Crouseville’s First Public School

Circa 1865

On Map 3 the location of the first schoolhouse can be found near the center of the map, just above Crouse Island (indicated with an 8) and designated with an “S. H.” for schoolhouse. This schoolhouse was built around 1865[60] and was definitely in full operation by 1867.[61]

Crouseville residents were very serious about providing good education for their children and often played an active role in supporting the schools. Abraham Crouse, who was on the 1871 School Committee,[62] and Jesse Crouse, who was Treasurer of School Fund in 1877,[63] were among several local parents active in the promotion of schooling.

Additional school property was purchased September 1, 1869 by “The Trustees of the Ministerial & School Funds” from Jeremiah Crouse for $164.60, payable in installments over five years.[64] The agreement describes 30 acres on the north side of the “road leading from Salmon Brook in said Washburn to the bridge over the Aroostook river in Maysville [now part of Presque Isle]” located in Section 4, Lot 1. This lot is immediately to the east of where Map 3 shows the schoolhouse in 1877. Interestingly, eight years later on September 8, 1877, Jeremiah again sold the same 30 acre property in Section 4, Lot 1 to “the Treasurer of the School Funds”,[65] which indicates modifications to the first agreement were needed.

Also, on June 11, 1877 Abraham Crouse sold 15 acres on Cross Road to “Jesse Crouse, Treasurer of School Fund”.[66] On Map 3 this fifteen acres is located approximately where the “0” in Section “10” is located between lot 92 and 98, just below “A. Crouse” (Abraham Crouse’s homestead).

It is clear that from an early date the Crouseville residents were very interested in the education of their children.