Swiss Historical program features one-room schools April 8

Author Myrna Grove will be the featured speaker at the Swiss Community Historical Society (SCHS) spring meeting at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 8.

Her talk, "Legacy of One-Room Schools" will be held in the patio room at Maple Crest, 700 Maple Crest Court, Bluffton. The event is free and open to the public; donations are welcome.

As an elementary school teacher for the Bryan City Schools, Grove enjoyed re-enacting the one-room school experience with her students at area one-room schools. 

Through the Williams County Historical Society, Grove also provided a day-long one-room school session of lessons for grades one through eight at the historic 1901 Hay Jay School near Pioneer, Ohio.

As a director for the Country School Association of America, Grove participates on three of their grant committees. She also serves on the board of the Michigan One-Room School Association. She has been a presenter at the annual conferences of both organizations.

Grove researched and wrote a book about the beginning of one-room school districts in the six states of the former Northwest Territory, with Ohio being the first. The photo-illustrated book titled "Legacy of One-Room Schools" will be available for viewing. Information about all of Grove’s books is available at www.mgrovebooks.com .

During the April 8 presentation, Grove will share background history and pictures about early schools and describe what a typical one-room school day was like. The SCHS will display memorabilia from local schools.

The Swiss Community Historical Society honors and preserves the history of the Bluffton-Pandora community. The society owns and operates the Swiss Homestead at 8350 Bixel Road. For more information, visit www.swissmennonite.wordpress.com.