Granville Township in St. Henry in Mercer County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Cranberry School Bell

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, May 3, 2016

1. The Cranberry School Bell Marker

Inscription.

The Cranberry School Bell. . , This bell is the original from the Cranberry School that used to stand directly across the road from this location. The bell was hung in the tower on the southwest corner of the school. Every day the bell was rung to begin the school day and call the children in from recess., Anton DeCurtins built the school in 1904 and its dimensions were 36 ft. wide, 50 ft. long and 30 ft. tall with a tower. it had a red tile roof, a basement and a steam furnace. These elements made it one of the most handsome and best- appointed school buildings in the county at the time. The front entrance of the school faced west. In July of 1923 electricity was installed in the school. Originally grades one through eight were taught in the one room schoolhouse., In 1938 the school was remodeled into a two-room schoolhouse when the Cranberry and Quinter schools were combined. Grades one through four were taught on one side and five through eight on the other. A teacher’s house and a bus garage also stood next to the school. Cranberry school was in operation until the 1960-61 school year when it was annexed to St. Henry Schools. The Cranberry School was closed when the new St. Henry elementary school was completed and ready for classes in September of 1961., At 2:00p.m. January 18, 1962, the school was sold at auction for six hundred dollars to Henry J. Vogelpohl, a representative of the catholic Church of Cincinnati, Ohio. The building was used as a warehouse for Robert E. Bruns Construction Co. until it was dismantled so the bricks could be reused. before the school was dismantled in 1972, Ray Stachler removed the bell from the school. He kept the bell for more than thirty years until the family of George Watercutter purchased it from his estate auction. The Watercutters donated the bell back to the parish where it is now displayed in front of the church. the only other piece of the school still in Cranberry is one of the original chalkboards, which at this time is in the home of Meradella Schwieterman. , Steve Watercutter 2008

This bell is the original from the Cranberry School that used to stand directly across the road from this location. The bell was hung in the tower on the southwest corner of the school. Every day the bell was rung to begin the school day and call the children in from recess.

Anton DeCurtins built the school in 1904 and its dimensions were 36 ft. wide, 50 ft. long and 30 ft. tall with a tower. it had a red tile roof, a basement and a steam furnace. These elements made it one of the most handsome and best- appointed school buildings in the county at the time. The front entrance of the school faced west. In July of 1923 electricity was installed in the school. Originally grades one through eight were taught in the one room schoolhouse.

In 1938 the school was remodeled into a two-room schoolhouse when the Cranberry and Quinter schools were combined. Grades one through four were taught on one side and five through eight on the other. A teacher’s house and a bus garage also stood next to the school. Cranberry school was in operation until the 1960-61 school year when it was annexed to St. Henry Schools. The Cranberry School was closed when the new St. Henry elementary school was completed and ready for classes in September of 1961.

At 2:00p.m. January 18, 1962, the school was sold at auction for six hundred

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

dollars to Henry J. Vogelpohl, a representative of the catholic Church of Cincinnati, Ohio. The building was used as a warehouse for Robert E. Bruns Construction Co. until it was dismantled so the bricks could be reused. before the school was dismantled in 1972, Ray Stachler removed the bell from the school. He kept the bell for more than thirty years until the family of George Watercutter purchased it from his estate auction. The Watercutters donated the bell back to the parish where it is now displayed in front of the church. the only other piece of the school still in Cranberry is one of the original chalkboards, which at this time is in the home of Meradella Schwieterman.
Steve Watercutter 2008

Erected 2008 by family of George Watercutter.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Education. In addition, it is included in the Historic Bells series list.

Location. 40° 23.581′ N, 84° 34.89′ W. Marker is in St. Henry, Ohio, in Mercer County. It is in Granville Township. Marker is at the intersection of Cranberry Road (County Road 115) and Fort Recovery-Minster Rd (County Road 30), on the right when traveling south on Cranberry Road. Monument is to the right,

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, May 3, 2016

2. The Cranberry School Bell Marker

Full view of marker, St. Francis Church to the left

on the front lawn of St. Francis Church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1519 Cranberry Rd, Saint Henry OH 45883, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. St. Francis Catholic Church (a few steps from this marker); The Cranberry Prairie (within shouting distance of this marker); In Prayerful Remembrance Of The Precious Blood Missionaries (approx. 2.8 miles away); Carthagena Black Cemetery (approx. 3.1 miles away); The builders 1876-78 of St. Aloysius Church at Carthagena Ohio (approx. 3.1 miles away); Pioneers of 1865 (approx. 3.1 miles away); St. Henry Catholic Church (approx. 3.4 miles away); Arthur "Artie" Bernard (approx. 3.4 miles away).

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, May 3, 2016

3. The Cranberry School Bell Marker

Marker can be seen at a distance; looking northwest from front steps at Cranberry Road.

The Cranberry School Bell image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, May 3, 2016

4. The Cranberry School Bell

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, May 3, 2016

5. The Cranberry School Bell Marker

Picture of the school, on the marker plaque

Credits. This page was last revised on January 9, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 4, 2016, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. This page has been viewed 391 times since then and 28 times this year. Last updated on January 8, 2024, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 4, 2016, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.