“I wonder where they got all those teachers from?” In that moment, it once again hit me how alike my son and I are. I’ve been a question asker since I could speak and while it can be endearing, it can also be a lot. When he was still in the single digit age group, we sometimes had to step in when he heard the phrase “Does anyone have questions?”, because he always did. Questions have a way of creating more questions and my husband and I realize that others may not find it as adorable as we do. My now sixteen-year-old does ask fewer questions these days, but they are much more complicated to answer. But to answer my question, you’ll need to know why, where, and to whom I asked it. Outside of Danville, off Route 642 is an unassuming little red building with a sign that reads “Mooresburg One Room Schoolhouse”. I’ve driven past it dozens of times in my life, not knowing the history at this place went far deeper than funny looking desks and a school bell.
I met Shane Patterson, Vice President of the Montour County Historical Society on a beautiful sunny day at the school, the kind of day that that kids dream about in January during math class. But it was a perfect day to head back to school in Mooresburg. One room though it may be, inside it was a large and surprisingly bright place. Rows of desks lined the floor, with sizing increasing with the ages of the students. The huge Beaver coal stove just inside the door provided heat in cold winters. I learned about traveling music teachers and about school bells as communication for the surrounding farms. I also found out this schoolhouse was open for students until 1964, and that there were over 90 of these schools operating at one time in Montour County!! And that’s how I got to my original question. The answer led to a discussion about the history of the nearby Teachers College, how community groups got together and hired teachers to support their local school, and what sort of curriculum would be taught. Then he asked if I was ready to see the rest. "The rest of what?" I thought. It’s a one-room schoolhouse. Shane led the way to a small building, about the size of a garden shed. I don’t know what I expected but it certainly wasn’t what was revealed. I stepped inside to see windows all around, set higher than an average house window and giving a wonderful view of the skies. I was standing in a WWII Watch Box.
BEAVER COAL STOVE
WWII WATCH BOX
27
July–September • 2026
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