Restoration of Morris Schoolhouse

Restoration of Morris Schoolhouse

Built in 1879, the Morris Schoolhouse is a preserved piece of West Lafayette's educational history. Originally known as Wabash Township School No. 5, the one-room schoolhouse served local students for nearly 40 years before closing in 1916 due to school consolidation.

Through the efforts of the West Lafayette Parks and Recreation Foundation, community members and dedicated volunteers, the historic building was relocated and restored. Today, it stands at Cason Family Park, connecting the community's past with opportunities for education and exploration.

Its History and Restoration

In 1964, Lynn Cason became the schoolhouse's caretaker, maintaining the building and protecting it from deterioration. When the surrounding land was later sold to Franciscan Health, Cason was determined to preserve the schoolhouse rather than leave it behind.

To support its preservation, Cason donated 13.6 acres along Cumberland Avenue, just east of the schoolhouse's original location, to the West Lafayette Parks and Recreation Foundation. This contribution helped lay the groundwork for what would become Cason Family Park.

Led by former Foundation board member Sue Eiler, the Foundation launched a brick fundraising campaign to relocate and restore the historic structure. Through community donations and support from the City of West Lafayette, $80,000 was raised to help preserve this important piece of local history.

For a comprehensive history of the space, watch Saving the Morris Schoolhouse.

Project Goals and Community Impact

The restoration of Morris Schoolhouse focused on historic preservation, education and community engagement. The project aimed to:

• Preserve local history: Protect one of the area's remaining one-room schoolhouses and its connection to early education.
• Create educational opportunities: Provide a historic setting for educational programming and hands-on learning.
• Encourage community involvement: Unite residents, volunteers and local organizations through fundraising and preservation.
• Enhance Cason Family Park: Incorporate a historic landmark into a public space where visitors can connect with the area's past.

A Living Piece of History

Today, Morris Schoolhouse serves as an educational resource for the community and local schools, offering opportunities to discover what learning and daily life looked like in a 19th-century one-room schoolhouse.

Thanks to dedicated volunteers, the schoolhouse also offers public open hours, inviting visitors of all ages to step inside, explore the past and experience a piece of West Lafayette's history firsthand.

Interested in volunteering? Help keep local history alive by supporting educational programming and public open hours at Morris Schoolhouse.

Learn more about volunteer opportunities.

A Special Thank You

West Lafayette Parks and Recreation and the West Lafayette Parks and Recreation Foundation extend their sincere gratitude to Lynn Cason, former Foundation board member Sue Eiler, and the many donors and volunteers who made this restoration possible.

Their generosity, leadership and dedication helped preserve a meaningful piece of West Lafayette history for generations to come.