STEUBENVILLE — The Pleasant Hill School House Museum is planning an open house on Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. The schoolhouse is located at 3125 State Route 213 in Steubenville. Visitors will have the opportunity to see how students were taught in a one-classroom setting in the 1880s.
It will be a guided tour, according to secretary Connie Crawford, a former Edison Local School teacher who began the one-room schoolhouse restoration project with Gloria Renda and Karen Lundquist.
Among the sights guests will see on their tour is the recently renovated bell tower with its restored original school bell. It literally took a community to make the project what it is today, the women said. Donations, luck and many blessings have made it possible to preserve many of the space’s original features.
Built in 1836, the building served as a church until 1880. After that, it was used as a school until 1952. It was home to a few local families until the late 1970s. The first attempt to restore the building was made in 1976. A second attempt was made in 1986. Finally, in 2008, a third attempt to restore the schoolhouse was approved and work soon began.
Open houses are held on the second Sunday of every month from 1 to 3 p.m. Crawford and former teachers Joyce Zimmerman and Avis Henry dress in the style of 19th century teachers. Pleasant Hill’s schoolhouse once housed about 48 students. There was one teacher for all the students and she was usually about 14 years old.
Board members said they want to become more connected to the community and host more events with food and entertainment at the museum.
“We are looking into bake sales, food trucks, movie nights and other events that the community would like to have,” officials said. “We are looking for volunteers to help with events and repairs at the museum and are accepting donations to purchase window coverings to help with heating in the winter.”
The cost is approximately $200 per window. The donor’s name will be placed on the cover.
Anyone wishing to help can contact President Ryan Finney at (740) 381-0592. All donations can be sent to: Lara Finney, 151 Lovers Lane, Steubenville, OH 43953.
There will be a square dance on September 7 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Knoxville Fire Hall, 15447 State Route 152 in Toronto. This is the museum’s second annual square dance and is open to the public and people of all ages. Admission is $8 for a couple, $5 for individuals and $10 for a family. There will be food, drinks and cake walks. For more information, contact Crawford at (740) 544-5666.
Another event the museum is hosting is a Christmas festival, scheduled for Nov. 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Knoxville Fire Hall. Artisans, vendors and artists will be there selling holiday items. There will be a Chinese auction, a 50/50 drawing, and soups, sandwiches, desserts and drinks for purchase. Anyone interested in selling their wares can contact Finney. The museum and its events can be followed on its Facebook page.
