Historic Schools in Haddam
Prior to establishing separate districts, a schoolhouse was located in the village and the schoolmaster would teach there for three months out of the year and then travel throughout the rest of the town for the remainder of the year. Traditionally children attended school for 10-12 weeks in the winter and 10-12 weeks in the summer, when they were not needed to work on the farm or at home. Men generally taught in the winter months and women in the summer months.
By 1814, thirteen school districts has been established in town. Haddam Neck had its own school district and two partial school districts (Pine Brook and Middle Haddam) it shared with Chatham (East Hampton). Each district erected a schoolhouse (most were “one room”) to serve area students. District schoolhouses remained in use until the early 20th century.
There are a number of remaining historic schoolhouses in town which are now privately owned and have been converted for commercial or residential use. These include the Turkey Hill School, Tylerville School, Shailerville School, Ponsett District School and Burr District. A few of these historic buildings have been incorporated into larger buildings such as the parish hall used by St. James Episcopal Church on Killingworth Road. The Shailerville Schoolhouse has recently been restored and appears much like it would have in the 19th century.
The Old Green School
The "Old Green School" building, a later mid-19th century school building, still stands in the center of Higganum across the street from the Higganum Green on Candlewood Hill Road. This Greek Revival style building probably dates from the 1840s when Higganum was experiencing a population boom with the community's growing industry. This building, which was originally located across the street on the green, was used until 1894 when the Higganum Union School was erected. The "Green School" was later moved (1898) to its existing location by Clark Cutaway Harrow which used it as a store. It is now privately owned.
Higganum Union School
Higganum Union School stood on the Green between 1894 and 1951. It was replaced by Haddam Elementary School, located on the opposite side of Saybrook Road. There is a plaque on the Higganum Green acknowledging the school and it's many years of service.
Trivia: Toilets arrived at the Higganum School in 1929.
First District Schoolhouse
Built in 1866, the schoolhouse is one of at least eight remaining district schoolhouses in Haddam. In 1814 the town established 14 school districts and the First School District extended from Higganum's border south to Shailerville. The district schools were used into the 20th century. In the early 1950s a new elementary school was built in Higganum, which all Haddam students attended. Today the First District Schoolhouse serves as Haddam's Senior Center.
Candlewood District Schoolhouse
Located along the northwest side of Candlewood Hill Road, this was the third schoolhouse for this district. Closed in the early 20th century it has been converted to a private residence. Note the two entry doors, one for girls and one for boys.
Brainerd Academy
Located behind the First Congregational Church of Haddam and accessible by Field Park Drive, this imposing granite-faced building was built in 1839. Originally three stories tall, the building once featured a central bell tower. John and Nehemiah Brainerd organized Brainerd Academy "with an interest to devote forever to the accommodation of Schools of Learning and purpose of education." The school which admitted girls as well as boys was a college preparatory school offering Greek and Latin. The school served primarily New England students, although several came from the south and abroad including Ceylon. The Academy remained open into the 1890s and when it closed, was purchased by the Hazen Foundation. After the town hall burned in 1929 (see courthouse green) this building was used as the town hall and the third story was removed and the two-story portico was added to the façade.
Haddam Neck Schoolhouse
Haddam Neck was the fourteenth school district in Haddam and this school house was the third and last school building to be erected in the Neck. Built in 1822 the building was originally located across the street on the southeast corner of Quarry Hill and School House Hill roads. In 1916 it was moved to its present location next to the Congregational Church and continued to be used as a one-room school house until 1925. The building is used today by the church as its parish house.
Tylerville Schoolhouse
The Tylerville schoolhouse was located on the old road to Chester approximately behind the restaurant currently at 1617 Saybrook Road. It was torn down in the 20th century.
Shailerville Schoolhouse
The Shailerville Schoolhouse was originally erected at the south end of the intersection of Middlesex Turnpike and Old Turnpike Road. It was later moved to its current location (28 Old Turnpike Road) and converted to a private residence in 1928.
Turkey Hill Schoolhouse
Located on Dickinson Road, the Turkey Hill schoolhouse was used until 1930. It is now a private residence. The simple building features two entrances and a flag pole on the façade. It was used by the local 4-H club “Beats Them All” in the 20th century.
Brainard District Schoolhouse
Photo shows Augusta Burr in 1925 in front of the schoolhouse. Closed in 1928 the building has been converted to a dwelling. Note the two entry doors and flag pole above the center window.
Ponsett District Schoolhouse
The Ponsett School District had at least three different one-room schoolhouses prior to 1938. The earliest schoolhouse was located along Little City Road near the foot of Gunger Hill Road and was for a time called the Chestnut Hill School. The second was located near Dish Mill Road and the third according to “By Gone Days in Ponsett” across the street from 397 Little City Road. At times the Ponsett District joined with the Little City District due to low enrollment. The Ponsett School closed in 1932.
In 1938 the Town of Haddam sold to the St. James Church a half acre with the building known as the Ponsett School District Schoolhouse (Haddam Land Records 63:370) .
Little City Schoolhouse
The 1859 and 1874 maps of Haddam show the Little City District Schoolhouse located on the corner of Little City Road and Skunk Misery Road. A number of times Little City District consolidated with the Ponsett District School due to the lack of school children. The school closed in 1936. Pictured are students in 1901.
Burr District Schoolhouse
Located at the intersection of Brault Hill Road and the Killingworth Turnpike. Pictured is teacher Ginevra Clark. The school closed in 1932 and has been converted to a private home.