HISTORY OF THE OLD SCHOOL HOUSE (1874 - 1948)

The little Old School House is the home of the Dennis Township Museum and History Center. It was built in 1874 on the corner of Petersburg Road and Hall Avenue. The land for this school was purchased from Charles and Sophia (Stites) Ludlam in 1872 for $250. On April 15, 1948, a fire occurred which destroyed the second floor. Later, repairs were made and a new roof was constructed over the first floor. A property swap took place between the Board of Education and the Township Committee in 1951 and a new Consolidated School was constructed on Academy Road. The Old Dennisville School building became the Dennis Township Municipal Hall until1994 when the new Municipal Complex was completed.

When the Old School House was vacated, the Township Committee gave permission for the building to be used as a Museum and History Center. Its on-going mission has been devoted to building a comprehensive collection of artifacts, historic documents and memorabilia as well as a collection of early photographs that when worked into thematic displays serve to memorialize and impart the laudable history of the Belleplain, Eldora, North-west Dennis, Dennisville, South Dennis, Clermont, South Seaville and Ocean View villages.