Finding information on this school has been most difficult. I called some people familiar with the “Red Schoolhouse” on Hwy 61 south of Boscobel, Grant County, but they did not know much about its history. I found that strange since one of those I called was the Marion Town treasurer and was taking donations to maintain the school!
Quite by good fortune, I found a Marion Township map from Great County 1895 and spotted the location of School Nr. 3 right on the highway where I found it, on the property then of Joseph Hinn. I also found a record of Joseph Hinn. He was born in Biederbach, Freiburg, Germany, in 1828 and died in 1905. He became one of the most prosperous farmers of the community.
This Red Schoolhouse was built in 1864. People with whom I talked said they believed it closed in the 1960s, but no one was sure. One of their parents attended it.
“The original and earliest seat of educational interests in this section was a log building standing near Bull's saw-mill, and, in fact, forming one of the mill annexes, serving as a school-room during the day, and a lodging place at night. The ruler best remembered in this little kingdom was a female pedagogue, by the name Lucinda Beaudine. The educational advantages offered were of the most limited kind, owing to numerous causes, prominent among which were the somnolent qualities developed by the lady. These qualities were the result of too much of what is known in olden times as "sparkin'." Girls, it is explained by one of the early attendants at this pioneer school, were scarce in those times, and Lucinda was, as a consequence, in great demand, first with one of the country beaux and then another. Midnight vigils and early rising are certain in time to produce a greater or less degree of somnolence, and the present was no exception to the rule. Therefore, while Miss Beaudine slumbered, her young pupils availed themselves of the opportunity afforded, and indulged their propensities for immoderate bathing or other congenial pursuits, until the sharp rat-a-tat on the door-casing told that a spirit of wakefulness obtained in the school-room, when a resumption of duties would follow.”
