By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
SCOTTVILLE — The 137-year-old former Scottville schoolhouse is going to be razed. In a memorandum to the Scottville City Commission dated Nov. 10, Scottville City Manager Clarence Goodlein made a recommendation that the commission support an effort of the Mason County Land Bank to demolish the building, located at 209 N. Main St.
The Mason County Land Bank Authority recently acquired the building from owner Alexandria McDonald after stalled proceedings in an attempt to renovate the building. The City of Scottville does not own the building.
According to the Mason County website, Mason County Land Bank Authority was created as a tool to help return blighted properties to productive use. Land banks can assist in the remediation of tax reverted properties and apply for grants specific to land banks in Michigan. Members of the land bank include Andrew Kmetz IV, Mason County treasurer; Janet Andersen, chair of the Mason County Board of Commissioners; Fabian Knizacky, former Mason County administrator; Monica Jewell, executive director of Pennies from Heaven Foundation; and Mark Barnett, mayor of the City of Ludington.
“While it seemed the recent efforts of the Mason County Land Bank Authority (MCLBA) and collaboration with the owner would result in a process that would render the building safe and cause renovation, these proceedings recently stalled and resulted in ownership of the property transferring to MCLBA,” the memo stated. “Subsequently, the MCLBA evaluated the feasibility of continuing the building’s renovation without the financial assistance of the previous owner and concluded that it was not feasible since the return on that investment would be unreasonable. Consequently, it is their intention to proceed with demolition of the building in the interest of public safety and so as to provide a future venue for development that is undetermined currently.”
The schoolhouse was constructed in 1888 as part of Amber Township School District No. 6, serving all grade levels. Elementary children were moved to Scottville Elementary after its construction in 1951. In 1955, the school became part of the Mason County Central School District through the consolidation of several districts. In 1959, a current high school was built at the North Main Street building became a junior high school until the opening of the middle school in 1976. The school district then sold the building. For a few years, the building house Faith Academy, a Christian seminary training facility. In the 1990s it housed retail businesses.
It has not been in active use for at least two decades and has fallen into a severe state of decay. The roof of the gymnasium has completely collapsed and visible structural deficits can be seen.
“City Administration visually inspected the building recently and some months ago had the building examined by a licensed builder and building inspector,” Goodlein stated. “As a result of these occurrences and discussions with the individual, City Administration agrees with the MCLBA’s conclusion that the building is unsafe and that renovation of the building is not a viable option due to the financial investment that would be required and the protracted return on investment that would most likely occur. Consequently, City Administration agrees with the MCLBA that demolition of the building is the only viable option for this building.”
Scottville School as it was built in 1888.
History of the school:
1877: A group of concerned men met on a woodpile at the intersection of what is now State and Main streets to discuss building a school in Scottville (then known as Sweetland). The men included Harry Melson, H. Schulte, C.W. Jones, J.C. Mustard, James Sweetland, J.N. Mack, Andrew Neil, and John Winters. Scottville school district was formed and school was conducted in a building on what is now Blaine Street (possibly Thomas Street at the corner of James Street). First school board members included John Tracy, C.E. Schumacker, and James Sweetland. Prior to this time, Scottville children walked to Jones School, located at what is now the corner of Johnson and Gordon roads in Amber Township.
Inside the gym
- 1878: A permanent building was built on the southeast corner of State and Main streets. First teachers were C.W. Jones and Sarah Turner. Other early teachers included Sarah Painter, Fred Fairbanks, and Emma Bishop Loomis. The first schoolhouse was later sold to the Seventh Day Adventists and moved to Third Street south of the railroad tracks.
- 1888: Brick schoolhouse constructed.
- 1893: First eighth grade graduation. Graduates included Effie Tracy, William Freedy, Johnny Greenway, Joseph Snell, and Ruth Bishop (later Falconer).
- 1903: First 12th grade graduation. Nora Cranley (later Clay), Pearl Shelley (later Henry), Ethel Fortune (later Sloan), Ray Trucks, Julia Landon, Frank Ponko, and Sherman Clay.
- 1911: North and south wings were added to the school.
- 1927: Gymnasium built on brick schoolhouse.
- 1951: Scottville Elementary built.
- 1956: Scottville Schools, along with several country schools.
- 1959: Mason County Central High School is built at the west end of Broadway Street. The old high school becomes a junior high.
- 1976: Middle School is built at the west end of Beryl Street. The old schoolhouse is sold.
- 1985: The schoolhouse is placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Scottville High School, built in 1888, which became a junior high in 1959.
__________________________
Please Support Local News
Receive daily MCP and OCP news briefings along with email news alerts for $10 a month. Your contribution will help us to continue to provide you with free local news.
To sign up, email editor@mediagroup31.com. In the subject line write: Subscription. Please supply your name, email address, mailing address, and phone number (indicate cell phone). We will not share your information with any outside sources. For more than one email address in a household, the cost is $15 per month per email address.
We can send you an invoice for a yearly payment of $120, which you can conveniently pay online or by check. If you are interested in this method, please email editor@mediagroup31.com and we can sign you up. You can also mail a yearly check for $120 to Media Group 31, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454 (please include your email address).
Payment must be made in advance prior to subscription activation.
We appreciate all our readers regardless of whether they choose to continue to access our service for free or with a monthly financial support.
_____
This story and original photography are copyrighted © 2025, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.
As the services of Media Group 31, LLC are news services, the information posted within the sites are archivable for public record and historical posterity. For this reason it is the policy and practice of this company to not delete postings. It is the editor’s discretion to update or edit a story when/if new information becomes available. This may be done by editing the posted story or posting a new “follow-up” story. Media Group 31, LLC or any of its agents have the right to make any changes to this policy. Refer to Use Policy for more information.
.png)