School on Saturday? Yes, Heritage Center wants to make it fun

This summer, children and their parents or guardians can enjoy a chance to combine old-fashioned learning and family fun in Oberlin's pioneer-era one-room schoolhouse located on the grounds of the Oberlin Heritage Center.

"Saturdays at the Schoolhouse" is a new program debuting June 14 and continuing each Saturday through Aug. 16. The schoolhouse door will be open from noon to 2 p.m. on those dates, and the Heritage Center will offer a variety of free activities for guests young and old in a "drop-in" style format.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Visitors can explore the building, take part in historic school lessons, and play games together inside and out, depending on the weather.

The Little Red Schoolhouse was built in 1836-37 and is considered the oldest building in Oberlin. It originally was located just north of what is now the intersection of Main and Lorain streets, and was utilized as the first free-standing schoolhouse in the community.

Children of many ages attended school there in the community's earliest years. With college and community closely intertwined, Oberlin's public schools followed the college's policy on integration and were open to all children, regardless of race. This was not the case for many other public education institutions in Ohio during that same era.

Those who wish to stay the afternoon can plan to take a guided tour of the Oberlin Heritage Center at 1:30 p.m. In addition to learning more about the Little Red Schoolhouse, the tour includes the 1866 James Monroe House, and the 1884 Jewett House.

Tour participants will hear stories of the Underground Railroad and abolition, student life, women's history, the development of aluminum, and much more. The tour fee is $6 for adults (with a $1 discount given to AAA members), and it is free for children as well as for Oberlin Heritage Center members.

The tour is recommended for children seven and older. Guided tours begin at the Monroe House, on the Heritage Center grounds. The Museum Store at the Oberlin Heritage Center (located in the Monroe House) also will be open throughout the afternoon.

The Oberlin Heritage Center offers visitors free parking, in its lot accessible off West Vine Street. For more information about "Saturdays at the Schoolhouse," call the Oberlin Heritage Center at 774-1700 or e-mail tourinfo@oberlinheritage.org.