Manley School, Manley Hot Springs, AK

OLD SCHOOL OF THE DAY

The Manley School

Elliot Highway

Manley Hot Springs, AK 99756

The tiny town of Manley Hot Springs in Alaska is located in the interior of the state on the Elliot Highway, a little-traveled back road. Situated at the very end of a long 160 mile drive from Fairbanks, Manley Hot Springs is a small town with a population of 89 people. In its heyday in the early 1900’s, it was bustling, and in 1910 had a population of over 500.  The big draw to the Manley Hot Springs area was their infamous hot springs.  There was a hot springs resort in town, but that went bankrupt. One can still visit the hot springs, now located on private property and inside Chuck and Gladys Dart’s lovely greenhouse.

     A gorgeous little one-room schoolhouse resides in the small town of Manley Hot Springs.  The school was founded in 1958, and is made out of logs.  The one-room schoolhouse was in operation from 1958 through 2008. This building saw fifty years of children learning.  The large windows let in plenty of light, and there was more than enough room for the small amount of children in the area. It is a wonderfully preserved historic schoolhouse that begs a visit by anyone in the area.  The schoolroom is still populated with old desks, a blackboard, and the teaching accessories used during this time period. There is an outhouse on the property that was used by all of the students. In fact, most places in rural Alaska still utilize outhouses on a regular basis due to a lack of plumbing. It’s not uncommon to come across them during travels.

     The schoolhouse is no longer in use, as a larger, more modern building now houses elementary through high school students. The new school is named Manley Hot Springs Gladys Dart School, and is larger and more modern. It’s amazing to visit the old school to compare the two in size and function.  Folks can visit this historic schoolhouse in Manley Hot Springs on mile 160.7 of the Elliot Highway.  Located across the street from the hot springs, it’s easily visible and painted bright white with red trim. If it’s not available to get inside, visitors can still peek through the large glass windows located all over the schoolhouse.

Adams Chapel School, Old Alabama Town, Montgomery, AL

OLD SCHOOL OF THE DAY

Adams Chapel School

Old Alabama Town

301 Columbus Street

Montgomery, Alabama 36104

Adams Chapel School was built in 1898 for the education of the children of the large Adams family in rural Barbour County at a time when public education did not exist in most rural areas. In 1898, Arthur Gilbert Adams donated land to build this one room schoolhouse. Most school teachers at this time were men or unmarried women, and Adams Chapel School had many teachers during its fifty years. Teachers did not have to have a college degree but did have to pass a test given by the local school board. The average teacher pay was $18 to $25 per month. The first school master was Alpheus Reid Adams, the younger brother of Arthur Gilbert Adams and when the school closed in 1948 that teacher was also a member of the Adams family.

     In rural Alabama, the school year was 62 to 68 days and was scheduled around farming seasons. It started after harvest in late October and ended before the spring planting. The school day was 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. with time for recess and lunch. Grades one through seven were taught in this school, which was as far as most students went in rural communities. McGuffey Readers and Blueback Spellers were used. Students often had to provide their own books and desks. They used slate boards and soft stone pencils for their work and occasionally paper and ink. Students were given chores like sweeping, mixing ink, cleaning windows, and fetching firewood.

     The Adams Chapel School was built to the specifications of the State Board of Education, which recommended that schools face north with windows on the west side to allow for the best light for handwriting. The simple gabled building was situated with a series of windows that provided this proper lighting in an area with no electricity. With students facing north, the teacher discouraged the use of the left hand which would cast shadows upon their writing. Set on cypress stumps, the sturdy schoolhouse withstood the ravages of weather and hundreds of children for over fifty years. During the restoration, a color analyst examined the structure expecting the exterior be red but was shocked when the report came back denoting green as the original color of the School.  Adams Chapel School was moved to Old Alabama Town in September 1982.

     Old Alabama Town is a collection of restored 19th- and 20th-century structures reflecting the lives of the people who settled and developed central Alabama. It stretches along six blocks in the heart of historic downtown Montgomery, Alabama, depicting a cross-section of architecture, history, and lifestyles from an elegant townhouse to rural pioneer living.  Old Alabama Town was developed and is administered by the Landmarks Foundation of Montgomery, a non-profit corporation that came into being in 1967. Since the purchase of the 1850s Ordeman Townhouse and its dependencies in 1968, Landmarks has acquired and restored more than 50 buildings on the site.  The Lucas Tavern serves as the visitor and information center and was formerly located in Waugh along the Federal Road. General Lafayette stayed the night at the tavern on his way to Montgomery.

First Schoolhouse Antiques, Terryville, CT

OLD SCHOOL OF THE DAY

First Schoolhouse Antiques

159 S Main St.

Terryville, CT 06786

First Schoolhouse Antiques of Terryville, CT, sells a variety of antiques and collectibles in an original 18th century schoolhouse building. The 11 by 16 foot Plymouth Center Schoolhouse was built in 1799 on the northwest corner of the Plymouth Green.  The schoolhouse is one of the very few 18th century buildings which still retains its entire history. The school housed 60 pupils at the time of opening. Originally there were no windows, and students would sit around three sides of the room facing the wall. The teacher’s desk as well as a wood stove occupied the center. Lessons were taught here until 1849 when a larger two story building was constructed a few feet south of the building. The first school building was then used as storage.

     The newer building soon became over-crowded, and a larger four room schoolhouse was to be built on the site in 1900. The 1849 schoolhouse was demolished and the first Plymouth Center School was lifted and moved to a home on South Street.  The schoolhouse was renovated. Windows and pine paneling were added to the small building. In 1903 Miss Sarah Chapman, the daughter of a Plume and Atwood company official in Thomaston, opened the building as a private school with five students. The school closed in 1904 after one short year of operation.  The building retained the same condition Miss Chapman left it up until the 1980’s. The home on South Street was purchased and remodeled for resale, and the schoolhouse was subject to “improvements” as well. Dotted particle board was mounted on three walls, and three of the windows were blocked off. The objects belonging to Miss Chapman were lost to history; however, the original cast iron wood stove remained.

     Due to the lack of maintenance of an abandoned colonial homestead which bordered the schoolhouse; the school began to fall into disrepair. The south side of the roof disintegrated and the south wall faced the same fate. Because the building was moved and placed on the ground with no foundation it began to sink and sag almost 8 inches into the ground.  In 2015, the Town of Plymouth took interest in moving the building to the Eli Terry Jr. Waterwheel site as a small museum but the building’s rotted condition proved too far gone to handle.  In August 2016, Tom Vaughn came into possession of the building and dismantled it wall by wall to move to his family farm on South Main Street in Terryville. Three months of non-stop day long work succeeded in the resurrection of the building. The schoolhouse was restored to expose the original construction and the stone foundation of the building is made up of granite salvaged from local homesteads, and historic places. The flag which flies on the building is a hand sewn reproduction of the 1799 flag with 15 stars and 15 stripes.

School House Inn, North Conway, NH

OLD SCHOOL OF THE DAY

School House Inn

2152 White Mountain Hwy.

North Conway, NH 03860

 The School House Inn in North Conway, NH, gets its name from the historic main building that served as one of the original elementary schools in North Conway, circa 1890-1923. Two large additions and five cottages were built in 1964, and the property was transformed into the School House Inn. After nearly six decades in business, the School House Inn is one of the oldest running motels in North Conway, and an area landmark along White Mountain Highway. It is conveniently located in the center of North Conway, 1 mile south of North Conway Village and 1 mile north of Settler’s Green, in walking distance or a short drive to many great restaurants, and only a short drive to all the attractions that the Mount Washington Valley has to offer. This property is open seasonally from mid-May through mid-November.

Old Schoolhouse Antique and Craft Mall, Farmers, KY

OLD SCHOOL OF THE DAY

The Old Schoolhouse Antique and Craft Mall

82 Old US 60 W.

Farmers, KY 40319

The Old Schoolhouse Antique and Craft Mall in Farmers, KY, is an antique store on Old US Highway 60 near Morehead.  The Old Schoolhouse Antique Mall is housed in an old elementary school with the classrooms, the gymnasium, and the stage now occupied by vendor stalls for antiques. From room to room there is one treasure after another. It is a very cool place to visit since even the building itself is an antique, and one can imagine when there used to be kids and teachers there.

Public School House, Cottleville (St. Charles), MO

OLD SCHOOL OF THE DAY

Public School House

5546 Chestnut St.

Cottleville (St. Charles), MO 63304

     The Public School House is former one room school house that has been restored, and the owners are excited to share this piece of history with people, making any event a unique experience. School House #3 was first constructed in 1875 and served as a school until the 1950’s. In 1941, Cottleville School District was voluntarily annexed to the St. Charles County Consolidated School District No. 2 and it is now known as the Francis Howell School District.

     The Public School House can host indoor and outdoor events, as it has patios and open grass area perfect for any event.  This venue is perfect for weddings, rehearsal dinners, holiday parties, corporate events, showers, anniversary or birthday parties, or any other event to meet anyone’s needs. The event space, located on a beautiful and secluded 1.13 acres, can be customized for each event with full food, drink, and entertainment packages available.

Old Schoolhouse Antique Mall and Café, Washington, LA

OLD SCHOOL OF THE DAY

Old Schoolhouse Antique Mall and Café

123 South Church Street

Washington, Louisiana 70589

There are 40,000 square feet of antiques and collectibles, vintage clothing, jewelry, and primitives to discover at the Old Schoolhouse Antique Mall. The mall is a familiar stop to anyone visiting the historic steamboat town of Washington, Louisiana. The Schoolhouse was built in 1934 and was originally Washington High School. Today, the two-story building is a treasure chest of antiques and collectibles called the Old Schoolhouse Antique Mall. The large rooms and wide staircases are remnants of the architectural style at the time featuring beautiful hardwood flooring. Today, each classroom is styled and themed differently with antique items from different dealers. In the fall and spring, shop six acres and 200 plus vendors and antique dealers during the Semi-annual Antique Fair and Yard Sale on the second weekends of April and October.  In the gym of the 1930’s high school is a 50’s style diner found at the heart of the schoolhouse, the Old Schoolhouse Café, furnished with antiques and classic Hollywood memorabilia. The restaurant offers plate lunches, gourmet sandwiches, and homemade cakes and treats.  Guests are even encouraged to sign the walls of the eatery, already filled with countless names of travelers visiting the historic steamboat town. Every weekend, the café serves hot plate lunches, poboys, burgers, and soda-fountain treats.

School House Inn Bed & Breakfast, Bisbee, AZ

OLD SCHOOL OF THE DAY

School House Inn Bed & Breakfast

818 Tombstone Canyon Rd.

Bisbee, AZ 85603

The School House Inn is located at 818 Tombstone Canyon Road in Bisbee.  As the name implies, the School House started out as the Garfield School. It was built in 1918, on a hill above present-day Tombstone Canyon Road, in anticipation of the mining town’s continued growth. For two decades, first- through fourth-graders got an education in the red-brick building. After the school closed in 1938, an attorney bought it and turned it into an apartment building — adding bathrooms and interior walls to the large classrooms, but keeping their signature high ceilings. It was converted to a B&B in the late 1980s.

     The current owners, John Lambert and Paula Roth, got into the lodging business the same way their predecessors did: The couple booked a stay and fell in love with the place, then ended up buying it. That was 11 years ago. The guests, who’ve come from as far away as Egypt and Australia, love it, too.  In keeping with the property’s history, each of the nine rooms has a school-themed name. For solo guests, there’s the cozy Art Room, with a full-size bed — that room’s décor includes reproductions of oil paintings and tools used by portrait painters. Couples might prefer the queen beds in the spacious Geography Room, decorated with a variety of maps, and the Music Room, which features musical instruments and a potentially melody-inspiring view of the hills and canyons around Bisbee. And larger groups can spring for the Principal’s Office Suite, which has a queen bed in one room and two twins in another. All rooms have private baths and free Wi-Fi.

     Lambert and Roth take care of everything at the School House — there’s no hired help. Their work includes the daily meatless breakfast, which changes every day — during a recent stay, it included frittatas with homemade salsa, fresh fruit and muffins. Shared tables in the dining area give guests a chance to mingle, and an extensive library and a lounge with a TV and DVD player offer after-hours entertainment.  One might expect those with careers in education to steer clear of the School House Inn — after all, everyone needs a break. But Lambert says teachers make up a good portion of the B&B’s guests. So, if teachers can book a stay there, so can troublemakers. Just maybe not in the Principal’s Office Suite.

Pritzker’s Recommendations for Corrupting All Government Schools

Pritzker’s Recommendations for Corrupting All Government Schools
By Laurie Higgins, Illinois Family Institute (4/22/2021)

[Editor’s note: Here comes the “transgenderizing” of Illinois public schools! WSW.]

In June 2019, Governor J.B. Pritzker issued an executive order that should have been the proverbial straw that broke the backs of already oppressed conservative families with children remaining in our broken school indoctrination centers. The order had two parts.

The first part mandated the establishment of a “trans” task force whose members “have experience or expertise related to supporting transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming students in schools,” and who would concoct the many and diverse ways that government schools must participate in the “trans”-cultic fiction.

The second part mandated that the Illinois State Board of Education “develop and make publicly available a model policy or procedures” that does the same thing as the “trans” task force was charged with doing.

Read more:

Pritzker’s Recommendations for Corrupting All Government Schools

Pine Grove School, Franklin, NC

OLD SCHOOL OF THE DAY

Historic Pine Grove School

38 Peeks Creek Rd.

Franklin, NC 28734

The original Pine Grove School in Franklin, NC, operated across the street from the current location from mid 1800s to 1900, when the first school burned. The current building was built in the early 1900s and closed in 1950 when Cullasaja School was completed. When schooling ended in the existing building, it was still used as a voting site. However, in 2000, the building was deteriorating and a fire hazard. It was abandoned, and for a few years the polling location was moved to the Cullasaja Fire Department. When the surrounding community learned that the old school would most likely be torn down or allowed to deteriorate, they rallied to save it.

     People in Buck Creek, Peeks Creeks, the Sugar Fork District, and all over the area started talking about what to do.  They spread the word out all over Macon County through fliers and word of mouth. A lot of new people to the area didn’t even know the school was there. At least 25 showed up initially and decided they wanted to help restore the school. Many other people expressed that they wanted it to be saved and helped in some way.  Pine Grove School Restoration Society was formed, and at least $15,000 was raised through spaghetti dinners, selling commemorative plaques to affix to the old school desks, auctions, and many more fundraiser events. Macon County agreed to match that amount.

     Rotten floorboards in one section were replaced. Foundation beams also had to be replaced for a new foundation to be established. The metal roof and the interior and exterior were painted. Plus, volunteers added a kitchen and two bathrooms so that the building could be used as a modern community center. An industrial blower heating system and handicap parking and a ramp were added. While the school was originally separated into two rooms, the partition was taken down during the renovation process so that the space could accommodate larger groups.

     The workers saved all they could. Windows could not be saved, nor the outhouse. But the original pine floors were taken up during the renovation, sanded, refinished, and then replaced.  The restored Pine Grove School Community Building opened on July 8, 2006. Besides the 70-plus student desks and teacher’s desk, the interior of the building includes such historic classroom touches as vintage school books, an old flag, a chalkboard, a (non-functioning) wood stove, a dunce hat, antique metal lunch pails, and photographs of former students and teachers.

     Also at the school is a memorial plaque for individuals who lost their lives because of a mudslide caused by Tropical Storm Ivan on Sept. 16, 2004. The slide flattened 16 homes and killed five. While many of Macon County’s abandoned historic homes, schools, and country stores succumb to nature’s intrusion, Pine Grove School was restored by concerned citizens in 2006 and is now used as a community building.  The Pine Grove School Community Building at 38 Peeks Creek Road in Franklin is a rentable space, and association meetings are held the first Monday of each month during the months of April through October.  The building is not only a voting station but is also used for student field trips, plays, reunions, music events, birthday parties, anniversaries, meetings, and more.