The Many Schools of Upper Makefield

Today, Sol Feinstone Elementary School serves all of Upper Makefield Township. Over the years, there have been at least 15 different schoolhouses in Upper Makefield that served the grade school children. Most of these old schoolhouses still exist. 

Betts School - 466 Woodhill Rd. Built in 1827, the property was conveyed by William Lownes to the trustees of his neighborhood on February 21, 1798. Used as a school until the Taylorsville School was built, about a mile away, in 1854. After it's disuse as a school, the local Methodists conducted church services and sunday school in the building until the Taylorsville church was built. Today, it is a private residence.

Betts School Today

Betts School 1850 Map

Brookside School - 204 Thompson Mill Rd. Built and deeded to the school directors by Stephen Betts, Jr. in 1869. The school was discontinued due to low enrollment in 1929 and the property was purchased by Howard Walker. The schoolhouse was sold and some of the public weren't happy about it, as it was still in good repair. Currently a private residence. When you look at the 1937 aerial, you can tell why it was named Brookside, as Jericho Creek runs nearby.

Brookside School 2013

Brookside School 1937 Aerial

Sep 18, 1930 Newtown Enterprise

Brownsburg School - 1440 River Rd. Deeded to the trustees from Joseph Thornton April 1, 1834. Due to lower than required enrollment, the school closed in 1944. Neglected and disused, the building fell to ruins and was demolished to make way for housing in the 1980s.

Brownsburg School

Aug 24, 1944 Newtown Enterprise

Brownsburg School Stove

Brownsburg School 1980

Brownsburg School Rubble

Buckmanville School - 200 Lurgan Rd. From Joshua Smith to the school directors April 1, 1850. Built by William Starkey, the original foundations of the 1850 schoolhouse are still visible and the datestone bears his initials. The schoolhouse was rebuilt by Frank Heston in 1892. In 1930 a 1 1/2 story masonry and stucco addition was built onto the facade, the datestone was moved and incorporated into the addition. Disused as a school in 1946, but reopened from 1952 to 1954 for fourth grade. It was then sold to residents who formed a group to save it. It is currently used as the headquarters for the Jericho Valley Community Association.

Early Picture of Buckmanville School House

Buckmanville School

Buckmanville School as Community Center

Buckmanville School Today

September 9, 1948 Newtown Enterprise

Dolington School - 825 Dolington Rd. Deeded to the school directors by Cornelius Slack on Jan 6, 1860. This schoolhouse is two stories high and replaced a school on the Makefield Friends' meeting house grounds, a short distance up the road. Grade school was taught on the first floor, and high school on the second. The schoolhouse was sold in April of 1954, when Woodhill Elementary was completed. There was no longer a use for Dolington School. It is currently a private residence. 

Dolington School as residence

Dolington School

April 25, 1954 Newtown Enterprise

Ad for Antique Store in Dolington School

Fairfield School - 1083 Eagle Rd. Deeded from William Burroughs Heston to the school directors. Built in 1872, it replaced the old schoolhouse known as Hayhurst which stands a few hundred yards up Eagle Rd. It became disused as a school when Woodhill Elementary was built in 1954. Presbyterians later held Sunday school in the schoolhouse. After The Eagle, it was the polling place for Upper Makefield Township. Sold by the school directors in 1964, today it is a private residence.

Fairfield School

Fairfield School with addition

Fairfield School Today

Hayhurst - 1091 Eagle Rd. Built 1804 and leased to the trustees of the neighborhood by Benjah Hayhurst, November 12, 1805. Also known as the Eagle. Later uses included a shed for cattle salt, which gave it the nickname the "Salt Box". Still standing, well-restored, on the lane to Hayhurst's. 

Hayhurst School 1948 Pre-Restoration

Hayhurst/Eagle/Salt Box

Salt Box Today

First Highland School - 1599 Wrightstown Rd. The first Highland School was held in the John Reeder House. Reeder conveyed the property to the school directors June 7, 1851. School was held there until it was moved to a location a mile down the road in 1856.

John Reeder House - First Highland School

Locations of the Highland Schools

Second Highland School - 1699 Wrightstown Rd. Land from Kinsey Harvey to the school directors March 21, 1856. Replaced the Reeder School, about a mile away. Originally a frame building that was moved to the site, later removed off the side by Asa McNeal. Replaced by the stone building in 1879. School discontinued in 1921, sold in 1927 and is currently a (badly) remodeled dwelling. The students were bussed to Fairfield School.

Second Highland School 1926

August 12, 1922 Newtown Enterprise

Second Highland School Today

Lurgan School - Lurgan Rd. and Old Ln. In 1755 a school was erected at Lurgan that had a dual use as a Quaker Meeting House. It lasted until 1850, was later used as a dwelling and torn down around 1913. Nothing remains today. Oliver H. Smith, member of Legislature and Congress once remarked that he graduated from "Lurgan College." Of Lurgan School, Davis says in 1876:        

At the southern base of Bowman's hill, is a small hamlet called Lurgan, after the birth-place of James Logan. In a little one-story building, now used as a dwelling, was kept a day-school half a century ago, where were educated several prominent men. Among the scholars were the late Judge John Ross, Oliver H. Smith, Senator in Congress from Indiana, Dr. John Chapman, Edward Smith, a learned man, Seth Chapman, son of Dr. John Chapman, lawyer and judge, Dr. Seth Cattell, a student of and who succeeded, Dr. John Wilson, but died early, and others of note. Amongst those who taught at this primitive seminary, were Moses Smith, afterward a distinguished physician of Philadelphia, Mr. McLean, a noted teacher, fine Latin scholar and mathematician, Enos, the father of Hiram Scarborough, of New Hope, celebrated for his penmanship, and Joseph Fell, of Buckingham. The glory of Lurgan is departed, and most of her scholars, statesmen, and jurists have gone to the "undiscovered country."

Lurgan School House 1850

Lurgan School Location

Makefield Meeting School - 877 Dolington Rd. Prior to the erection of the Dolington School, there was a school on the grounds of the Makefield Meeting Property. Erected in 1755 it remained until it was torn down in 1830. After that it was replaced by a two-story building with classes on the first floor and the Dolington Library on the second floor from 1839-1840. The library was then discontinued and the books sold. The building was demolished in 1883.

Makefield Meeting

Sol Feinstone/Woodhill Elementary - 1090 Eagle Rd. Opened on September 20, 1954, on land donated by Sol Feinstone, this elementary school initially serviced the students in the vicinity of Woodhill, later the entire township. The name was changed from Woodhill School when Sol Feinstone built the school a library in 1963. Currently an elementary school, grades kindergarten to 6th and is the polling place for Upper Makefield Township. For more on the schools of Woodhill see this post. 

Woodhill Elementary School

Sol Feinstone Today

Taylorsville School - 1102 Taylorsville Rd. Deeded from Mahlon K. Taylor, prominent local merchant, to the school directors November 1st, 1854. Opened in the spring of 1855. Replaced the Betts School, about a mile away. The schoolhouse was condemned and school was discontinued on December 1, 1926. Students were moved to the new Washington Crossing School. Sold, along with the Highland School in 1927. Later a general store and currently a bank. It is said that many participants of the Civil War attended school there. 

Taylorsville School Class Pic

Taylorsville School

Taylorsville School as a General Store

April 22, 1927 Newtown Enterprise

Washington Crossing School - 1260 Lord Sterling Rd. On land deeded from A. P. Townsend, built in 1926 to replace the condemned Taylorsville School. Four room schoolhouse, closed in 1966. By that time Woodhill School had expanded and could accommodate all the pupils from the one-room schoolhouses in the township. Currently a nursery school. 

Washington Crossing Elementary

Washington Crossing Elementary Today

Wiggins School - 355 Pineville Rd. This springhouse was built in two sections, with the datestones 1798 and 1824. According to D. W. Atkinson, Benjamin Wiggins' daughter taught school in this springhouse. It is still extant, now separated from the other outbuildings by Pineville Rd. It has recently been restored.

Wiggins Springhouse

Other Schools - During the time when schools were being closed and students transferred, third grade classes were held in the home of Lester Minkel, Taylorsville Rd, from 1952-1953. The next school year the classes were transferred to the Township Building.  There certainly could be other, yet undiscovered school locations.