why not move this one?

There is a drawing in the museum at the Wilder Homestead showing the Wilder farm, a path through the woods and across Trout River and through more woods, and Almanzo's school at the end. It also shows Hardscrabble Hill, which is mentioned in Farmer Boy but actually existed in Spring Valley, where Almanzo also went to school.

While I was in Malone this past summer, I talked to a number of people about the location of the school Almanzo Wilder must have attended, and almost everyone I talked to said that there had long been controversy as to whether it was the school on Brainardsville Road on the way to Malone (the one on the map) or another schoolhouse that was once located southeast of the Wilder farm and also in Burke Township. The "other" schoolhouse is in Bellmont Township.

I am inclined to agree with those who believe the schoolhouse was the one in Bellmont. That schoolhouse is still standing, you know. You can get there several ways and from multiple directions, but the way Almanzo and his siblings would have gotten there is by walking a half mile down the dirt road just past the Wilder farm (and down a nice, steep hill suitable for sledding), then across bridge over the Trout River (and near a "pond" suitable for swimming), then another mile through the woods to arrive at the back of the schoolhouse. This wouldn't be too far for tourists to walk, except that the "woods" is now private property and the owner of the schoolhouse isn't selling. Or won't sell. Or is asking way too much, depending on who you talk to.

What amazed me the most was that there is still a path through the woods from the river to the schoolhouse. No, I didn't walk it - I was a law-abiding citizen that trip - but you can clearly see the path after crossing the bridge. And because I was curious, someone showed me photos taken from the path and some photos from the air of the path. I was suitably impressed.

I applaud the fact that the Wilder Homestead is planning to build a replica schoolhouse on the Wilder farm, but I do wish heaven and earth had been moved in order to restore or relocate the existing historical schoolhouse instead.
- posted by pioneergirl at 12:07 AM