Last week The Old Schoolhouse magazine posted on their Twitter account that they were looking for some good one-room schoolhouse pictures. Unfortunately, a search of the One-Room Schoolhouse Center didn’t find any in my area. Especially not with these gas prices.
The next day I heard that Kathleen Duncan was doing a homeschooling high school seminar in Rome, GA, this week. (If you plan to homeschool through high school and Kathleen is speaking anywhere near you, go.) Also in Rome is Berry College, home to one of the five one-room schoolhouses in Georgia. The internal wheels started spinning at this point.
I made last-minute plans to attend the seminar and photograph the schoolhouse. After over two hours of driving, I arrived at Berry. The one piece of trivia that I know about Berry is that it happens to be the world’s largest college campus. Did you catch that? The world’s LARGEST college campus.
When I entered the front gates of the college, I had forty-five minutes until the beginning of my seminar. Unfortunately, the folks who made the directional signs at the school didn’t feel it necessary to point you towards a former church/schoolhouse dating back to 1850 which was nestled somewhere within the property.
After driving around I realized two things: I wasn’t going to find it on my own, and I would probably get lost if I kept trying. Returning to the front of the campus, I rolled down my window and stopped a lady who was able to give me directions. I had actually been going in the right direction, just not nearly far enough.
At the end of a dirt road I emerged into a clearing with Possum Trot School to my left, and gasped at the site. My fear was that I would find a modernized building. What I discovered was stunning in its simplicity: beautifully aged and weathered wood; moss-covered roofs and overhangings; a foundation of randomly piled stones. Perfection.
I shot seventeen pictures in five minutes and left Berry’s front gates five minutes before my seminar began, and was actually on time!
Built in 1850 as a church and used as a school from 1900-1954, Possum Trot’s history can be found here. Only time will tell if one of my pictures will find its way to the cover of The Old Schoolhouse. The peaceful time spent in the afternoon quiet with this beautiful structure is a special memory, no matter what, and I love the pictures.
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The last picture is gorgeous!! What a treasure!
Beautiful shots, Dawn. I love that it’s called Possum Trot! Cracks me up. I hope to see it on TOS one of these days.
Diannes last blog post..Wordless Wednesday – Two Heads Are Better?
Very nice, You just know when that was built that it was way out in the middle of nowhere but now it is on grounds of the largest college campus. Odd.
shannons last blog post..Wordless Wednesday – Leaf Angel
That’s totally awesome. The bottom shot is just beautiful. It’s truly a treasure!!
Happy WW!!
Elaine @ Commotions last blog post..Wordless Wednesday: Birthday Surprise
I have a photo somewhere of my mom (back in the 1920’s) in front of a schoolhouse that wasn’t much different than that.
Pamela The Dusts last blog post..Not Mr. McGregor’s Garden
I love old buildings like this. The door is incredible. Nice shot.
Rhondas last blog post..Wordless Wednesday
nice shot. i also love the last one.
happy wednesday. hope you can visit my WW!
milet
Awesome pictures! I’m so glad you stopped in to check it out. I had no idea that Berry was the largest school and housed one of the oldest first schoolrooms too. What a neat find. 🙂
killlashandras last blog post..Wordless Wednesday – Foam Creations
That is really neat. I love old building. I one spent over an hour taking photos of an abandoned house. You took some great photos. Happy WW.
Happy WW!
Charlottes last blog post..Wordless Wednesday-The Teal Wall
So pretty!
Mine is up, Country Roads Fall Edition 😉
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Happy WW!
Jennifers last blog post..Wordless Wednesday #22
What a gem! A magical WW to you!
What a sweet, sweet place. You did a wonderful job with the pictures.
after all the trouble you went through, I hope yours gets picked!
nice shots!
carrie-the gremlin wranglers last blog post..Movie Making Counts For School Too
Cool! (There’s also a 1 room schoolhouse @ Stone Mt. Park)
Happy WW
Nikowas last blog post..Impromptu Learning
Beautiful shots and I would have driven 2 hours to see that beautiful building too.
Awesome.
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marias last blog post..ABC Wednesday – M – Mommy
I would say it should make the cover Dawn. It’s a beautiful building. Isn’t it interesting that the schools at one time needed a ‘church’ to hold classes in? Now they don’t want to have anything to do with God.
Sisterlisas last blog post..Protect Marriage, Vote, and PRAY!
Love the last shot. I love old buildings like that anyway, but this is a terrific image of this one.
if they don;t pick one of these, they’re CRAZY!
You should have called me! I could have gotten you to Possum Trot! You had a pretty good tour of Berry if you got all the way out there! Your pictures were lovely!