The first school built on this site was completed in 1804. It is said to be the site of the first Public School System in Bergen County. The land was obtained by Jacob Van Winkle, who instructed that it be used to house a school and charged only one peppercorn as rent (which was actually quite pricey at the time as it was an Asian spice that had to be imported.) Next door to the school housed the schoolteacher and the house she lived in still exists today as well.
Since it's start, the schoolhouse has been torn down twice. The first time in 1849 resulted in its rebuilding of a two-floor school, which was needed because of an increase of population. A second teacher was hired and both floors of the school were used.
In 1893, the building was again torn down and rebuilt to a one story, one room building again. However, they did salvage parts of the 1849 building that still exists there today, including the cupola which can be seen in the first image. The Little Red School House, as it has come to be called, was used as a Lyndhurst school until 1978 and is currently used as a museum for the Lyndhurst Historical Society. The inside is split up to display a replica of an old classroom on one side and special exhibits on the other. It features many special exhibits, displays and events. To read more about the current display at the Little Red Schoolhouse click here.
The sign inscription reads:
"The first schoolhouse was built on this site in 1804. Located in what then was called New Barbadoes Neck, the land was donated by Jacob Van Winkle “for the sole purpose of erecting a School House”. In 1849 it was replaced by a two-story building. The present one-room school, with Queen Anne style cupola, was built in 1893. It continued to be used as a Lyndhurst school until 1978."
I don't know Lyndhurst - how did it run a one-room school house until 1978? With one teacher?
ReplyDeleteIn reading the article, it struck me as sad that where a former theater stood (by accounts grand), there is now a Wendy's. Really, that is just depressing. It also reminds me of why this kind of project is necessary. I'd like to see a google map that focuses on old movie houses (a particular area of interest of mine), where they were, and what they are now.
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ReplyDeleteThat is a very good question!! There were actual photos inside the school house of some of the graduating classes and I'm pretty sure it included some photos from the 70's of the school teacher and class. Although it is a small town, Lyndhurst today has at least 6 or 7 elementary schools. I thought it must have been VERY interesting to be a student in that school when there were other schools in the town as well. I think I remember reading somewhere that it may have been a special needs school at one point but I can't seem to find that information again.
ReplyDeleteI also agree about the theater. It was supposedly a remarkable theater and yes, definitely depressing to see it replaced by a Wendy's. When visiting the schoolhouse, you can see blueprints for it and also see where the town used to have a lake and an outdoor swimming pool.
I grew up in Rutherford and have driven by the River Road School on many occasions. Up until now I did not really know any of the details regarding the building. I found it very interesting that the rental fee was one peppercorn, do you know if this was per week or month? As with the Long Pond Iron Works, I wonder if the next generation will take on the task of maintaining and celebrating this small treasure.
ReplyDeleteI read your other post first about the school house being haunted, and even though the school house looks seemingly harmless and quite quaint, I can't get the image of the ghost on the stairs out of my head. I keep thinking that inside of the school house are the ghosts of the children that used to go there.
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