The Old Watson Schoolhouse, Grand Ledge: 1870-1964

Six miles southwest of Grand Ledge, the old Watson Country School sits out in the countryside, on the corner of St. Joseph Highway and Benton Road.

This classic one-room schoolhouse was constructed in 1870 and continually showed up on old state atlases.

As with many rural one-room schools, it stopped working during the 1960s; precisely in the year 1964. Afterward it became used as a community building.

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Determined not to let this old school go the way of the wrecking crew, as so many others did, the Grand Ledge and Eaton County communities held fundraisers in order to accumulate money for renovations...and they, so far, have succeeded in saving the school. It is currently being renovated as a museum.

According to Waymarketing.com, "The restoration of the school is being done by a group of concerned citizens that have no governmental support.....The exterior is now in excellent shape; much work has to be done on the interior. It is encouraging to see a group of people dedicating themselves to restoration of a schoolhouse."

Indeed it is!

You can pay a visit at East St. Joe Highway @ Benton Road, Grand Ledge.
Photos are below...