THE FIRST SCHOOL: Old settlers of the Schuline area - Boyds, Beatties and Weirs - recalled that school children were first educated in homes of various farm families with one paid teacher. Eventually, a one-room log school was constructed on land known as the Weir property and was paid for by private subscriptions. This building had a door on one side and a fireplace on the other. Floors, seats and tables were of hewn planks and windows of greased deerskin. Later, a one-room frame building measuring 20 x 30 feet was constructed, used for ten years, then sold and moved to Schuline.

A NEW IDEA: During the last year, the frame structure was used (1872-1873), a young teacher, Daniel Ling, a native of Michigan, came to the Schuline community. Records show he was “educated in the East, was scholarly, could read Greek, and was a skilled architect”. Ling felt “an eight cornered building with windows on each side would offer improved lighting since light comes from all sides as nature intended, and would also offer better wind resistance to storms”. Blackboards painted on walls could be seen from any part of the room when lesson outlines were given. An arrangement of rows of desks narrowing as they converged to the center of the room with the teacher standing in the center would be space saving. However, this seating plan proved impractical, as varying sizes of desks were too expensive.

A NEW SCHOOL AND A NEW NAME: When the board of directors, Stephen Wright, John Bicket and Daniel Klee, decided to construct a new building, Ling convinced them and local residents that his architectural plan of an octagonal building was sound, and was chosen to supervise construction of the building. Construction by carpenters William Holcomb and Franklin Adams cost $1000 which was approved in a bond issue.

Up to this time, the names of Old Oak, Boyd School and District 7 were used locally to refer to the school. Residents and students were very proud of their new brick building and wanted a special name for it. A large, beautiful oak tree stood on the grounds. According to early residents, a student, Agnes Houston, suggested the name Charter Oak in honor of the famous Charter Oak of the Connecticut Colony.

A COMMUNITY CENTER: School started in the new building in the Fall of 1873 with Miss Avis Allen as teacher. Attendance varied throughout the years with a maximum of 46 pupils reported one year. The school soon became a community center. It was used for public and farm meetings, church and Sunday school, spelling bees, speaking contests, political rallies and other civic affairs. Throughout the years, structural changes were made. Some of the changes were made for convenience and some to conform to State regulations. These included a bell, tuck-pointing, adding a vestibule, two additional windows and a door.

CONSOLIDATION AND DECLINE: As years passed and schools were consolidated, need for the little one-room schools declined. When Charter Oak was closed in 1953, Mrs. Theresa Roche was the teacher. A basket dinner was held on closing day and many former pupils returned to bid farewell to an era now past.

The vacant school building deteriorated and became a target for vandalism. Later it was sold at public auction and a former teacher, Miss Nellie Ohms, purchased it for sentimental reasons. Because of its unique design and historical significance, the Randolph County Historical Society became interested in the building. Miss Ohms was contacted and was very receptive to its restoration. In 1960, it was sold to the Society for $600. Numerous fund raising events were held to pay for the building and for its restoration. The most famous of these was the Corn Fest, which has become an annual event, held on the first Saturday in August.

Former pupils and friends from miles around return to the old school grounds to eat fried chicken, corn on the cob, sliced tomatoes and Indian pudding.

TODAY: Major restoration was completed in 1968. In 1970, the state became an official Illinois State Historical Site and a historic plaque donated by that office was erected on the grounds. In 1978, the school was placed on the National Register of Historical Places of America. A board of directors supervises maintenance and upkeep of the grounds and building.

Avis Allen (1868-69)*; Rachel Adams (1868-69)*; Joseph Weir (1869-70); Andrew Donaldson (1870-71); Mason Pressley (1871-72); Daniel Ling (1872-73); Kate Hood (1873-74); Samuel Boggs (1874-75); Taylor Wright (1875-76)*; Melissa Uhles (1875-76)*; Joseph Weir (1876-77); Taylor Wright (1877-78)*; Mary Boyd (1877-78)*; Andrew Donaldson (1878-80)*; Eliza Boyd (1879-80)*; Gilford Warren (1880-81)*.

Belle Holcomb (1880-81)*; William Boyd (1881-82)*; Alfred Timple (1881-82)*; William Boyd (1882-83)*; Stephen Holcomb (1882-83)*; William Boyd (1883-84); Mattie Jeffrey (1884-86); Jennie Lynn (1886-87); William Boyd (1887-88); Florence Barber (1888-89); Mrs. Taylor (Belle Wright) (1889-93); Mary Boyd (1893-94); Tillie Boyle (1894-95); Herbert Beattie (1895-96); Lyda B. Stewart (1896-1900); Lena Daner (1900-01); Herbert Beattie (1901-03); Ruth Rutherford (1903-04); Ada Baird (1904-07); Elsie Gerlach (1907-08).

John Dodge (1908-09); Herbert Beattie (1909-11); Jennie Finley (1911-12); Ethel Beattie (1912-15); Pertie Boynton (1915-16); Garnett Lively (1916-18); Mona Ervin (1918-20); Ralph Diskey (1920-22); Olive Bowen (1922-24); Esther Reinhardt (1924-26); Ada B. Townsend (1926-29); Olive Bowen (1929-32); Sterret Robb (1932-34); Esther Reinhardt (1936-38); Eugene Been (1938-40); Thurston Taggart (194041); Ivan Lee Wilbracht (1941-43); Katheryn Marshall (194345); Gertrude Marshall (1945-51); Theresa Roche (1951-53).

*Note: From 1868 through 1883 there were two school terms (winter 5 months and spring 2 months).