School History Part 1: Humble Beginnings (1860-1871)

Port Hope’s educational journey started around 1860 with a simple schoolhouse near the lake, fondly known as a "shingle shanty by the shore." Mrs. Caroline Bacon Haywood taught the first group of pioneer children, setting the foundation for the community’s learning.

By 1870, as the town grew, a new schoolhouse was built for $2,500—a significant investment at the time. The Huron County News celebrated it as “a modern improvement for the teaching of the young.” Dorothy Carr, who earned her teaching position by writing answers on a blackboard during an exam, became the school’s long-term teacher. Her friends were envious of her success, showing how highly coveted the teaching job was in those days.

Want more about School Days in Port Hope history? Stop by the Mercantile to get your copy of the book, "Portrait of a Village: Port Hope, Huron County, Michigan."

This picture was taken in the 1930s when children still carried their lunch to school in a pail.