away for the weekend: little rural schoolhouses

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

little rural schoolhouses

Last week while trying to find the oldest building in Jamaica
we did something we rarely do
- took a leisurely stroll through town.
My plan was to give you a little mini-tour of Main Street
but - well - my photos -
HUGE disappointment.
Does that ever happen to you?

Anyway -
while researching this rural village, I became interested in the old village schoolhouses.
In the 1800s, there were 14 one-room schoolhouses scattered throughout the town of Jamaica.

Town Library
Now the public library, this building was once the Village School.
(but I'm not certain if this was one of the original schoolhouses)

The "new" Village school is just a short walk down the street.


And then
 several miles down the road in the little town of Bondville
Barb @ Live and Learn commented that she frequented this town library while living in Vermont
-once a one-room schoolhouse


I took these photos back in early January. This one is a real cutie.


I love the way these little rural towns have kept their historic schoolhouses in use..

So far, I've located two of the original one-room schoolhouses (possibly three).
And I have a feeling that Greg is just going to love my new project ;-)

Rurality Blog Hop, Walk and Click Wednesday


33 comments:

  1. It's amazing the things we discover when we take a leisurely stroll through town. I like to do that on sunny Sundays in the town that I live in.

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  2. Oh I love old school houses and I think the people that buy them and preserve them should be applauded. Great shots. B

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  3. Love these old and repurposed school houses. What a fun adventure looking for them.

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  4. Ohhhhhh....I love old buildings...school houses in particular since I was a school teacher :) Thanks for sharing! Love the deep red of the 1860 building <3

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  5. the last one is really cute and classic, but i like the blue doors on the first. :)

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  6. What an interesting project! I love the last one! Beautifully photographed! I recently found an old one-room school house smack dab in the middle of a cow pasture!!

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  7. I think your pictures are great! The snow against that red schoolhouse looks so pretty!

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  8. The first thought that crossed my mind when you mentioned strolling through Jamaica in a leisurely fashion... was thoughts of Kingston, Jamaica. It would be ill-advised.

    Then I saw the pics and realized my error.

    Beautiful surroundings and buildings!

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  9. I think your photos are great! But yes, I've had that happen where I was disappointed in my pics when I thought I would have some great shots.

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  10. I was distracted by your comment that you were disappointed with your pictures, I think they are wonderful! I love these cute historic towns, so fun to wonder around and take it all in!!

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  11. Your photos are wonderful, but I totally understand what you're saying.

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  12. Ooops - sorry - I wasn't fishing for compliments. I didn't post the ones I thought were terrible. I'll do a mini-tour another time.

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  13. Yes, sometimes photos just don't work for some reason ~ Love the school house photography ~ Excellent!

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  14. You have started a very interesting project and I will be anxious to see your pictures as you add to your collection....I love this little red school house. I cam just see kids running in and out of that door so long ago....

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  15. Great captures of some really cute and historic buildings! Yes, I also have some days that my photos just dont turn out like I want them to.

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  16. There's one that's preserved as a museum 1/2 mile from us. The people who used to live in the house we live in now went to that school...and there's pictures up of them in the schoolhouse. The outhouses are still there, the place is furnished like it was back in the day. There's outhouses. There's a door for boys and a door for girls. Their textbooks are there. Their chalkboards. Their erasers. It's so neat! :) I'm betting if we all saw your pictures, we'd love them. You have a knack for capturing great scenes. :)

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  17. Karen, your discoveries make me think I should take a closer look at the little used-to-be mining town I live in ... Lafayette, Colorado. I love how you've found schoolhouses that have been converted to libraries. How apropos. BTW, I didn't think you were fishing for compliments, but your images are a delightful documentary. Thanks so much for sharing at Walk and Click Wednesdays! Do come again. ;->

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  18. Love that you are hunting down one room schools houses! The little red one that is now a library is just the cutest. Looking forward to more of these finds.

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  19. It's nice that some communities preserve and reuse old buildings, which unfortunately does not happen here on the VA eastern shore. Vacations always seem too short, which is why I am so glad we are retired as every day is a vacation.

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  20. The town library is gorgeous! I attended a one-room school as a child here in Australia but it wasn't as pretty as this one.

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  21. You found some attractive places on such a cold day.

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  22. hahaha....poor greg, i can imagine he's probably just as excited as nick when i need to get photos :D i love these little school houses...and yes, i am disappointed often when i get back to look at my pictures that i was sure were going to be wonderful lol

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  23. Mostly I take dud photos, but on occasion I get one that I think looks pretty decent. These are beautiful pictures, especially the schoolhouse.
    I'm a new follower over from the Rurality Blog Hop.

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  24. Love those blue doors-- So inviting!
    jj

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  25. It's awesome to see them still being used & in such wonderful shape! Beautiful =)

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  26. Love that... Thank you for joining in 'Rurality Blog Hop #3' Hope to see you next Wednesday for #4...

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  27. What beautiful buildings. Lovely that they have been kept in such good condition.

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  28. So glad they kept them. I wish more towns would and restore them. I like them kept in their original form however.
    From a former teacher - lovely post! I look forward to seeing more.

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  29. I keep seeing you on other blogs I read & decided to check yours out. Love your blog. We ( my husband & I ) have visited the east coast, and loved Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. Your blog has captured so many things we love about it. The schoolhouse turned library is a gem !

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Your comments make me smile!