The Morgan School Cache Traditional Cache
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Size: 
(small)
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The Morgan Schoolhouse Cache
I have a strong infinity for one room schoolhouses, I think it’s because of my prior life endeavors. We were driving along this county road when the Morgan Schoolhouse appeared. I thought this would be a great place for a cache. The Morgan Schoolhouse served the families of Platte Township from 1868 to 1950. The original building was a log structure with the present building erected in 1889. I can just imagine if these walls could talk, the stories we would hear.
Because of the importance of education to the early settlers of an area, the schoolhouse was built quickly and often served as the community center. The children were hardworking and received a good education. In the early 1900s there were about 7,000 one room schoolhouses in Michigan.
Pupils who attended a one room schoolhouse were in grades 1-8, and the older students would help the younger ones with their lessons. Children used slates to do their written work since paper was scarce and expensive. The teacher used the Bible for lessons and had a switch to use on unruly students. The school teacher and the students were responsible for cleaning and maintaining the school, starting the fire in the potbelly stove, taking out the ashes, and many other chores. The wood burning stove was placed either in the center of the room or in a corner. With the students either freezing or if near the stove, roasting. Lunches were brought from home in tin pails and the pupils shared a wash basin, soap and towels. Washing before lunch and after playing at recess were required. There were often separate outhouses for boys and girls. The school teacher frequently boarded in the students’ homes spending a few weeks with each family. The teacher was expected to help with the family’s chores, in addition to tutoring the children.
Many of these historic school buildings are being preserved and used as museums for today’s students to visit and to learn about past. Today, our education systems might learn valuable lessons from some of the practices of the one room schoolhouse.
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