Center Township’s District 6 schoolhouse is one of Hancock County’s oldest institutions. Known as Forest Academy in 1860, the building was home to the first county teacher’s association1! Its replacement was built in 18892 in the “Woodbine District3.” Eventually, residents and patrons began referring to the place as the “Independent” or “Independence” school.
For all its early importance, attendance was sparse at the District 6 school. By the time it closed in 1921, the largest graduating class consisted of a scant nine students4! The building proved its worth the following year, though, when the home across the road burned down. Its residents, the Pope family, moved into the schoolhouse while they rebuilt5.
Over the years, the schoolhouse fell into disrepair. It was used as a sheep barn! Before he sold it, Loren Pope converted the building into a dwelling. Eventually, it was remodeled into a two-story home. Today, the original chalkboards and wood flooring of Center Township’s old District 6 schoolhouse have been preserved6.
Sources Cited
1 History of Townships of County (1928, October 8). The Greenfield Daily Reporter. p. 9.
2 Steele, N. (2007, February 1). Architectural school. The Greenfield Daily Reporter. p. 1.
3 The County In Brief (1889, August 29). The Hancock Democrat [Greenfield[. p. 5.
4 Durham, A. (1997, June 3). Cousins recall their days in 1-room schoolhouses. The Greenfield Daily Reporter. p. 1.
5 Durham, A. (1997, June 3). Born Again. The Greenfield Daily Reporter. p. 1.
6 (See footnote 2).
