I was driving through White County near the northwestern portion of Indiana when I stumbled across this old frame building near of Burnettsville. Based on its appearance, I assumed it may have been an old school so I grabbed a couple of photos just in case. As it turns out, this was Jackson Township’s old Shull Schoolhouse!
The Shull’s schoolhouse appears on an 1898 school map of White County1. It’s also listed as the District 6 school in another old map from when Isabelle Stine owned its surrounding acreage2. Clara Turner -the ultimate schoolmarm name- taught class at the District 6 schoolhouse in 19033, but that’s about all I can write with confidence.
In 1931, an article about Jeptha Shull, a Civil War veteran who was fatally injured in a car crash, made reference to a Shull schoolhouse on property then owned by a Mrs. Musselman4. A Hixson plat map I found showed that the Musselman family owned the land around the District 6 school in 19255.
The rest of my information is conflicting. A 1907 article about Jackson Township schools listed six in service -Idaville, Old Spencer, Thomas, Wilburn, Jackson, and Shull. At the time of publication, Shull’s students were “hauled off” to nearby Burnettsville, where a consolidated building stood6. Still, though, the Shull schoolhouse appeared to have been taught by Iva McClelland as late as 19197! Whatever the case, Jackson Township was only home to schools in Idaville and Burnettsville by 19278.
The old Shull Schoolhouse has a new roof these days, and I bet it serves for agricultural storage. Although the frame Shull schoolhouse closed perhaps a century ago, its successor in Burnettsville lated until a 1963 consolidation into Twin Lakes. Fortunately, the old gym is still visible! Read more about it here.
Sources Cited
1 Smith, B.W. (1898). School map of White County, Indiana. William B. Buford [Indianapolis]. Map.
2 Orton, A.R. (1900). Map of White County, Indiana. A.R. Orton [Baltimore].
3 Jackson Township Schools (1903, September 3). The Monticello Herald. p. 5.
4 Civil War Soldier Fatally Inured In Auto Accident Monday Forenoon (1931, June 11). The Burnettsville News. p. 1.
5 Hixson, W.W. (1925). Plat book of White County, Indiana. W.W. Hixson & Co. [Rockford]. Map.
6 Outlook For Jackson Township Schools Never Better (1907, September 6). The Idaville Observer. p. 1.
7 Jackson Township (1919, September 25). The Burnettsville News. p. 5.
8 Teachers For Jackson Township Schools (1927, August 24). The Monticello Journal. p. 4.
Hi Ted, Just finished reading the write up you had on the old Jackson Township old school house in white county, near Burnettsville ,IN.
Coincidentally I live only about 7 miles to the west and north a little , Idaville mailing address. If I had known you were here so close you could have stopped by for a visit and stretched your legs a bit.
I bet you stopped over to Indiana Beach didn’t you? Lol.
You may remember chatting with my brother Carey and I about our great great grandfather James McLaughlin, who is laid at rest in the Granville Cemetery, Delaware County,IN.
So happens, that the restoration of the damaged stones of our family members is taking place as we speak, the footer was done a few months ago.. I believe I mentioned to you about James had the General Store near Gate’s Corner, a previous write up of yours.
Oh I thought I’d mention to you that I went to a Jackson Township School, down in Madison County, near Anderson back in the Mid 60’s and it was an 8 grade school!!!.
Thought you might get a chuckle out of that.
Well Ted, you sure get around.
Well, if you’re ever up this way your welcome to stop in for a visit. The best to you and yours, Jay McLaughlin
Hey Jay, I had no idea you were so close! I was midway through a slog that took me from Muncie to LaGrange to LaPorte to Warsaw and back; was very tired by the end of it! No Indiana Beach that day, unfortunately.
I remember our conversations about Gates Corner and saw the footer last time I was at Granville. Looks great! Not sure if you heard, but the Jackson Twp. school in Madison County was hit by a tornado and the gym was destroyed (read more here: https://tedshideler.com/2025/07/09/29660/). I’ll have to go out and see if its been replaced next time I’m out that way!