Neshannock Church School - New Wilmington PA

The Neshannock Church School, located on the southwest corner of the intersection of Routes 18 and 208, was one of a handful of one-room schools built in Wilmington Township during the latter half of the 1800’s. It took its name from the Neshannock Presbyterian Church, which was originally located just across the intersection but moved into the village of New Wilmington in 1900. The small school was run by the local school board and was attended by Amish and well as “English” (non-Amish) children for many decades. The Neshannock Church School was one of three old schoolhouses – along with the J. P. Wilson and Cotton Schools – closed in June 1975 and sold at auction. (c1970) Full Size

The Neshannock Church School building and property were purchased for $9,000 by Jacob Marti, a Swiss immigrant who founded the neighboring Farmers Cheese Plant in cooperation with local Amish farmers in 1955. His son Jim Marti soon reopened the former schoolhouse as a dairy products retail shop known as the Cheese House, which was expanded with a large addition in 1976. The school was vacated again when the Cheese House was moved into the nearby roller rink building in 1991. I believe the former school was torn down at some point as the cheese plant – now part of the Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) co-op – was greatly expanded beginning in early 2011. (c1980) Full Size