Okemos in Ingham County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Education and Faith

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, June 4, 2021

1. Education and Faith Marker

Inscription. Basic education
For children “Readin’, (w)ritin’, and (a)rithmetic” were the “3 R’s” of pioneer learning. Pioneers rarely had time for more advanced or specialized subjects, such as history or literature. With one teacher for all eight grades, the older students helped the younger students with their lessons. Attending school was a privilege in the 1800s and children who misbehaved were dealt with harshly.

”High School”?
What’s that? Prior to the 1920s, Okemos and Haslett schools only went to the eighth grade level. If you wanted to pursue education in a “higher school”, you had to travel south to Mason or west to East Lansing.

The small, rural one-room schools were consolidated into two central schools in 1920 and upper grades were added in both Haslett and Okemos.

Randall School The Randall School was built in the typical style of a rural one-room school in the 1800s. Built north of Fowlerville in 1883, the school served farm children in Conway and Hardy Townships from first through eighth grades.

The school, used until 1975, was slated to be torn down. The Friends of Historic Meridian rescued the building

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

in 1987 and moved it on a flat bed truck along Grand River Avenue to Central Park. The school continues to be used to educate students about life in the 1800s.

Village Church The Methodist Society of Okemos met in members’ homes or the local school until 1870 when they built a church at the corner of Okemos Road and Methodist Street.

The members continues to worship in this building until 1969 when it was razed and replaced with a larger building to accommodate the growing membership.

A replica of the church was built in Central Park in 2008 and accommodates weddings, concerts and other events in the modern, air-conditioned facility.

Erected by Meridian Historical Village.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 42° 43.798′ N, 84° 24.902′ W. Marker is in Okemos, Michigan, in Ingham County. It is on Marsh Road 0.3 miles north of Central Park Drive, on the left when traveling north. Marker is part of the Meridian Historical Village. Touch for map. Marker is at

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, June 4, 2021

2. Education and Faith Marker

Close-up of left side

or near this postal address: 5151 Marsh Rd, Okemos MI 48864, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Mid-Michigan

and in Greater Lansing.

It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Farmstead (within shouting distance of this marker); Star Windmill (within shouting distance of this marker); Commerce (within shouting distance of this marker); Travel in the 1800s (within shouting distance of this marker); Pioneer Living (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Okemos Methodist Church (approx. one mile away); Chief Okemos / Okemos Village (approx. 1.2 miles away); Haslett (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Okemos.

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, June 4, 2021

3. Education and Faith Marker

Close-up of right side

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, June 4, 2021

4. Education and Faith Marker

In front of replica church

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, June 4, 2021

5. Education and Faith Marker

In front of The Randall Schoolhouse, a one-room rural schoolhouse, moved to the Meridian Historical Village in 1987.

Meridian Historical Village image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, June 4, 2021

6. Meridian Historical Village

Marker is located at the Meridian Historical Village in Okemos, Michigan.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 9, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 9, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 273 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 9, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.