Built in 1887, Miami-Dade's first schoolhouse undergoes historic restoration

CBS News

7 hours ago

The oldest schoolhouse in Miami-Dade County, originally built in 1887 with wood salvaged from old sailing ships, is undergoing a welcomed restoration, but not without unexpected challenges.
The structure, known as the Miami Schoolhouse, sits on the grounds of Coconut Grove's Plymouth Congregational Church. While it had long appeared to be in good shape, a recent clearing of surrounding vegetation revealed extensive wood rot.
"The wood was rotten, so we took it out," Hugh Ryan of Hugh Ryan Construction told CBS News Miami. His company, which has restored buildings across Coral Gables and Coconut Grove, is leading the project.
Church and preservation group back effort
The schoolhouse, once relocated from the center of Coconut Grove to the church campus, had previously been restored with financial help from the church community. For church staff and the congregation, the project remains a point of pride.
The Villagers, Miami-Dade's oldest historic preservation group, also provided a grant to help fund the effort. "It is absolutely important that schoolchildren get to see the historical significance of this wondrous schoolhouse," said Jan Suvigne, a representative of the organization.
Remembering Grove's pioneers
Originally serving both as a school and a community center, the one-room structure honors Coconut Grove's early settlers, including the Frows, Monroes, McFarlanes, Peacocks, and Flora McFarlane, the first teacher.
Tours of the site will showcase original furnishings like desks, books, and the school bell. "It is a breath of fresh air. It is very peaceful," Ryan told CBS News Miami. "The buildings, such as this one, go back to a simpler time, which is nice."