Georgia Road
Schoolhouse
This Schoolhouse and the West Freehold Schoolhouse are the only two original schoolhouses remaining in the Township. Situated on a parcel of land that was granted to the Township from the proprietors of East Jersey in 1735. A stipulation is the original deed was that the property must always be used for education. This school was in continuous operation from 1735 until 1956.
1800's
The Georgia Rd Schoolhouse site has a long and storied history. The property was originally part of a land grant by King George III of England, reserved for religious and educational purposes, to the Board of Proprietors of East Jersey in the early eighteenth century. They in turn deeded the property to Gov. Joel Parker in 1795 for the erection of a new school. The original school building was eventually completed in 1808, but was replaced by a new structure made of locally sourced wood in 1842. After that schoolhouse burned down, it was replaced with the current building built in 1862, making this latest iteration at least 159 years old.
Over the site’s 'life history,' it was used for educational purposes and as a house of worship for certain local Congregations, including The Friends (Quakers), The Assembly of God, The Methodists of Adelphia, and the Baptists of Ardena, who all supplied Pastors for Sunday meetings. The Assembly of God eventually built their own church across the street from current schoolhouse, which still houses the original school bell in its bell tower.
1900's
During its use as a schoolhouse, Freehold families continued to send their children to this location until 1935, when school district consolidation relocated students to the West Freehold School on Rt. 537 (also known as West Main Street). Eventual overcrowding however, caused the Georgia Schoolhouse to be reopened in 1947 and it continued operation until 1950. During the early days from 1735 thru 1874 the classes were taught for a full year on a September to August academic calendar with an additional two week break in the Fall for harvest and two weeks in the Spring for planting. Class was in session each day for at least 8 hours. In 1954 the Georgia Schoolhouse was repurposed as a special needs school until approximately 1957, which signaled the end of the one room schoolhouse era in the Township.
​
One notable alumni is Laura Southard Barkalow Donovan who began her education in 1901 at the Georgia Rd Schoolhouse at the age of 4. Upon her graduation at the age of 12, Donovan went on to Normal School in Trenton and received a teaching degree. The Normal School of Trenton is now known as Trenton State College). She returned to the Georgia Rd. Schoolhouse in 1917 as a teacher. Donovan went on to teach generations of Freehold children for 54 years. Her positive impact on the community was so great that the township named a middle school after her, The Laura Donovan School.
National Register
Having the Georgia Rd. Schoolhouse listed on the National Register of Historic Places will provide the local government the necessary legal and regulatory protections to safeguard the property. It will also provide us qualification for certain federal assistance for historic preservation programs. Additionally, listing this site benefits the Freehold Township community greatly by allowing the public more direct access and engagement with this historic schoolhouse through educational programing and guided tours.
​
Moreover, the National Register highlights the site as a national recognized place worthy of preservation and encourages economic revitalization. The township will benefit from the increased recognition of the property's historic significance, which in turn supports tourism, especially in the growing history tourism field.
​
Based on a successful application for listing the schoolhouse on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003, we were sent a letter of eligibility in 2004. However, several critical preservation projects for other sites forced the Freehold Township Historic Preservation Commission to table completing the application for several years. But given the historical significance of this schoolhouse and the associated land grant, we have refocused our energy and resources towards completing the National Register nomination.
The Freehold Township is fortunate to already have The Walker, Combs, Hartshorne Farm listed (1994) on the National Register. Additionally, our other one room schoolhouse, The West Freehold Schoolhouse, is currently being processed for inclusion as of 2020. Adding a third property to the National Register will be a phenomenal accomplishment in this day and age that highlights the township’s commitment to preserving its historic material culture and history. Moreover, since this is one of only two remaining one room schoolhouses in Freehold Township, the Commission is determined to take all the necessary steps to ensure its preservation and listing on the National Register of Historic Places.