Historic Name

Avonia School

Address

7490 Hathaway Drive

Municipality

Fairview Township

Tax Parcel

21010011009600

Historic District

Classification

Class 2 (Definitions of Classes)

State Key Number

15904

Historic Function

Education - school

Style

Gothic Revival

Built

1878

Architect

Builder

Barn Type on property

Last Entry Update

6/28/2016

Fairview Township had some of the first schools in Erie County, with the first constructed out of logs in 1804. The Avonia School, or schoolhouse number one, built in 1878, was one of the first brick school houses in the township. It was built on the site of the earlier McCray/Avonia frame school, and cost $2,000. At the time of its construction, there were twelve other school houses in the township. The Avonia School was the first school house to have two rooms. The larger room in the front was for older students, grades four through six, and in later years, including grades seven through nine. The smaller room in the back was for grades first through third. The school closed in 1952, and was used as warehouse until the 1960s. In 1964 the school house became a factory that produced truck covers. A decade later it became an insurance business. Today it is a single family residence.

Sources: Bates, Samuel P. History of Erie County, Pennsylvania. Chicago: Warner, Beers, & Co., 1884.; Freeman, Sabina. “Fairview Schools Have Long History in Erie County.” Cosmopolite Herald (Girard). February 12, 1976.; Sanford, Laura G. The History of Erie County, Pennsylvania from its First Settlement. Erie, PA: Laura G. Sanford, 1894.; The Fairview Area Historical Society, Touring Fairview Township, 2015.

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Photo courtesy, Erie County Assessment Office