In 1965, Marple historian Clarissa Smith wrote with regret: “The date stone ‘MARPLE PUBLIC SCHOOL NO. 3’ has been lost. The grove of cedars has disappeared, if there ever was a cedar grove around the old school. Gone, too, is the belfry and the school bell, the porch, and even the front door.” She was mourning the fading legacy of the Cedar Grove School—Marple Public School No. 3.
Pennsylvania’s 1834 law authorizing townships to offer free public education allowed Marple to tax residents and formalize its school system. In 1837, Benjamin Garrett donated “one acre, more or less” on Cedar Grove Road to the school directors. The first school on the site served until 1875, when a new four-square, plastered stone building was constructed closer to the road.
Smith described the daily rhythm of the school: “The bell rang at nine o’clock each morning and again at one in the afternoon, following lunch. There were fifteen-minute recesses in the morning and afternoon. School was dismissed at four o’clock. Children sat at double desks facing the teacher’s desk and blackboard. A large coal stove stood in the center of the room, and children stood in the corner if they were bad. The teacher boarded across the road with school director Harry Hipple. Most children walked or rode horseback, cutting across fields in winter when snow was deep.”
One former student, Ruth Haws, recalled her mother placing her on the family horse and slapping its rump. “Old Dobbin” would take her to school and then come back for her in the afternoon.
In 1923, a new consolidated public school opened on West Chester Pike, and the township’s smaller schools were closed. Architect Joseph Blew Jr. purchased the Cedar Grove School and transformed it into a home for his family. He removed the front door and installed a large chimney in its place; the new fireplace became the centerpiece of the living room. The original 8-foot school windows were preserved, and upstairs bedrooms were added. The Blews lived there until about 1960.
Jim and Kathy Elliott bought the house in 1985 and have been its devoted stewards for nearly 40 years. The property includes a 1960s addition, the old school outhouse — now a garden shed — and terraced, tree-shaded lawns behind the house. As they prepare to pass it to the next generation, Kathy reflected on one of her favorite memories: watching through a window as a baby deer was born beside the patio. “What do I love about this place?” she smiled. “Nature!”
For more on the history of Marple, visit the Marple Historical Society website and Facebook page, and join the Society to keep up to date on coming events: www.MarpleHistoricalSociety.org