Historian Larry Kidder is set to discuss Mercer County’s one- or two-room schoolhouses from the 19th century on Sept. 6.
Kidder’s presentation is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the Charles Fish Barn at the Howell Living History Farm visitor center, 70 Woodens Lane, Lambertville. Doors are set to open at 7.
Using the Pleasant Valley School, located adjacent to Howell Farm, as a case study, Kidder will discuss the experience of attending the school between 1820 and 1936. By looking at the experiences of some of the school’s students, he will explain who was required to attend, how the school year was organized, how the classrooms were organized, who taught the students and other aspects of going to school in Pleasant Valley.
This talk is based on research conducted by Kidder for his book The Pleasant Valley School Story, which was published in 2012. The Country School Association of America presented Kidder the 2013 Scholarship and Artistry Award for his book.
The Pleasant Valley School Story is available for purchase at the Howell Farm gift shop and Kidder will sign books after the talk. Proceeds from book sales are set to help Howell Farm develop programming at the school.
Today, the Pleasant Valley Schoolhouse is owned by Mercer County and administered by Howell Living History Farm as part of the Mercer County park system. It is currently being used to interpret a variety of topics relating to both education and community development in the time period 1820-1968. The schoolhouse was purchased in 1938 and modified by a former student, Franklyn Wooden, to be his family home. The Wooden family owned the house until Mercer County acquired it in 2003.
The schoolhouse will be the focus of the Back to School program offered at the Howell Farm scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 7. During the program, children are invited to go inside the school and experience history and geography lessons similar to those taught during Howell Farm’s period of interpretation.
Tours of the schoolhouse and Wooden poultry farm are scheduled for 1 to 4 p.m. on Sept. 8.
More information is online at mercercountyparks.org and howellfarm.org.
