Bichet School, District 34 - Florence, Kansas - U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Waymarking.com

"The Bichet School District 34 is [listed on] the National Register of Historic Places... for its architectural significance and its educational contribution to the children of the French speaking settlement four miles east of Florence, Kansas.  The school was build in 1896 and continued to serve the community until 1946 when it closed because of low enrollment.  The last class had two students.  August and Georgia Lalouette, owners of the site, purchased the school house for $600 when it was sold at auction.

The Bichet School stands as the second school to serve the settlement.  Prototypical in its design and use of native limestone, the school represents one of many one-room schools that were constructed every three miles or so in each township.  These schools were funded with public money and usually stood on an acre of land donated by a farmer.  Until consolidation forced the closure of many of Kansas's one-room schools in the 1950s and 1960s, Kansas children learned their ABCs and algebra in small groups taught by only one teacher.  For the students at the Bichet School, the educational experience must have been unique.  Serving a primarily French speaking student population, lessons were taught in English but the cultural identity of the school was enhanced through the bi-lingual abilities of the students.

The Bichet School's architecture is an excellent example of the typical one-room midwestern stone school built during the late 1800s.  Built by a skilled local craftsman, the one story school was constructed of native limestone, with a stone foundation and entrance steps.  There is an imposing bell tower on the gabled roof.  The school has 18 inch walls which were common.  Like many schools of the time it is rectangular shaped and symmetrical with one centered door on the front facade facing east.  The side elevations have three large, deep-set windows with lintels sills.

The Bichet School's architectural significance is in its similarity to other stone buildings that were built in the Marion County area.  Barns, wash and smoke houses, schools churches and homes, some of wich are still standing, are of the same vernacular style and design.  However, its architecture can also be described as distinctive and unique.

The builder, Oscar Johnson who was a well known stonemason and artisan left examples of his decorative work on the quoins, cornices, lintels, the intricate arch stone where the date and "District 34" appears, the round decorative window and the bell tower.  He was foreman for a rock quarry which yielded magnesium limestone.  The rock was cream colored, it hardened upon exposure, was extremely durable and could be easily sawed into any shape.  If this limestone was used for the school it could explain its good condition.  The existence of the stone outhouses and stone cave compliment the building." - National Register Nomination form

Street address: 4.5 mi. E of Florence on US 50 and 1/10 mi. N of Bluestem Rd. Florence, Kansas County / Borough / Parish: Marion Year listed: 2004 Historic (Areas of) Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering Periods of significance: 1875-1899, 1900-1924, 1925-1949 Historic function: Education Current function: Vacant/Not In Use Privately owned?: yes Primary Web Site: [Web Link] Secondary Website 1: [Web Link] Season start / Season finish: Not listed Hours of operation: Not listed Secondary Website 2: Not listed National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   05/12/2011 wardnkathy visited it