A schoolhouse has anchored what’s now the southwest corner of County Road 200 South and State Road 5 in rural Grant County for well over a century. As early as the 1860s, an institution serving Monroe Township’s District 7 stood there on land owned by James Hults1.
That early schoolhouse was probably log or frame. It was replaced by the present structure in 18972 and named Center, thanks to its location in Monroe Township3. Three years after it was built, a contingent of local boosters recommended that a graded school be erected there4.
Aside from nearby crossroads communities like Friendly Corner and Arcana, Monroe Township was never really home to a town of its own. Because of that, some of the area’s schools were abandoned in the early 1920s so their students could be sent to nearby Upland. The Center schoolhouse seems to still have been in operation as late as 19345, but certainly closed by 1937 when the rest of the township’s schoolchildren were sent to Jefferson Township and Van Buren6.
Today, the old Center schoolhouse has been artfully repurposed as a home.
Sources Cited
1 Neal, W. & Overman, A.C. (1861-1869). Map of Grant County, Indiana. Middelton, Strobridge & Co. [Cincinnati]. Map.
2 Grant County Office of Information & GIS Services. (2025). Parcel ID: 27-08-21-100-010.001-020. Grant County, Indiana Assessor. map, Marion, IN.
3 Democrats to Hold Meeting (1922, March 26). The Marion Leader-Tribune. p. 18.
4 Day At Oak Chapel (1900, August 28). The Marion Chronicle. p. 2.
5 Farmers Will Vote Tonight (1934, October 1). The Marion Chronicle-Tribune. p. 2.
6 History of Jefferson School (1949, April 22). The Upland Courier. p. 3.
I remember in the mid 60’s Center Chapel church held Sunday services at the school house for at least a couple weeks. Kids classes were outside on the grass. I can’t remember why- if I ever knew- but it seems as though there was some construction being done on the church.
Very interesting! I know that church has been expanded several times. At least.