"It seemed, as I recall it, a lonely little house of scholarship, with its playground worn so bare, that even the months of sun and idleness failed to bring forth any grass. But that humble little school had a dignity of a fixed and far off purpose . . . . It was the outpost of civilization. It was the advance guard of the pioneer, driving the wilderness farther into the west. It was life preparing wistfully for the future.”

-James Rooney, in Journey from Ignorant Ridge

    “I still remember going there for the first time after we closed the deal. As I was sitting in the middle of an empty floor looking at all that needed to be done, I was hoping that someone would knock on the door and offer me a dollar for the place. I might have taken it.”

- from “Reflections” by Phil Van Eyl 1994

(click link above to read about the details of their two year restoration project)

      After spending the winter months refurbishing the interior of the school I realized I had better not wait too long to restore the roof. The yard was strewn with deteriorating shingles after every windy spell. While I made plans for my upcoming fall wedding I studied Preservation Briefs #19 (The Repair and Replacement of Historic Wooden Shingle Roofs) supplied by the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries, visited lumber yards and interviewed five different contractors.

     Three different layers of roofing material were removed; the original cedar shingles, green asphalt and a more recent layer of cedar. Joe discovered that the original decking was made of assorted one inch thick maple, redwood and red pine boards spaced three-quarters of an inch apart with widths varying between six and twenty inches. He also observed that in 1867 only one nail had been used to secure the end of each board. He added a few more nails.

     On April 12th, 2006 the local Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society presented Stafford a Heritage Preservation Award in the category of “Preservation of the Historic Built Environment "

The adjacent woodshed also received a new
cedar roof. 

     The Schoolhouse had a wonderful two-track driveway that was just as sweet with nostalgia as the schoolhouse itself. After the rains it held puddles that the wild birds loved to bathe in and it bloomed like the rest of the weedy lawn with wildflowers. Alas, the holes were growing deeper, wider and muddier every day and I was beginning to anticipate my upcoming Grand Opening Party on June 3rd, 2006 (approximately 300 attended).

     Today, when I pull into the newly- improved and graded driveway, I don’t have any regrets. But that first night I grieved the loss of the two-track that I loved. It might seem silly, but I really did. 

     A handicap access ramp on a 600 sq. ft. historic building? I know, another unwanted alteration. But with the help of a talented architect (who specializes in the rehabilitation and re-use of old buildings), a fruitful first season of business and the Federal Government, I decided to pour.

     Hand-crafted iron railings are in the works. 

     “My, you do have a rather large pile of brick back there.” A comment I often hear from visitors who happen to spy my collection from the back window of the schoolhouse.

     “I have a vision that includes a lot of brick!, I reply. “Old Chicago Commons that match the ones on the schoolhouse and old pavers to be exact.”