Octagonal Schoolhouse Needs Help to Continue Legacy

With eight public schools in the Tredyffrin-Easttown area separated by grade level, cramming 60 students into a one-room schoolhouse is a peculiar thought.

Planted on the corner of Diamond Rock and Yellow Spring Roads, the Diamond Rock Schoolhouse has been a Paoli landmark for the past 195 years. The octagonal structure contains a number of original artifacts and furniture pieces, attracting anyone from historians to local families for a brief tour. The Diamond Rock Schoolhouse Preservation Association currently tends to the property and holds free open houses on Sundays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

“It’s important because this building has stood for almost 200 years and it’s a piece of living history that the city can enjoy and participate in,” said Susy Baum, President of the Preservation Association. “There just aren’t many public buildings available like this. It’s in its original form.”

A Piece of History

In the early nineteenth century, the Chester County grasslands were widely populated by Welsh and Mennonite people, and schools were scarce. In 1818, local George Beever donated a corner piece of his property - the current grounds of the schoolhouse - to construct the first free, public school in the area.

Anyone could attend the school, and the pupil-teacher ratio was typically 60 students to one instructor. Community members donated books, and the school provided young people with an both education and respite from grueling farm work.

In succeeding years, the population peaked and students attended neighboring Walker and Salem Village Schools. The Diamond Rock fell into remission, closing its doors in 1864 for the next four decades.

In 1909, an assemblage of former students resurrected the disheveled building, creating the first semblance of a conservation organization called the “Old Pupils Association.” The group transformed over the years, forming a legacy that continues today.

“The feeling I get when I come into this schoolhouse is how much people loved it. They gave their time to preserve it, they donated their books to be used as educational materials,” Baum said. “I feel the love that people felt for this place and the value that they put on education. I hope families and children can feel the same inspirations.”

Continuing the Legacy

A substantial amount of upkeep allows the one-room, octagonal property to remain as a historical site. Responsibilities of the preservation association include tree trimming, grass-cutting and landscaping, along with volunteering to host the open houses and attending two yearly board meetings.

There are also various administrative tasks. Earlier in the year, Baum received a letter from the Township requesting proof of the school’s 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization status which led to substantial paperwork and phone calls. Additionally, the association needs to arrange times and estimates for workers to repair the stucco, repaint the exterior and fix the roof.

The association also periodically contacts state Rep. Warren Kempf, requesting the segregation and restoration of a small, double parking spot across the street to assure the safety of visitors and travelers.

In terms of funding, a decorative seasonal wreath and contributions to grounds maintenance are donated by the Covered Bridge Garden Club. The Horseshoe Trail Questers, which closed its chapter recently due to aging members, also provided grants for the schoolhouse.

As the current officers and trustees of the association rotate out of their positions, Baum hopes to recruit residents to succeed them and continue the preservation of the school house.

“My biggest concern is that people won’t be interested in continuing the school,” she said.

Local passersby or tourists typically account for the visitor base on Sundays, according to Baum.