In 1875, Center Township’s District 2 schoolhouse in Hancock County stood at the southeast corner of County Road 100-South and 100-East near land then owned by the Newhall family1. By 1906, it sat adjacent to Lee Thayer’s property2.
The Macedonia school was a popular place. The Center and Brandywine Gravel Road Company held its annual meeting there in March of 18853, and the Greenfield and New Palestine Gravel Road Company met at the schoolhouse the following June4.
Trustee John Fry built the present Macedonia schoolhouse around 18885. A Sunday school was organized by “a lot of young people6” two years later.
The building was abandoned sometime prior to 1914 when Trustee Abram Frost sold it to Daniel and Rosa Hutchison for $8007. Fortunately, the building was saved. Today, it’s home to Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church. I took a photo on Sunday just as services were in session.
Sources Cited
1 King, J.K. (1875). Map of Hancock County, Indiana from recent & Original surveys. Worley and Bracher [Philadelphia]. Map.
2 Monger, O. H. (1906). Atlas of Hancock County, Indiana U.S.A. William Mitchell Printing Company [Greenfield]. Map.
3 Gravel Road Meeting (1885, March 12). The Hancock Democrat. p. 2.
4 Gravel Road Notice (1885, June 18). The Hancock Democrat. p. 2.
5 Skvareninina, J. (2989, April 10). One-room schools rich part of past. The Greenfield Daily Reporter. p. 4.
6 Last Sunday afternoon… (1890, May 8). The Hancock Democrat. p. 1.
7 It’s All Over (1914, January 29). The Hancock Democrat. P. 1.
