Mom and I were driving around Morgan County in search of old Long Line towers when our trip led us down the winding Wilbur Road just northwest of Martinsville. The pavement was hilly, if nondescript, until we came across an unexpected piece of history: the old Wilbur schoolhouse. Sometimes, the best finds are the ones you don’t plan for!
The community of Wilbur traces its roots back to the 1830s, but a post office was finally established in 1873. The Wilbur School was built about three years later. The single-story gable-fronted structure is sometimes recognized as an example of Italianate architecture thanks to its arched windows and gable oculus1, but I’d call it Italianate vernacular. It was probably designed by local tradesman based on the availability of building materials.
I’m unsure of when the building stopped serving students, but it was converted into a community center in 1950. That year, a twelve-by-forty-one foot block addition featuring a kitchen and restrooms was added to the east side of the structure. Soon, it was rechristened the Wilbur Community Center2.
After the school closed, a dedicated group of local citizens took on the task of preserving the building. Over time, however, they faced increasing challenges in maintaining the structure. In 2019, county officials stepped in, agreeing to acquire the old schoolhouse and make it part of the Morgan County Parks Department3.
In 2023, the restored building was rededicated in a ceremony that attracted about a hundred people4. Today, it remains standing proudly in Wilbur as a reminder of Morgan County’s rural heritage.
Sources Cited
1 National Register of Historic Places, Wilbur School, Wilbur, Morgan County, Indiana, National Register # 93000473.
2 (See footnote 1).
The Old Wilbur Schoolhouse C1876 (n.d.). Morgan County Parks [Martinsville]. Web. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
4 Rhoades, K. (2023, April 13). Old Wilbur School House opens to public after restoration. The Martinsville Reporter-Times. Web. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
