The Thorington School

Posted byLinda Osborne CynowaPosted inUncategorized, Washington TownshipTags:, ,

Linda’s Monday Morning Moaning’s

I have been very fortunate for those of us that love to see the old buildings and majestic homes that were built so many years ago and have been maintained and well cared for. 

What I have a very hard time with is the neglect that does occur in certain instances, where I am not sure it should take place. I live in Washington and travel past an old school building that I have watched further deteriorate over the last years. This one room school house is called the Thorington School. The school is located on the west side of Mound Road just south of 31 Mile Road. The school has been in existence since the 1840 where many of the areas pioneering families sent their children to be educated.

Circa 1890 photograph, with Mary Barnes the teacher and some of her students

James M. Thorington was born on 26 January of 1837 in Washington Township the son of James and Sally Brown Thorington. His father would work the farm for 30 years being involved with agriculture and buying land. When he retired he owned 700 acres in Washington. When James M married Mary Starkweather in 1857 and they raised 5 children on their 320 acre farm on Mound Road between 30 and 31 Mile Roads. James Thorington Sr. owned the 1/8 acre on which the school stands, with it being a part of his 158 acre farm. When the elder James Thorington died, his son James M. took over his farm and would continue to lease the school property.

The 1931 Thorington School class photograph with the ‘Washington Township’ Arcadia book listing names of students

The school would close due to a need for school consolidation on June 2 1955. 

I have thought many times, why something can not be done about saving this valuable part of Washington history? I have always thought the Township should pay the present owners a nominal fee and if necessary move the school to an area in town. Look for people who would be willing to refurbish the building, and use it for educational purposes for both young and old.

My ideas are probably very simplistic and naive and I will be the first to say I am not familiar with what it would all take to make this happen, but I do know that the owners have done nothing to save this treasure and one day we will pass the little plot of land on Mound Road and 31 Mile and it will have fallen and this small bit of Washington history will be lost for good. 

On that ‘wee’ note, till next week.

Thorington School today

The two vintage images courtesy of the Greater Washington Township Historical Society, Thorington School today from the authors collection.

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Published by Linda Osborne Cynowa

Linda Osborne Cynowa has lived in the Washington Township community since 2007. She moved to this area because of its beautiful hills, stunning scenery, and fruit orchards. Linda’s background is in photography, genealogy, and with a lifelong love of history, found herself working in a voluntary capacity with the Romeo Community Archives at the Romeo Kezar Library. She researched the many historic homes and families in the Romeo and Washington area, which led to a keen interest and knowledge of the area’s history. With a love of the Arcadia Publishing ‘Images of America’ books, she was always bothered that Washington Township wasn’t represented. When inquiring about this, she was told, “You haven’t written it yet”! With the encouragement of the Archivists at the Community Archives, a proposal was submitted for consideration. In September of 2019, WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP became part of the ‘Images of America’ series.

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