U.S. Grant's first school featured on Christmas home tour
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The Christmas Home Tour, sponsored by the U.S. Grant Homestead Association, will be held on Sunday, Dec. 4 from noon-5 p.m. The tour begins at the Thompson House Gallery, 203 East Grant Avenue where you can buy tickets and pick up a tour packet.
Tickets are $10 and are available at Donohoo’s Drugstore on the west side of the courthouse square or by phone at 937-378-3087. All ticket purchasers will be entered in the drawing for a special John Ruthven-Thompson House Basket with a retail value of over $125. You do not have to be present to win.
Featured on the tour will be Ulysses Grant’s first school at 208 East Grant Avenue. This small one-story, two-room brick structure was built by Abel Rees in 1824 as a Methodist meeting house. The building features a rock foundation, heavy sills of hand-hewed timbers, and a rock wall extending across the cellar, dividing the house into two rooms. It served the local Methodist congregation until 1827 when a new church was built on North Water Street just across from the Grant home. The building was then converted into a subscription school which Ulysses Grant attended until 1830 when a new school was built on South Water Street.
When Ulysses started school here sometime between the ages of 5 and 6 there was no state or local government support for education. Schools were established and maintained by the parents of the students.
The current owner, Liz Doss, has completed an extensive remodeling project which preserves the character of the original structure. Don’t miss the opportunity to see this historically significant early building that has seldom been open to the public.
Tickets are $10 and are available at Donohoo’s Drugstore on the west side of the courthouse square or by phone at 937-378-3087. All ticket purchasers will be entered in the drawing for a special John Ruthven-Thompson House Basket with a retail value of over $125. You do not have to be present to win.
Featured on the tour will be Ulysses Grant’s first school at 208 East Grant Avenue. This small one-story, two-room brick structure was built by Abel Rees in 1824 as a Methodist meeting house. The building features a rock foundation, heavy sills of hand-hewed timbers, and a rock wall extending across the cellar, dividing the house into two rooms. It served the local Methodist congregation until 1827 when a new church was built on North Water Street just across from the Grant home. The building was then converted into a subscription school which Ulysses Grant attended until 1830 when a new school was built on South Water Street.
When Ulysses started school here sometime between the ages of 5 and 6 there was no state or local government support for education. Schools were established and maintained by the parents of the students.
The current owner, Liz Doss, has completed an extensive remodeling project which preserves the character of the original structure. Don’t miss the opportunity to see this historically significant early building that has seldom been open to the public.