The Randall Schoolhouse is a one-room rural schoolhouse built in 1883 for a total cost of $853.45 — a modest sum even then, yet enough to create a building that would serve students for nearly a century.
Located originally in Conway Township near Fowlerville in Livingston County, this schoolhouse served grades 1 through 8 until 1975. After closing, it was used for farm storage — filled with corn — until the 1980s, when it was rescued from demolition and moved to the Village in 1987.
Educational Programs
Today, the Randall Schoolhouse is the centerpiece of the Village's acclaimed school tour programs. Students experience 19th-century education firsthand:
- McGuffey's Readers — the standard textbooks of the era
- Slates and slate pencils — writing tools of the one-room school
- Teacher-led programs where a docent plays the role of a period schoolteacher
The schoolhouse program can be booked on its own or combined with the Village Sampler tour for a full day of living history.
Architecture
The building represents the classic one-room schoolhouse design that was once ubiquitous across rural Michigan: a simple rectangular structure with tall windows for natural light, a teacher's desk at the front, and student desks arranged in rows by age.
Rental Information
The Schoolhouse is available for private events:
- Capacity: Up to 20 guests (desks cannot be moved)
- Rate: $90 for 3 hours, $30 per additional hour
- Deposit: $45 to reserve (checks payable to "Friends of Historic Meridian")
- Cancellation: 2-week written notice for full refund