Researching Huntington County’s old Ginger Hill schoolhouse -District 8 in Jackson Township- introduced something I’d never seen before: an 1879 plat map that shows it as “Contemplated S.H. No. 81!” Indeed, that’s the year it was built on land owned by William Brown2.
I don’t know much about the original Ginger Hill schoolhouse except that it was destroyed in a 1909 conflagration. The fire was caused by a defective stove and left only the building’s brick walls standing. Although the building was considered modern upon its erection, township officials knew it’d have to be replaced soon3. The walls were knocked down shortly after the fire and the present building was up by 1910. Unfortunately, the Dutch Corners schoolhouse, similar in design to the extant Ginger Hill structure, wasn’t ready in time4.
The proprietors of the Ginger Hill schoolhouse were fond of oyster suppers and other community events. In 1910, one raised $39 (a whopping $1,300 today) to buy the school a new piano5. At that point, Ginger Hill was considered one of the newest and finest in Jackson Township6.
Unfortunately, the Ginger Hill schoolhouse didn’t serve long after it was rebuilt. A consolidated school at nearby Roanoke had been in the works for years before plans moved forward in 19237, and the two-story brick structure with seven grade-school rooms, two assembly halls, five recitation rooms, other spaces, and a gym/auditorium opened in 19258. Ginger Hill appeared to stay open through 1921 when it hosted a cakewalk and a box social9, but didn’t show up on a 1921 plat map10. Due to its proximity to Roanoke, I bet it had already closed.
Today, the old Ginger Hill schoolhouse is a home. It stands out for its narrow T-shape, brick-filled arched entrance, and window infills. The inscription over its front door has been removed, but it’s quite obviously an old school- one of few that remain in Huntington County.
Sources Cited
1 Combination atlas map of Huntington County, Indiana, 1879 (1879). Kingman Brothers [Chicago]. Map.
2 (See footnote 1).
3 Ginger Hill School House Totally Destroyed By Fire (1909, March 25). The Huntington Herald. p. 1.
4 Jackson Schools Near Completion (1909, October 1). The Huntington Herald. p. 1.
5 Ginger Hill School To Have New Piano (1910, December 10). The Huntington Daily News-Democrat. p. 6.
6 (See footnote 5).
7 Plan New Roanoke School (1923, March 23). The Huntington Press. p. 6.
8 To Dedicate New School At Roanoke (1926, February 4). The Huntington Herald. p. 1.
9 Box Social (1921, November 2). The Huntington Press. p. 3.
10 Huntington County, Indiana (1921). Ford Map Company [Indianapolis]. Map.
