One of Michigan’s first integrated schools is getting a second life, thanks to a local organization.
The historic Brownsville one-room schoolhouse in Cassopolis has been purchased by the Underground Railroad Society of Cass County (URSCC), and will be restored as a repository of photos and artifacts from all integrated, public, one-room schools in Cass County.
The site will also be used as a demonstration site for Michigan prairie education, inviting tours and education events, according to a release from URSCC.
The schoolhouse was built in the early 1840’s, and was integrated from the day it opened until it closed in 1957, making Brownsville among the longest integrated public school in Michigan. Friends of Brownsville School (FBS) has been formed to carry out this project, chaired by retired Cass District Library Director Jennifer Ray. This group will guide the restoration of the school.
Brownsville School is also a legacy of the Underground Railroad, operating primarily in Calvin, Penn and Porter Townships, from 1830s to 1850s. Over 1500 fugitive slaves, now called freedom seekers, were said to be helped on their journey to Canada.
Many Free Black families arrived in the area in mid 1840s and early 1850s. They bought property, primarily in Calvin Township, and established thriving farms, becoming respected members of the community. Many descendants of these pioneer Black families still reside in the area.
The 1850 census for Calvin Township shows both Black and white children going to school. The 1860 plat map of Calvin Township shows over a hundred Black owned properties, and four one-room schools, Brownsville School #1 is one of them.
URSCC purchased Brownsville School and two acres of property it sits on in November, 2022 from the Richard and Dennis Wooden family, whose relatives went to the school. It was part of the Wooden family farm since 1960’s, and required three years to clear title and zoning issues. URSCC has taken steps to save the structure during this interval, tarping the roof and shoring up the foundation.
The extensive restoration will require funding from various sources. Friends of Brownsville School will take on this challenge, as well as historical research and collecting memorabilia from other integrated, public, one-room schools in Cass County. Jennifer Ray says “This humble schoolhouse has extraordinary stories to tell, valuable lessons to teach. FBS looks forward to assisting URSCC to raising Brownsville’s voice. Come join us!”
If you would like to support this project, or join Friends of Brownsville School, contact Jennifer or go to www.urscc.org
(Photo from the URSCC website)
