One Room Schoolhouses in Caledonia, Michigan ~ April 8, 2021

Caledonia has two one-room schoolhouses so I am including both of them in this post. The DeTray School at 4011 100th Street is the more interesting building (1887), even having its own outhouse (unknown if it's an original part of the school).

The tree swallows were busy in the bell tower today.

We could not get inside nor could we see through any windows, except through the one pane that was broken out.

Just a few miles away is the Barber School, opened in 1839. It was the first school in Caledonia Township (find it between Maple, Kinsey, and South Streets).

It was moved to this location in 1994 and has an old blacksmith shop as a neighbor.

There is no visibility into the school but there are no broken windows either. Caledonia is worth the drive if you'd like to see two one-room schoolhouses preserved from the 1800s.

Sessions School and Alonzo Sessions' Gravesite ~ Saranac & Ionia, MI

The school (2999 W. Riverside Dr, Saranac) was built by Alonzo Sessions in 1847. Its claim to fame is made somewhat tentatively by this plaque.

Missing an 's'

The building is really cool to see. Unfortunately, you cannot see through the three existing windows nor can you gain entry. But it's still worth a visit.

The school was closed in 1898 and a larger school was built across the street. This newer school is currently owned by the Ionia County Sheriff's office and there is no getting near it.

The 'Posse' is an all-volunteer auxiliary support unit that assists with security and traffic control at special events and I guess they hang out here and practice with firearms. We thought it best not to trespass 😊.

The builder of the 1847 school, Alonzo Sessions, was born in New York in 1810 and moved to Ionia in 1835. He married Celia Dexter, the daughter of the founder of Ionia, Samuel Dexter. Alonzo and Celia now rest peacefully together in Highland Park Cemetery in Ionia. They might be surprised that people still drive from all over to look at the old school.