Read time: 3 min.

Here’s a look at the Jefferson Township District 3 schoolhouse in Jay County. The person who lives there reached out to me a couple weeks ago, curious if I had any history on it. I didn’t know much about it at first, but I love a good challenge! Here’s what I’ve uncovered so far.

I know plenty about plenty of schoolhouses, but District 3 in Jefferson Township wasn’t on my radar during my first purpose-driven visit to Jay County. After spending a day taking photos of the ones I knew about, I unexpectedly came across this school on my way home. I couldn’t resist pulling over to capture a quick shot, and I made sure to include the crossroads where it stood so I’d know where to research.

I eventually learned that James McKinty was the farmer who gave a portion of his farm to Jefferson Township to use as a school¹. In 1887, the institution sat on McKinty’s land at the southeast corner of what’s now the intersection of County Roads 700-West and 400-South². 

The present building was erected in 1896³. Over time, it became commonly known as the McKinty school. In 1906, the ten-year-old son of a local farmer got kicked in the head by a horse he was trying to drive on the building’s grounds. His condition was listed as “very serious,” and the Muncie Morning Star speculated that he might not recover⁴.

I haven’t been able to track down the kid’s fate, but the old McKinty schoolhouse may have outlasted him as an educational institution. It appears to have remained open as late as 1926! That year, it was featured on a plat map of Jefferson Township published by W.W. Hixson & Company of Rockford, Illinois⁵. 

1926 seems late to me. I suspect the schoolhouse was shuttered after the consolidated Governor I.P. Gray school opened a few miles away in 1912. At any rate, the old McKinty schoolhouse was eventually remodeled into a home and expanded. I hope someone chimes in with more information!

Sources Cited
1 McIntire, D. & Shideler, T. (2024, September 30). Personal communication.
2 Atlas of Jay County, Indiana (1887). Griffing, Gordon. & Co. [Philadelphia]. Map.
3 Parcel 38-10-08-200-001.000-024 (2024). Office of the Assessor. Jay County [Portland]. Web. Retrieved October 15, 2024. 
4 Old Family Horse Crushed Boy’s Skull (1906, November 2). The Muncie Morning Star. p. 6.
5 Plat book of Jay County, Indiana (1926). W.W. Hixson & Co. [Rockford]. Map.