CHARLESTOWN TOWNSHIP
SCHOOL HOUSES
(Prior to 1900)
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The first school was reportedly held in the home of James Anderson, with
his son, James, as school-master. As early as 1735 there were two
schools, one at Fountain Inn and one at Moore Hall; and another on the
Davis Farm on Pickering Road. Frog College, at William's
Corner in 1820, and Amity, Union, Little's and Fetter's pay schools.
The public school system began in 1837, with Union, Little's, Amity, and
Hopewell (Fetter's) School Houses.
In the beginning, the school term was for 3-1/2 months. In 1841 the
school term was increased to six months, but in 1844, the term was reduced
to five months. Beginning in 1845, the schools were to remain open
for two Saturdays each month (the directors deciding to discontinue this
practice at the April 7, 1859 meeting). At the March,
1863 School Board meeting it was approved that the school term be
increased to 200 days. In 1866, the school term was again increased,
to a nine month term.
Beginning in 1849, Summer School was held in the school houses of Amity,
Hopewell (Fetter's), Little's and Union. The schools were opened two
months before harvest and one month after harvest.
In 1852, the School Board met to consider the erection of a new school
house for the colored children in the upper end of the township. Not
until February, 1857, were two board members appointed to purchase ground
for the building of such school house. In November, 1857, the
Directors accepted the newly built school house for colored children, from
contractor, William Walker.
According to the minutes of the School Board meeting in 1910, there were
142 pupils enrolled, with an average daily attendance of 85
students. The cost of tuition, per pupil was .13 per day.
In 1923, Frank B. Foster, offered $20,000 to begin the consolidation of
the Charlestown Township Schools.
The school board purchased 1 acre of land for $100, from Alfonso Alleva.
Mr. Alleva had previously donated three acres of land for the consolidated
school. A well, 90 feet deep, was dug on the site. The
construction of the new Charlestown Consolidated School had
begun.
By November of 1925, the teachers were teaching in the newly built
Charlestown Consolidated School.
In 1926, three of the old school houses were sold. Hopewell School
House for $790; Amity School House for $1000, and Little's School House
for $1500. In December, 1927, the last school house, Union, was sold
for $350.
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