WHAT HAPPENED TO THE FIRST VILLAGE SCHOOL?

Did last week’s post make you wonder about the 1st Village School?

The original K.F. Village Schoolhouse is one of the oldest buildings in Porter. It is said

to have been built and used as a schoolhouse on the Daniel Towle farm in Porter from

1829 – 1841. In 1842 the town of Porter moved it to its present location on the corner

of Chapel and School Street. It was the school for District #4 until 1889 when the new

Village School building was built on Main Street.

Village School Dist. #4 prior to 1889.

In December 1889 the building was purchased by the newly organized Advent

Christian Church (1887) and they remodeled it as a church.

Advent Christian Church - 1923

During the ministry of Rev. Lee Judkins (1969 – 1972) they left the Advent Church

Conference and changed the name to the Calvary Bible Church. By 1996 the church

membership had outgrown the building and, under the Rev. Barry Judd, made plans to

build a new church in So. Hiram. The first service in the new South Hiram church was

held on Easter Sunday, March 27, 2005.

The old school/church building was sold and was renovated as a private residence and

is still located at #5 Chapel Street. The exterior looks much the same as this picture,

taken about 2004.