County recorder rings in new display with former Maple Grove School's C.S. Bell
Highland County Recorder Chad McConnaughey is pictured with a new addition to his office, a No. 24 C.S. Bell from the former Maple Grove Schoolhouse.
By Rory Ryan
The Highland County Press
Highland County Recorder Chad McConnaughey is ringing in a new addition to his office in the Highland County Administration Building.
For the past year – since the death of his mother, Beverly Ann (Emery) McConnaughey, on Aug. 19, 2022 – the county recorder has been working on a project to acquire the family bell from his siblings.
"It is a No. 24 C.S. Bell, and I thought that it would be awesome if I could display it in my office," McConnaughey said.
"Since Mom passed away, I have been working on restoring the old No. 24 C.S. Bell that has been a part of our family since the late 1920s. My great-great-grandmother, Susan Caroline (Shaffer) Mock, and great-great-grandfather, Lewis Henry Mock, purchased the old one-room Maple Grove Schoolhouse. This bell sat atop the one-room schoolhouse, and when they removed the belfry, the bell has been in my parents' yard ever since, to the best of my knowledge."
According to McConnaughey, the schoolhouse was deeded in 1877 as a school, and then when the one-room schoolhouses were consolidated, his ancestors purchased the school. The school is located on North Gath Road, just off New Market Road. McConnaughey's sister and brother-in-law, Regina and Danny Croy, own the school now – almost 100 years later.
"My brother, Jason, has the old teacher's desk out of the school," McConnaughey told The Highland County Press. "Today, Ethan, Will, Tate (sons) and I placed the bell in my office. I felt there wasn't a better place to showcase it than here. I will be framing the picture of the homecoming to the Maple Grove School on Aug, 14, 1927 and the original deeds to the property. That part is not complete yet."
McConnaughey welcomes visitors to stop by his office at 119 Gov. Foraker Place in Hillsboro and check out the display.
"I am pretty proud of how it looks and the history that encompasses it," McConnaughey said.
Pictured is a homecoming celebration at the former one-room Maple Grove Schoolhouse on North Gath Road in Clay Township.
