Mount Joy Township near Littlestown in Adams County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Pleasant Grove School

"Mud College"

— 4084 Baltimore Pike —

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 27, 2020

1. "Mud College" Marker

Inscription. Pleasant Grove School
"Mud College"
circa 1869
has been placed on the
National Register of
Historic Places
by the
United States Department
of the Interior

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1869.

Location. 39° 45.842′ N, 77° 8.257′ W. Marker is near Littlestown, Pennsylvania, in Adams County. It is in Mount Joy Township. It is on Baltimore Pike (Pennsylvania Route 97) just west of Mud College Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4084 Baltimore Pike, Littlestown PA 17340, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South-Central Pennsylvania. It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker,

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measured as the crow flies: Littlestown (approx. 3 miles away); Littlestown 250 Years (approx. 3 miles away); a different marker also named Littlestown (approx. 3 miles away); a different marker also named Littlestown (approx. 3 miles away); a different marker also named Littlestown (approx. 3 miles away); Peter (Klein) Little (approx. 3 miles away); a different marker also named Littlestown (approx. 3 miles away); Littlestown War Memorial (approx. 3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Littlestown.

Also see . . . National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form.
This form was submitted by Elsie D. Morey of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on December 9, 2011. The summary statement of significance is on page 7:

The Pleasant Grove School, a one room schoolhouse, is located immediately alongside the historic Baltimore Pike in Mount Joy Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania, and meets Criterion "A" for its association with an important event or trend—Education. The Pleasant Grove School was an integral part of the township community's social and cultural life while simultaneously playing a defining role
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 27, 2020

2. The Pleasant Grove Schoolhouse
in Mount Joy Township's "early" (late 19th-mid 20th century) public school movement. Within this school building continuous public education was provided to hundreds of neighborhood children in grades 1-8 from 1869 to 1949 when it officially closed. The very nature of the one room schoolhouse made it the social focus and nucleus of the community. Teachers, students, parents and supporters were all one big involved, extended family. This created a culture where learning thrived through shared values and general bonding. Through the dogged efforts of the children of a prominent local family (who all attended the school) the school was acquired following its closure, celebrated through annual reunions and special programs, and "gifted" to the Township in 2000—fulfilling long-term family objectives of salvaging and reusing the schoolhouse. The schoolhouse is now preserved as a fully-equipped period-accurate museum and hosts an active, acclaimed, living history program for area students, demonstrating its continuing dynamic educational influence in the community. The Pleasant Grove School is the only municipally owned and operated "original
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 27, 2020

3. Roadside sign for the schoolhouse
Mud
College
Schoolhouse

Mt. Joy Twp.

Built
1869
one-room schoolhouse transformed into a museum" in existence today in Adams County. The school reflects the value placed on education, especially the education offered in a one-room school, by this community. The period of significance begins in 1869, when the school opened, and ends in 1962 (the 50-year guideline), as at that time the Grouse family was continuing their efforts to maintain and celebrate the school by offering popular annual reunions and special programming to share the type of education historically offered by one-room schools in Adams County.

(Submitted on August 12, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.)

Donor and dedication plaque on the building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 27, 2020

4. Donor and dedication plaque on the building

Credits. This page was last revised on August 12, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 27, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 695 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 27, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.