Oxford Historical Soc. Working To Preserve Historic Schoolhouse

From Oxford Historical Society: The Oxford Historical Society has begun work to preserve an 1840’s era schoolhouse to be moved to the Society’s Twitchell-Rowland Homestead site on Towner Lane.

The schoolhouse, now at 561 Oxford Road, is being donated to the Society by owner Daniel J. Sears for restoration to provide a living history experience for children and adults.

In addition to the Sears family donation of the building, the town of Oxford has agreed to provide Community Activity funds to pay a structural mover for the actual moving of the building. The Society has already begun first steps in assuring the building’s future, by having cross-bracing and collars installed to give the building more stability during the winter. In the spring, the Society will hire preservation contractors to replace the sills so that the building can be safely transported. In addition, the Society will need to have the roof removed, so that the schoolhouse can pass safely under electrical power lines enroute to its new home. The move is scheduled for August.

At the site, groundwork will be necessary to prepare the space for the foundation that will go underneath the structure. When the foundation is complete, guests at the schoolhouse will be able to go underneath the schoolhouse and view the original floor beams, which bear the initials carved into them more than a century ago.

Preservation work will include replacement of the roof, a variety of interior work to restore the building to its original condition, and the installation of 1850’s era school furnishings and supplies. The Society is seeking grants and private donations to help with the expenses of the preservation of this 1850's era schoolhouse. Oxford at one time had 13 public one room schoolhouses and five private schools. Of these 5 have been re-purposed for houses or other uses; a dozen have been lost to demolition or neglect. Only Mr. Munn's schoolhouse remains in original condition and available for restoration by the Historical Society

Oxford Town Historian, Dorothy A. DeBisschop, is asking all ION Bank customers to consider helping move the schoolhouse by voting for the Oxford Historical Society in the ION Bank Community Awards program, starting Feb. 1st. Each vote will send $25 for preserving the schoolhouse. “Each ION bank customer can help the Society preserve this treasure of local educational history, and your help will be greatly appreciated,” she said.

In addition, persons wishing to support the preservation effort may send donations to Oxford Historical Society, Inc., Post Office Box 582, Oxford, CT 06478. Donations may also be made online at http://www.oxford-historical-society.org.

Image via Oxford Historical Society