Issue date: 10/15/08 Section: News

Greenwood School Museum, a one-room schoolhouse on campus at 800 Hayes Avenue, will be preserved. (Alycia Rockey / The Daily Eastern News)

Ted Ostrem and the Coles County Historical Society became concerned when they heard a rumor that moving the Greenwood School Museum was being discussed.

An agreement was signed in 1974 between the Eastern Board of Trustees and the historical society.

The agreement allows for the school to be on Eastern's property and requires the historical society to maintain and upkeep the facility.

The board can terminate the agreement at any time, as long as a 90-day written notice is given to the society prior to the date of termination. The society is then required to remove the facility and restore the premises to its previous condition.

Greenwood School Museum is located at 800 Hayes Ave., near Buzzard Hall.

The Greenwood Schoolhouse is a one-room schoolhouse, built in 1862 and originally located southeast of Ashmore. The school officially closed as a schoolhouse in 1948. It was moved to Eastern's campus as a museum in 1975.

Ostrem, president of the historical society, became aware of the discussion to move the schoolhouse after a reporter from the Charleston Times-Courier contacted one of the historical society's board members toward the end of September.

He said that was the first he heard about the possible moving of the museum.

Ostrem and three board members then met with President Bill Perry.

Perry said he told them the university was not going to move anything.

There had been some discussion within the university regarding the Greenwood School Museum, he said.

"There had been some discussion about expanding the playground for the child development center there in Buzzard," he said. "But that would have required the moving of the fence and of course the property is described here in the agreement. Those conversations have been put on hold."

Ostrem said Perry attended the historical society's board meeting the night he met with some of the members to further reassure that there were no plans, either short term or long term, to move the school.

"There is no concern at all anymore," Ostrem said.

Perry also said he told the historical society that if the university had an idea of something to do with the schoolhouse, it would first talk with the society first.

Perry said only if there was an agreement would the university do anything to the property.

"It's a partnership, and as with any partnership, we just need to be in contact with each other about the ideas we might have to make it more and more a part of the fabric of our overall community and region," Perry said.

Perry said he liked having the Greenwood School Museum on campus. He said it was a nice tribute to the early teachers, especially since Eastern started as a teachers' college.

"It's a nice piece of history," Perry said. "I think there's some effective ways it's been used in the past and is being used now. I think there are other effective ways we can use it for."

The schoolhouse is currently available for rental for receptions and other activities. Ostrem said various elementary schools and teachers often use the facility.

"It's a valuable resource both to the historical society and university, but we feel it's being underutilized," he said.

Ostrem said with the new Doudna Fine Arts Center, the museum will be able to capitalize on the use of this new building for more receptions in the schoolhouse.

A number of upcoming programs throughout the year are children-oriented, and Ostrem said the schoolhouse could be host to punch and cookies either before or after the event.

Perry also spoke about the university helping spruce up the grounds around the schoolhouse, Ostrem said.

Ostrem hopes that over the next year the schoolhouse can get a new sign, an expanded parking area and also work on the landscaping.

Perry said it is possible the university could work together with the historical society to do some interesting planting with perennials and other plants children normally would not see.

"The idea would be to keep the property and school intact, but turn the surrounding property into a bit of a botanical garden or something like that," he said.

Perry said this garden would provide teaching experiences for young students.

"If we want our children to learn something, say learn more about nature, for example, then you plant gardens, you take field trips, do things like that," he said.

Perry said nothing would happen to the property without first having a conversation and agreement between the parties and approval of the Board of Trustees.

"I can't imagine doing anything to the property that wouldn't just enhance its effectiveness in presenting the history of the one-room school to current generations," he said

Ostrem said the historical society was grateful for Perry's interest and quick involvement in the matter.

"Both the historical society and the university came out winners," he said.

Emily Zulz can be reached at 581-7942 or at eazulz@eiu.edu.

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