I’m An Old School Kind Of Guy

On my recent road trip, I went old school. That is, I visited two old schools. Old, as in one-room schoolhouses. The kind only of few of us actually experienced. The two schools are only 20 miles apart. Likewise, both are well preserved. There is, however, one significant difference.

Often, some governmental agency or a historical society maintains these well-preserved old schools. However, it’s not unusual to find an old school building that is now privately owned. However, well preserved and privately owned is not a typical combination.

Bichet School

The first old school we stopped at was Bichet School. Bichet was built  using native limestone in 1896. It closed in 1946 due to low enrollment and sold at auction. It been sitting unused for going on 75 years and still appears to be in excellent shape. This is rather amazing for a privately owned schoolhouse. It’s a testament to the quality of the original construction and the care of the owners. Although we could not see the inside, I’m appreciative of the opportunity to visit.

Lower Fox Creek School

Lower Fox Creek School is another one-room schoolhouse. It too is built from native limestone, however, the style is different from Bichet. Built in1882, the National Park Service (NPS) now administers the building. The NPS reports, “The school was closed in 1930 and the district was disbanded in 1946-47. At that time, the schoolhouse and its grounds reverted to the adjoining ranch. A tornado or windstorm destroyed the original roof; a tin replacement was put on and the building was used to store hay.”

The NPS website also reports, “From 1968 to 1972 the 14 Garden Clubs in the Mid-East District of Kansas selected the school’s restoration as their special project. The clubs raised funds and renovated the building to as near its 1882 appearance as possible.” They’ve done an excellent job of restoration.

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