Millerstown in Perry County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

A History of Millerstown Education

Perry County Bicentennial

— 1820 - 2020 —

A History of Millerstown Education Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 23, 2024

1. A History of Millerstown Education Marker

Inscription.

A History of Millerstown Education. Perry County Bicentennial. , In 1808, the Presbyterian Church served as the first School house in Millerstown. It was adjacent to the church cemetery on "Grave Street." The Borough enlarged the school in 1834 and combined it and a Juniata River school into one district, excluding the adjacent Greenwood Township., As the town's population grew, a large two-story frame school building was constructed on High Street in 1856. It exists today as an apartment building. A decade later an addition expanded the capacity to several hundred students. The first graduation of five students from the 12th grade was held in 1887. In 1925, a new frame building was built one block north of the original High Street School., In 1948, Greenwood Joint School District formed, merging the Millerstown school district with those of Greenwood and Tuscarora Townships. Liverpool Township joined the district in 1949. The 1925 school was updated and used until 1954 when it was replaced by a new Greenwood High School at 405 East Sunbury Street. In 1980, a new elementary school was constructed, completing a modern educational complex with enrollment of approximately 750 students., The Juniata Valley Normal School, a Venture in Higher Education , Silas Wright, local educator and author of the first history of Perry County, established a regional normal school in Newport in 1867, moving it to the High Street schoolhouse in Millerstown in 1868. A later historian H. H. Hain wrote that the "location provided easy access from every section of the county, and from the east and west on the Pennsylvania Railroad," enabling student transportation to Millerstown. With the availability of higher education, Hain observed "dozens of students became educators, lawyers, physicians, ministers, bankers, business men and intelligent farmers and homemakers." At one time, 160 students enrolled for the five-month sessions, which cost $60 in tuition. The normal school closed in 1878 but the building remains today.

In 1808, the Presbyterian Church served as the first School house in Millerstown. It was adjacent to the church cemetery on "Grave Street." The Borough enlarged the school in 1834 and combined it and a Juniata River school into one district, excluding the adjacent Greenwood Township.

As the town's population grew, a large two-story frame school building was constructed on High Street in 1856. It exists today as an apartment building. A decade later an addition expanded the capacity to several hundred students. The first graduation of five students from the 12th grade was held in 1887. In 1925, a new frame building was built one block north of the original High Street School.

In 1948, Greenwood Joint School District formed, merging the Millerstown school district with those of Greenwood and Tuscarora Townships. Liverpool Township joined the district in 1949. The 1925 school was updated and used until 1954 when it was replaced by a new Greenwood High School at 405 East Sunbury Street. In 1980, a new elementary school was constructed, completing a modern educational complex with enrollment of approximately 750 students.

The Juniata Valley Normal School, a Venture in Higher Education
Silas

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Wright, local educator and author of the first history of Perry County, established a regional normal school in Newport in 1867, moving it to the High Street schoolhouse in Millerstown in 1868. A later historian H. H. Hain wrote that the "location provided easy access from every section of the county, and from the east and west on the Pennsylvania Railroad," enabling student transportation to Millerstown. With the availability of higher education, Hain observed "dozens of students became educators, lawyers, physicians, ministers, bankers, business men and intelligent farmers and homemakers." At one time, 160 students enrolled for the five-month sessions, which cost $60 in tuition. The normal school closed in 1878 but the building remains today.

Erected 2020 by Borough of Millerstown; Perry County Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania, Perry County Heritage Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1808.

Location. 40° 33.114′ N, 77° 9.078′ W. Marker is in Millerstown, Pennsylvania, in Perry County.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 23, 2024

2. A History of Millerstown Education Marker

It can be reached from East Sunbury Street (Pennsylvania Route 17) west of Nace Street, on the right when traveling west. The marker is near the high school gym. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 405 E Sunbury St, Millerstown PA 17062, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South-Central Pennsylvania, in the Susquehanna Valley,

and in Greater Harrisburg.

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 walking distance of this marker: Millerstown United Methodist Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); David Miller (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Founding of Millerstown (approx. 0.2 miles away); Millerstown (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Millerstown (approx. ¼ mile away); Cochran-Anspach House

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(approx. ¼ mile away); James A. Beaver (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Millerstown (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Millerstown.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 25, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 24, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 528 times since then and 54 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 24, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.