OAK GROVE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Did you know Oak Grove is home to an 1890s one-room school house?
According to deeds and building dates, it was built in either 1893 or 1900, according to Oak Grove Tourism. When the school first opened it was for white children in the first through eighth grades. In 1936, it became a school for Black children and remained as such until it was closed in 1952. The school sat empty until it was donated to the city of Oak Grove by William Summerhill Jr. in 2004.
In 2024, it will mark 20 years since the City of Oak Grove came to the Oak Grove Tourism Commission and asked if they could help restore the historic building. The tourism commission accepted, and relocated the building to the War Memorial Walking Trail. The building was restored with as much originality as possible with antique children’s desks, a teachers desk, a potbellied stove and a blackboard.
Today it serves as a historic tourist spot that holds Oak Grove historical artifacts and documents. Visitors often exhibit a profound appreciation for the schoolhouse, according to event manager Scarlett Mayfield. “Travelers keenly relish the opportunity to explore the intricacies of the vintage schoolhouse, capturing poignant moments with their families against its storied backdrop,” Mayfield said.
It also has been used as a filming location in a 2018 film “The Silent Natural.” Oak Grove is part of the Southern Kentucky Film Commission which helps make the business of film easier by providing connections, services and resources to production crews, according to Visit Oak Grove.
During the holidays, the school house is transformed into a Santa workshop during the Christmas in the Grove event for children and families to enjoy.
Tours are available Monday-Friday between 8 a.m.-4 p.m. More information about the schoolhouse can be found on Visit Oak Grove or by calling 270-439-5675.