Former school was stop on the Underground Railroad
Photo at left: In the 1800s, this Bloomfield Township school was known as Congo School. More Mystery Place photos are GALLERY
The former school west of Genoa City on County Highway B was known as Congo School in the late 1800s, and is now a private home.
The school was District No. 1 in Bloomfield Township.
Historical records of the time include the name Mr. Congo, and indicate he was an African American man who lived about a half mile from the school.
In the mid-1800s, the school also was used as a safe house for the Underground Railroad, and in 1876, the plat book noted a community called Congo in this area.
The schoolhouse was built in 1856 and was 28-by-20 feet. It was dark red on the exterior, and dark green inside.
Evelyn L. Brown taught at the school during the 1909-’10 school year and earned $35 a month.
In September, she had 21 children, ranging in age from 5 to 14. Her report said the schoolhouse was clean, had new desks and a relatively new stove and a blackboard made of paper.
New panes were provided in the windows that needed them, and the grounds were in good condition.
By the end of the school year, Brown wrote that she had added three older boys to the class.
In 1918, the class had 19 students. One of the first graders was Emil Hammerstrom, who still lives nearby.
He told me that his teacher was Miss Leedle and that the school day ran from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Hammerstrom attended the school all eight years, while learning the three Rs — reading, ‘riting and ‘rithmetic. They also had a music class.
Arithmetic was Hammerstrom’s favorite subject. All classes played together during recess.
The school was heated with what was called a “chunk stove” because it was fueled with chunks of wood.
As was typical of students in those days, Hammerstrom walked to school.
Warren S. Bauthling taught at the school in 1955, and in his annual report wrote that he had 24 students in grades 1-6.
The district officers that year were Clerk Renetta Webb, Director Elmer Fries and Treasurer Donald Snudden.
The 1956 report indicated the district was part of Genoa City, and in the 1956-’57 school year joined the Genoa City Elementary School District.
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