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The "Little Red Schoolhouse" on West Main Street near Coles Avenue is the home of the Maple Shade Historical Society since 1956. Open Houses at the school are on the first and third Saturdays of each month from 1- 4 p.m. weather permitting.
The school was a multi grade one room school like you would see on "Little House on the Prairie" or "Anne of Green Gables." It was built in 1811 and served as a school until 1909 when it was replaced by the school which was on North Poplar Ave. lastly Wee Love daycare.
After that it was a home and businesses until the Township seized it in 1935. They restored it somewhat to a school in 1940 and organized the historical society in 1956 to care for it.
It started as the "Chesterford School" built in 1811 and deeded to neighborhood subscribers on both sides of the Pennsauken Creek as far as Haddonfield Road.
After the 1871 Free School Law, it became a district school under Burlington County, Chesterford School No. 27. After the Township School Act of 1894, it was a district school in Chester Twp., then including Moorestown, and was School No. 1. Sometime in the 1890s the name was changed to the "Maple Shade School."
The Maple Shade Historical Society is interested in other historical places in town and the teaching of Maple Shade's history and we are interested in scanning old photos. Other artifacts and antiques we most likely do not want. We are focusing on the school and will have some exhibits concerning township history.
(Photos by John S. Flack.)
This is a physical club of people not a Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Subscriber Thumbs up to this or that group. Consider joining and making a difference by doing so to the real world town of Maple Shade Twp.
I'd have to guess 2/3 of all the MSHS money has come from one family. First the husband died and then the wife and each time they gave some money in their Will. If someone gives say 5,000- 8,000 dollars that pays for maybe the next paint job, the next needed repair, part of a new roof.
The school is one of Burlington County's one room schoolhouses and was in that tour program.
Here is a One Room Schoolhouses in Burlington County booklet.
Here is the 2008 tour paper.
Here is more information- Schoolhouses.pdf
While it is most likely fine to download or print out a personal copy, beyond that would not be, as copyrights apply.
For years there were school class trips to the schoolhouse. That was many years ago. I was there when Betty Procopio had young Girl Scouts (Brownies) there or maybe they were girls from OLPH. It was fun because Betty would pick old antique items from the museum items and ask, "Does anyone know what this is?" Maurice Rudderow in his 90s was there and would wind up giving the answers.
There was Edith Cutler's talk about "Maple Shade Before Electricity" where she would show the museum items and explain how people lived then.
There was Arthur Cutler's slide show which Joe Dugan later did.
Here is what happened in the Maple Shade Historical Society in 2008. I think they mean the work was done in 2008 for National Register. The school was placed on the register in 2009. MSHS2008.pdf
Here is the National Register of Historic Places in Burlington County, NJ- https://nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/nj/burlington/state.html
I am the new president and accept the challenges ahead. I have been an active member of the society since 2003. In the last several years I went through skin problems and unemployment which only in the end resulted in me making books of historical education of the township of Maple Shade.
If you think there is cool stuff at my website, in many ways the books take it all a step further. This website is not the Maple Shade Historical Society website. I will devote this page for announcements though.
The Maple Shade Historical Society is down to a handful of members and among them I am the youngest at 61 1/2. We need a few people who will give some sweat, time and dedication when needed. That might not always be the same people and obviously won't be the oldest people.
Some future goals will be display cases and a set day or 2 per month for open house at the Schoolhouse for about 4 hours.
That is about it for now. Also open to hearing ideas.
-Dennis Weaver
June 26, 2023
Contact-
856-667-8728 (Land line, no cell phone)
324 South Lippincott Ave.
Maple Shade, NJ 08052
email- DenMSHistory@outlook.com