- Hockessin
This school designated as in Hockessin school or the eight-square school is
a picturesque stucco octagon schoolhouse with a steep pitched roof. It was built before 1850 and is now gone.
It was in New Castle County and possibly the same schoolhouse as identified as Middletown although it is 30 miles from Middletown. Accompanying photo is probably the Hockessin school. It was id'd as such ..
Left click on the images below for larger versions.
Source: Ellen Puerzer.
Entered February, 2013.
Updated: June, 2015
Updated: August, 2015
- Middletown.
This octagonal school was known as School # 58 and stood near Middletown/Odessa on Choptank Rd. County Rd 435. It was near the Gov. Benjamin T Biggs estate which is at 435 Choptank Rd. He was the Gov of Delaware.
Marylouise McNaughton’s mother taught there from 1918-1921 and took picture with child on addition’s roof. New Castle Co.
Left click on the images below for larger versions.
Sources: R. Kline. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: August, 2015.
- Tallyville. A.k.a. Brandwine.
An Octagon school house, the "Eight Square School House." was built in or before 1893. One story. Brick. Located north of Tallyville, west of Route 202 ( Concord Pike), near Perry's Tavern.( Moved to an opposite corner by 1914.) At one point it was being used as a residence. Its present status is unknown.
Currently a rectangular school called Eight Square Dist. 6 stands in Talleyville at SE corner of Beaver Valley Road and Ramsey Road ( 39d49'46.47" N 75d32'58.05" W). It was built between 1893 and 1914 and possibly replaced the actual octagonal school called 8-Square. This one is rectangular and was converted into a residence at some point.
Recent research suggests these 2 listings are actually the same school. Descriptions as to locations are further evidence. Brandywine octagonal school was near the popular Perry's Tavern at the SE corner of Beaver Valley Road and Ramsey Road. Its called Concord Pike. Talleyville school was thought to be at Concord's Pike.
The Delaware Historical Society has several photos of Brandywine. While the earliest photo circa 1880-1890 differs because of a shed and a flagpole, the building themselves are similar . The Brandywine photos show it after being abandoned and the shed and flagpole are gone. The stone octagonal school building with a sharply pitched roof was known as The "Eight Square School House." and built before 1893. It is now gone.
A later rectangular school called Eight Square school District 6 built between 1893 and 1914, was converted into a residence at some point and reportedly still stands in that vicinity.
Left click on the images below for larger versions.
Source: William M. Croes, a student in the school in 1919.
Pamela Cawood and Heather Isbell Schumacher, Delaware Historical Society. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: August, 2002.
Updated: February, 2013
Updated: March, 2013
Updated: January, 2014
