This small wooden building is the former one-room Andrews Schoolhouse. It dates back to the 1800’s. The school was originally located at the northeast corner of 25 Mile and Mound Roads. It was named for Hiram Andrews who owned the land on which the school was built. The school was moved to its present location in 1976 as part of the Shelby Township’s Bicentennial project.

1842

The first land grant for an eighty-acre parcel of land on which the school was later located was received by Abel Warren in 1842. He and his wife Sarah then sold a portion of the land to William and Laura Miller. Two years later they then sold twenty acres to Hiram Andrews for $300.

1844

Hiram Andrews, along with Jeremiah Curtis and Alanson Arnold, were district board members for School District #4 of Shelby Township. It was during this time that Hiram Andrews’ land was leased “for the sole purpose of a School house and no other”.

1864

On September 8, 1864 the land was once again leased for a period not “less than 50 years” to the “Fractional School District #4 of Shelby and Washington”.

Documents imply that the school itself was not built until sometime after September 8, 1864 since in his recorded deed of that date Hiram Andrews made the following added provision, “That said District shall build a Schoolhouse on the aforesaid premises and use the same for School purposes for the consideration of which I receive $12.”

1871

The Schoolhouse was built at least by 1871 as records dated that year refer to “5/8ths of one acre with schoolhouse thereon.” At this time the land was owned by Chester Andrews, son of Hiram who died in 1869, and leased for 90 years to “the Fractional School District #4 or Shelby and Washington Townships at the cost of $10 provided that the said District use the same for School purposes.” This school district later became part of the Utica Community Schools.

1950 

The building was periodically used for class into the 1950’s. Shelby Township’s population increase soon outgrew the Schoolhouse. It was unused for a time and then had a succession of owners, one of who converted it into a two family flat. Later it was purchased by Amoco Oil Co. who hoped to locate a service station at 25 Mile Road and Mound.

1975

Shelby Township, as a Bicentennial Project, sought to purchase, remove and restore the building. In April of 1975 the building was sold to the Shelby Bicentennial Committee for $1. 

One of the conditions of the sale was that the building be moved within 90 days.

The original plan was to use an Army cargo helicopter from Selfridge to drop a hook an sling arrangement around the building and fly it to its new location. It was later decided that this might crush the building, so they attempted to lift it by its roof. The roof came off! Finally, a U.S. Army Transport crew and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers moved the building by ground transport to its present location.

There were many problems! The concrete foundation didn’t fit, the building was placed on the foundation backwards, the roof was damaged beyond repair, the walls were weakened, and most of the remaining tenants, wood-eating beetles, moved with the building!

A master carpenter, Heinz Lambertz, and three assistants were hired with Federal funds to solve the problems. A new roof was put on just weeks before the first snowfall. An exterminator rid the building of its inhabitants, wobbly walls were secured to the foundation, and the ceiling was braced against the gabled roof. The back of the building was made to look like the front as doors and what was once a cloakroom were moved. Insulation and new wood siding were added.

The bell tower and its original bell were reinstalled adding to the charm of this one room Schoolhouse.