The Little Red Schoolhouse

Built in 1879, this one-room school is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is restored to its original condition by the Little Red School House Historical Society The rural beauty of the valley in which it is located is formed by the Hannacroix Creek as it wends its way to the Hudson River. Along the banks of this stream were once many mills that were powered by its waters, but today it is merely a quiet place to sit and read or fish or just dream. The general appearance of the school building has changed but little in the 120 years since it was built. The wooden tower houses a schoolbell which is rung at special times and a clock which is still in operation. The interior contains an old-fashioned schoolmaster's desk and a pump organ to accompany the singing. The earliest records indicate that in 1847 Mr. Stephen Whitbeck was the trustee of the school, with Garrett Whitbeck serving as district clerk assisted by Samuel Cranston. Stephen Litchfield was collector and James Blodgett was the moderator of the meetings. These records indicate that the building in use at that time was made of wood. According to the records of the district meeting, the need for a new building was discussed in 1873, but it was not until the district meeting which was held on August 6, 1879 that the district voted favorably to construct a new building for $1001.00. Stephen Lawson was trustee at this time and E. Shear was acting clerk. The students from grades one through eight, who lived in the district, attended school in this building. They were all taught by one teacher, as was customary in these one-room schoolhouse. Although many students completed their education at this point, those who went on attended high school in Ravena or Coeymans. In 1949, when the Ravena-Coeymans Central School District was formed, the schoolhouse was taken over and operated by that district. In 1957, when the district expanded to become the Revena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central School District, the Little Red Schoolhouse was finally closed. The building then stood vacant until it was purchased from the district by the Little Red Schoolhouse Historical Society in January, 1964. The interior has been restored to as near as its original appearance as possible, and although none of the building's original furnishings were available, interested people from nearby districts kindly donated pieces they had acquired when their schools closed: the double desks, teacher's desk, bookcase and mapcase (and the volumes to fill them), woodburning stove, etc. The Little Red Schoolhouse Historical Society presently operates a seasonal museum at the building, although special events are held at different times throughout the year and schools, historical groups and others may schedule a visit by special appointment.