Whenever young families move to a new area, a few factors rank high on their list of importance. Neighborhood value, local crime rate and the quality of the local schools. Take a trip back in time and visit the legacy of Franklin County’s oldest schools.
When it comes to educational institutions in Franklin County, the first that comes to most people’s minds is the historic Old Brown’s Mill School in Greencastle-Antrim. The small, one room, gray brick structure was originally one of the first log schoolhouses in the country, built in 1789, but is not the house that still stands today.
Rebuilt in 1836, The Old Brown’s Mill School was funded by the local parents of students, many of which also took the role of teacher. This self-funded campaign came about as a result of the Pennsylvania Free School Act, which was established to “create a general system of common schools across the commonwealth.”
The Act, which was not embraced by all local citizens, authorized the imposing of taxes by local districts to bring educational institutes to all children in the state. While the Act did provide some structure to the educational system and the building of county schools, it did not provide funding for the building of the Old Brown’s Mill School, which is why the people of Brown’s Mill came together to build it themselves. The school taught its last class in 1921, but the building would still be a part of the community where it was the site of many social events.
Chambersburg also holds a spot in the educational history of Franklin County. In 1908, The Mary B. Sharpe School was built on Broad Street. At the time, it was known as the Broad Street School. The building was constructed by well-known building designer, Franklin Keagy, the man responsible for rebuilding many of the buildings that were destroyed by the 1864 Burning of Chambersburg at the hands of Confederate soldiers during the Civil War.
The Broad Street School was renamed in 1933, for Mary B. Sharpe, a prominent citizen who donated much of her fortune to the local school district. The school would remain in operation until 2008, making it one of longest running schools in the county. The building, which is now preserved as a historical landmark, currently serves as an apartment complex.
Waynesboro boasts of having some of the oldest schools in the county. Starting with the Bourns Cabin/Hill School, which was built in 1770, the Pigeon Hill School, in 1851 and was the first public school in Waynesboro. Second Street School, which was constructed in 1872. The North Street School in 1890, which is still standing and is currently used as an apartment building. Snider Avenue School built in 1902 and also serves a new purpose as an apartment complex. Last, but not least, the Clayton Avenue School, which was built in the early 1900’s and currently serves as the administration building for the Waynesboro Area School District.
These are but a few of the schools that have educated the thousands of children in Franklin County since the colonial days of the region. Some are still standing and can be visited by the curious who have an appetite for history. Some are serving the community in new ways, offering a home for new generations to grow. Schools are one of the most important structures in any community, and Franklin County’s history and legacy are among the most significant in all of Pennsylvania.
