall)

Michigan, Wexford County, Soper School 
(1871 - now a private residence)

If you have a one-room schoolhouse (decaying or well-preserved) near you, please use the COMMENTS section following this post to share its name and location with me.

Wondering what one-room schoolhouses might be near you?  Check out this link:

America's One Room Schoolhouses