Silver Lake Schoolhouse
Silver Lake Schoolhouse #1 | |
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| Location | 1340 Wilke Barre Turnpike Montrose Pennsylvania |
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| Coordinates | 41°54′14″N 75°54′58″W / 41.90389°N 75.91611°W |
| Area | 0.369 acre |
| Built | c. 1862 |
| NRHP reference No. | 100010759 |
| Added to NRHP | September 9, 2024 |
The Silver Lake Schoolhouse #1, also known as Meagher District School, Dacey School, and Richmond Hill School[1]. The schoolhouse is an historic one room public schoolhouse that is located in Silver Lake, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. The current building is a wooden structure and based on best available information dates from around 1862, which was when the first deed was recorded for the property.[2] A school on this site is first mentioned by the school's first teacher Thomas English with regard to a meeting to be held on 10 January,1840 about winter school.[3] The original unpublished scrapbook of Thomas English is held at Susquehanna County Historical Society.
Site was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 9, 2024.[1]
History and Architecture
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The wooden building measures 18.5’ x 28.5’ and is of a simple design that generally follows the state-provided templates of the time. The site and setting are virtually unchanged from the time the school building was constructed with only the outhouses and a more modern era woodshed removed. One feature that helps to date the building are the blackboards that are made of soft wood painted black. The 1864-65 County Superintendent’s report notes that schools are just starting to get slate blackboards.[4]
The schoolhouse is built on land once belonging to Dr. Robert H. Rose, who owned all of the land when Silver Lake Township was first formed.[5] Dr. Rose promoted the schools of Silver Like in 1841 Ireland newspapers in order to attract immigrants to the area.[6] A Pomeroy Foundation marker honoring Dr. Rose is located in front of the school.[2]. The schoolhouse is also listed on the Country School Association of America (CSAA) National Schoolhouse Registry.
- ^ Stearns, George A. (1947). The schools of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, 1795-1945. Susquehanna County Historical Society & Free Library Association. Montrose : Susquehanna County Historical Society and Free Library Assn. p. 78.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ "Cornelious Lannon to Silver Lake School Directors". Susquehanna County Courthouse Deed Record. 30: 205–206. 1862 – via Familysearch.
- ^ English, Thomas (1840). "Form of an advertisement for School meeting". Thomas English Scapbook: 39 – via Susquehanna County Historical Society.
- ^ Stearns, George A. (1947). The schools of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, 1795-1945. Montrose: Susquehanna County Historical Society and Free Library Assn. pp. 89–90. ISBN 978-1013380815.
- ^ Stocker, Rhamanthus Menville (1887). Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia, Pa. : R. T. Peck. p. 499. ISBN 978-0806379975.
- ^ Rose, R. H. (30 October 1841). "Farming...Land". The Tipperary Free Press. pp. XV 4.