An Open Letter to Our Friends

at the Pa State Historic Preservation Office

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Thank you for allowing us to send you additional information regarding the 1855 One-Room Schoolhouse in Eldred Township.

 

We fully understand that our request is outside of the norm and appreciate you giving us this opportunity.

 

One of the "hats" I wear is as Director of Sunset Park Restoration in New York State.  We were successful in our application that created, what was at that time (1988), the largest National Register district in the northeast United States with 3,237 buildings.  The research and application process was quite a learning experience.  Our home in New York is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  So I fully understand the importance of maintaining the integrity of the selection process.

 

I would like to briefly state my reasons for thinking the building's interior might still qualify for Historic Register status.

 

1. Although the exterior of the Frantz School has been altered, it maintains the original footprint and location.

 

2. It is the last of the township's 7 one-room schools.  The Christman School collapsed, the Barlieb School burned to the ground, the Correll School has decayed beyond possibility of repair, both the Smith Gap and the Kleintop Schools have become part of larger residential structures, and most recently, the Gower School collapsed. (This happened without warning and caused us to move rapidly to safeguard the Frantz School with a new roof & siding.) 

 

3. The ceiling is original to the building except for a rotted-out 3 foot linear piece that we replaced with identical vintage lumber from the school's era.

 

4. The floors are original and in wonderful condition.

 

5. The windows are original and only one of the 36 original panes is missing.

 

6. The wainscott is all original, with the most minor of damage.

 

7. The blackboards are all original, the only damage a small 2" hole.

 

8. The upper plaster walls are intact and original after extensive repair.  One section by the northeast corner was covered by plaster board at some time in the past (it is under the area where the ceiling had damage so we imagine water damage had been extensive there).  We used a National Trust Historic color, from Valspar, for the upper walls.

 

9. The fieldstone and concrete stairway and support piers are intact with minor damage to a single step.

 

10. One outhouse is still standing and can be repaired.  The foundation and waste pit of the other outhouse remains.

 

11. While furnishings do not play a role in the application process, I would like to mention the school has an original student class bench constructed without any nails or screws and the building's original "folding" seat desks. (One visitor showed us where she carved her initials in her desk when she was a student.)

 

12. In fairness, I should mention that the building now has 4 electric ceiling lights (we used "schoolhouse" globes to cover the bulbs), a circuit breaker box, metal conduit and two outlet boxes.  Also, there is a new metal security door - but it "mirrors" the original white door.

 

13. The most important factor is that the school has become a focal point of historic preservation.  We maintain a "growing" digital video archive of interviews with local residents.  We also maintain a digital photo archive of historic photos and documents.  Recently, the Eldred Township Historical Society held its meeting in the school.  And the 2018 Open House was co-hosted by the Lenape Nation after approval by their Tribal Council).  And the 2018 Earth Day clean-up was centered at the school as are many other civic events.

 

While our physical qualifications may be tenuous at best, the role the school plays in the community is solid in supporting the best purposes of the Register - the preservation of history of a specific time and place.

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Again, thank you for giving us this opportunity.