Winchester School, the first school house was located on the southwest corner of the Sadler’s farm, now owned by Ed Haase, at ½ section 14 and section 15. It was built of logs 12 x 16 feet on the Indian trail going to Byron Center, Michigan. In Mr. Foot’s biography, he first attended school there in the summer of 1856, taught by Mary E. Lilly. In Mr. Jesse Lilly’s biography is related that he went to school at the age of four or five, which would be 1857, and his aunt Libby Lilly taught at that time.

Then the school was built one-half mile north on the J. Winchester’s farm, section 10, and stood on the same location where the present school house is today, February 8, 1957, therefore, it was called the Winchester School. In June, 1857 Miss Hard and her pupils marched, in a body, to the large school and they cleared the grounds. The building was 24 x 36 feet. The entire building was built of white pine. The wall was built by Floyd Bakker’s grandfather, William E. Baker. The entire length of the east wall of the building was placed a 36 inch white pine board, it was painted black, this was the blackboard. Also, it had a narrow iron stove, in which wood was burnt. The older boys had to carry in the wood each day. For each child going to school, the parents furnished a load of wood. The older boys also had to help keep the fire going.

In one corner was nailed a board, on which was placed a wooden bucket with water, which the older boys would carry from the spring across the road each morning, this was their drinking water. One tin cup was used by all the children. Lunches, in the winter time, were placed around the stove in order to thaw out as it would be frozen by the time they arrived at school. This building was moved back of the barn on the Winchester farm when the present building was built in 1892. The old school house was used by the Winchester’s for a sheep shed. This farm was later sold to Mr. Floyd Baker and he used the building for a pig house. In 1937, it caught fire and completely burned. Mr. Baker felt bad about it as there never would be another one built out of white pine as this was.

The oldest part of the present building was built in 1892 of brick, a one room school. In 1898, they placed the pupils in grades and had report cards. Mr. Ed Haase says, he can remember one teacher having 53 pupils, "all eight grades". Also, it pupils wanted to study advance studies, as outlines by the state, they could. Also, one year tow girls took the subjects and the teacher would have them recite during noon hour.

Some of the teachers that taught in 1890 and later were: Miss Lydia McLinn, Charles Baer, (Mrs. Jerome Lilly’s brother), Edith Loomis, Ray Haskin, Lee Osborn, Ray Hoffman (now dentist on West Leonard, Grand Rapids, Michigan).

In 1904, wood was bought by the load and delivered.

All shade trees were planted 52 years ago, (1905) by the school pupils. One tree died that apupil by the name of David Andrew’s had planted. Later this boy passed away and five boys: Mr. Haase, Mr. Owen Barney and three others planted a tree in memory of him, which is the large Elm standing to the east. Today whenever these men see the tree it brings back memories of the incident.

Then in 1925, another room was added, which makes the building as it stands today, February, 1957, a two-room school. The following teachers are employed: Miss Carol Middlebush, who is teaching Kindergarten and first grade; Mrs. Sara Clinton, who is teaching 2^nd and 3^rd grades.

The enrollment in this school at present (1957) is: 16 Kindergartners, 17 first graders, 19 second graders and 14 third graders.

The emphasis in this school is still on reading, writing and arithmetic.