A first of its kind Historic Schoolhouse tour will be offered on Sunday, April 16, for motorists who want to learn more information and visit six different schools built in the western portion of Monmouth County during a 100-year period beginning in 1847.
The opportunity for the self-drive tour to each of the sites is the brainchild of Maureen O’Connor Leach, a member of the Monmouth County Historical Commission and a leader who is involved in a number of other historical organizations and activities throughout Monmouth County.
“There is a lot of history here,” Leach said, “and these six schools tell a story that is both fascinating and important in knowing more about why and how each of the schools was built.”
Included on this self-drive tour are the 1812 Montrose School in Colts Neck, the 1915 Court Street School in Freehold Borough, the 1847 West Freehold School, the 1862 Georgia Road School, the 1855 Old Ardena School in Howell, and the 1855 Blansingburg School in Wall.
Visitors may start their tour at any of the schools between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. and visit as many as they wish at their own pace. Docents will be present at each facility to give further information and history on that particular site. Maps and information on the schools will be available at each site as well, in both hard copy and with QR code.
The Commissioner pointed out the opportunity this tour offers, since some of these schools are seldom open, and visitors can travel at your own pace and cover them in one day. Due to the diligent work of several historic societies all of these buildings have been carefully restored and display many period artifacts including vintage desks, class attendance list and photographs from bygone eras, as well as original architectural details. These edifices remain as testament to the importance our forebears placed on the need for education in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The historic interpreters will be on hand to share how each school played a part in the story of the development of education in our area.
More information on the history of the schools and a map with details of the self-drive tour is attached.Schools descriptions (1)
