A critical piece of local history was saved recently when this photograph mounted on a crumbling cabinet card was brought to the Leelanau Historical Society Museum (LHSM). Curatorial Assistant Elizabeth Adams shared in a blog post this week that the photo was discovered in the donor’s home and hand delivered to the historical society in Leland.

She says, “History angels is a term in the history field for individuals who have taken it upon themselves to rescue artifacts and see that they are given a good home and are accessible for future generations to appreciate. A history angel recently discovered this photograph of the Fractional School District No. 2 in Solon Township, built in 1898.”

It is the earliest known image taken of the schoolhouse, known colloquially as the Neumann School. This school was located on the corner of M-72 and Cedar Road (County Road 651) and was in operation until 1945.

In the 1990’s, the Leelanau Historical Society began a project called “One-Room School Project.” Staff and volunteers collected photographs, artifacts, oral histories of teachers and students, and began mapping out the one-room schoolhouses across the Leelanau Peninsula. Each schoolhouse had its own unique story; some documented better than others.

At that time the historical society captured the recollection of Irene Buchanan of her school days in the one-room Neumann School during the 1910’s.

She shared: “We carried a dinner pail [to school]…they were lard pails…jelly sandwich and a jelly glass with canned fruit in it…not many bananas…that was a treat, you know…our school was fortunate, we had cocoa! And a pail of water and a dipper [there was no well at this school] and a wash basin.”

Adds Adams, “It’s been almost thirty years since the public “The One-Room School: Leelanau’s Education Legacy” exhibit. The files have not had additions made to them, save a few new photographs, and updated student’s names over the decades. A collection, such as the one at the Leelanau Historical Society, is only as good and thorough as the items a community contributes.”

Head here to see Adams’ full story about this piece of local history saved and to see a comprehensive list and map of all the one-room schoolhouses in the county. And check out the Leelanau Ticker’s feature about the young family saving the 130-year-old schoolhouse on the corner of County Road 641 and Lakeview Hills Road.