The Sheldon School House, on Michigan Avenue just west of Sheldon Road, has had numerous transformations over the years and has served several purposes unrelated to its original use as a one-room schoolhouse. Its history dates back almost two centuries, and it was one of nine one-room schoolhouses in Canton.

Before an official schoolhouse was built, school for students in the historic Sheldon Corners district near today’s intersection of Michigan Avenue, Geddes Road and Sheldon Road, was held in up to nine different private residences. Log houses were eventually built to serve as schools, but the first two log houses burned, and the school eventually outgrew the third log building.

On April 23, 1835, land was deeded to the district by Timothy Sheldon, owner of Sheldon Inn (now demolished) for the purpose of building a permanent school building. Finished in 1838, the new wooden building was named Sheldon School and was organized as Frac. 1, Canton and Van Buren. Teachers at Sheldon School were paid $300 a year and were also the janitors of the school.

In 1868, land was purchased from Mitchel Perkins in order to enlarge the school. The new building was made of brick and finished that same year.

Due to the school’s small population and limited resources, families were very involved in its maintenance. In 1921, the Sheldon Parent Teachers Association (PTA) was formed, becoming an active force involved in many improvements to the school.

As the school’s population grew, more space was needed, and in 1927, a portable school was built to accommodate more students. In 1929, the school was changed from a primary school to a grade school, and in 1934, during the depression, a basement was added under the school and modern toilets were installed.

On Monday, June 18, 1951, there was a special election to determine if Sheldon School District would be annexed by the Wayne School District. This was an extremely controversial election that created a lot of outrage among parents. Critics of annexation, who published their opinions in the newspaper, argued that they would not have any voice within the large district of over 6,500 children and that Wayne would assume all school property, including the bus system and the money.

Despite the numerous complaints, the Sheldon School District was annexed in 1952, although the schoolhouse remained in use. In 1957, land was purchased on Geddes Road for new buildings, and until they were built, kindergarteners attended Walker School, and first through sixth graders stayed at Sheldon School.

As time went on, the schoolhouse was eventually no longer used as a school and sold off. For many years it served as home to a Baptist church, and, later, as the “Iron Coffins” motorcycle gang’s clubhouse, until it was eventually bought by the township in 1987 for $70,000, with plans to restore and repurpose it.

After its restoration was complete, the school served multiple purposes as a training office for Child and Family Services and an adult day-care facility for Alzheimer clients.

Now, the school is being repurposed once again and will be used as a branch of The Guidance Center’s Kids-TALK Children’s Advocacy Center, serving children who have been physically or sexually abused, neglected or have experienced trauma.

Almost 200 years later, the Sheldon School House continues to serve the people of Canton in meaningful ways for our community.

Visit www.cantonhistoricalsocietymi.org for more information.