ANDREWS SCHOOL HISTORICAL MUSEUM
Please be advised that Andrews School is currently undergoing modifications and will be reopened in the future as the Andrews School Historical Museum.
For more information, please contact the Shelby Township Historical Society through the Shelby Township Clerk’s Office at 586-731-5102 or via e-mail at clerk@shelbytwp.org.
HISTORY OF THE ANDREWS SCHOOL
The Andrews School is a one-room school house that originally stood at 25 Mile Road and Mound, and is at least 140 years old, dating back to the 1800’s. It was named for Hiram Andrews who, in 1844 leased the land on which the school was later built. It appears that he was a member of the school district board for School District #4 in Shelby and it was to this group of three men that the land was originally leased “for the sole purpose of a School House and no other”1 However, in September 1864 the property was again leased for a period of “not less than 50 years” to the “Fractional School District #4 of Shelby and Washington”.
Documents imply that the school itself was not built until sometime after September 8, 1864 since in the recorded deed at that time Hiram Andrews makes the added provision “that said District build a School House on the aforesaid premises and use the same for School purposes for the consideration of which I have received $12.00”.
The Schoolhouse was built at least by 1871 because records dated that year refer to “5/8 of one acre with School-house thereon.” At this time the land was leased by Chester Andrews, son of Hiram who died in 1869, to the Fractional School District #4 of Shelby and Washington Townships for 90 years at the cost of $10.00 “provided that said District use the same for School purposes”. This School District later became a part of the Utica Community Schools.
The building was used periodically for classes in the 1950’s when the population in Shelby Township outgrew the schoolhouse. It was unused for a time and then had a succession of owners, one of whom converted it into a two-family flat. Later, Amoco Oil Company purchased it in hopes of locating a service station on the 25 Mile Road and Mound Road parcel.
In 1975, as a Bicentennial project, Shelby Township sought to purchase, move, and restore the building. In April 1975, the building was sold to the Shelby Township Bicentennial Committee for $1.00. One of the conditions of this sale was that the structure be moved within 90 days.
At this point the U.S. Army became involved. The original plan was to use a giant Army cargo helicopter from Selfridge Air National Guard Base to drop a hook and sling apparatus around the building and fly it to its new location. It was decided though, that this might crush the building so they attempted to lift it by its roof. Consequently, the roof came off. Finally, a U.S. Army transport crew and U.S. Army Corp of Engineers from Selfridge Air National Guard Base moved the building by ground transport to its present location.
Upon moving the building, there were many problems. The concrete foundations didn’t fit, the structure was put on the foundation backwards, the roof was damaged beyond repair, the walls were weakened, and most of the remaining tenants – wood-eating beetles – moved with the building.
A master carpenter and three assistants were hired with federal funds to solve these problems. A new roof was added just one week before the first snowfall. An exterminator rid the building of its inhabitants. Wobbly walls were secured to the foundation and the ceiling was braced against the gabled roof. The back of the building was made to look like the front, as doors and what once was the cloak room were moved. Insulation and new wood siding were also added.
A source of pride to those involved in the project was the addition of a bell tower which houses a cast iron bell obtained from another old school. The original bell was bought some time ago by a family in Memphis, Michigan by a family who wouldn’t part with it.
For a number of years the Andrews School was utilized as a “Historical Classroom” for teachers to spend the day with their students to learn a bit of what it was like to go to school in the 1800’s. The structure is currently undergoing modifications and will be reopened in the future as the Andrews School Historical Museum.
For more information, please contact the Shelby Township Historical Society through the Shelby Township Clerk’s Office at 586-731-5102 or via e-mail at clerk@shelbytwp.org.
