
Ferry Street School - Niles, Michigan
Posted by:
BruceS
N 41° 49.903 W 086° 15.091
16T E 562150 N 4631362
Former school in Niles, Michigan.
Waymark Code: WM2VAN
Location: Michigan, United States
Date Posted: 12/24/2007
Views: 43

Ferry Street School
Constructed in 1867 at a cost of nearly $3,000, the Ferry Street School
opened in January, 1868 as Niles's school for "colored children." In 1870 the
Niles school system was integrated, and this facility closed. It reopened as an
integrated school in 1873. The west wing was added in 1903. From 1956 to 1975
the School for Exceptional Children was located here. In 1975 concerned citizens
began restoring the original building to its nineteenth century style.
Nineteenth century one-room schools in this community typically contained a
woodburning stove, woodbox, water bench, coat pegs, wooden blackboards and long
rows of desks. One teacher often taught two grades. Lessons were in reading,
writing, spelling, numbers, declamation and geography - - all with a moral. This
school provides a link to schools of yesteryear. ~ text of marker