Meridian Historical Village Operated by the Friends of Historic Meridian

History of the Randall School

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This one-room schoolhouse is the only building in the Village that was not relocated from another area of Meridian Township.  The only one-room schools left in the Township are currently private residences.  Fortunately, the Friends of Historic Meridian (FHM) found an available building in Conway Township, north of Fowlerville, Michigan, and relocated the building to the Village in 1987.     The Randall School was built in 1883 to serve grades first through eighth. The school cost $853.45 to build in 1883.  It served the fractional districts of Conway and Handy Townships in Livingston County.      Attempts to establish a good water well on the property were unsuccessful, so the teacher had some of the students go to a nearby farm every day to pump buckets of water for their use.     The school was continuously used until 1975, and then was used to store farm items (including corn) until the 1980's when it was slated for demolition.     There was a "great debate" in Conway Township as to whether to destroy the building or restore it.   Lack of local support for restoration threatened to see the building destroyed.  Locals were relieved when Eugene Defendorf donated the building to FHM to relocate the building to Meridian Township and restore it for public use.

The Randall One-Room Schoolhouse

The Move and Restoration

Rural Education

Typical School Day

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