10/08/2026
Who remembers the One Room School building being moved in 1998?
“Of the 10 one room school buildings in Middle Township, only one remained by the mid 90’s. The Pittsboro One Room School #3 was built in 1883. It was located on the farm owned by Frank McClung. Prior to this, it was a frame building and was located on the Southwest corner of the Edgar Park farm. The school was used until 1919 and was then purchased by Frank Haynes to be used for grain storage. The building was inherited by his wife, Magnetta Hayes, and then by her two daughters, Edna McClung and Helen Hayes Williams. Frank McClung inherited it from his mother and aunt. Frank McClung sold the One Room School to North West Hendricks School Corporation for $1.00 when the One Room School Committee was formed in February of 1996 to renovate it. The building was to be moved to its new location on the Pittsboro Elementary School grounds. All of the $200,000+ was raised by the One Room School Committee-a wonderful cooperative effort among school children, staff, and parents and members of the community, in cooperation with White-Lick Heritage Foundation (now Hendricks County Community Foundation). Dana Dillman chaired the committee. Northwest Hendricks School Superintendent Larry Rambis and Pittsboro Elementary School Principal Leslie Hassfurder donated hours of their own time in support of the project.
Moving day finally came on February 10, 1998, as the building slowly traveled down country roads and across Interstate 74 to its new home. There were many area residents who came out to watch the move. There was a welcoming celebration, complete with a balloon launch by the students. After many more hours of work, many of them by volunteers, renovations were completed by the Spring of 2000, when pilot classes from Pittsboro and North Salem Elementary Schools, as well as Tri-West High School, were hosted. The official opening occurred on August 26, 2000, with a grand community celebration. Field trip classes were then accepted in the fall of 2000. Students in grades three and four, and home school groups, experience a day of school in the year of 1892. Adult groups are also hosted for short programs. In addition to classes from Hendricks County Schools, field trip classes arrive from Tippecanoe, Putnam, and Marion Counties. In 2008, there were 2,759 scholars who attended the Pittsboro One Room School. This number was made up of 77 school groups, and 12 adult groups. Engraved bricks placed at the One Room School entrance were purchased for $100 each.”
Description taken from the Pittsboro Terquasquicentennial 1834-2009 Book
What memories do you have of the One Room School?
