The Thorington School Update

Posted byLinda Osborne CynowaPosted inFarming in North Macomb County, History, Village of Romeo, Washington TownshipTags:, , ,

Linda’s Monthly Monday Morning Moaning’s for December 1, 2025

For the last 18 years, the time frame I have lived in this area, I have traveled Mound Road at 31 Mile, sometime as much as a few days each week, and always pasted this sad bit of history sitting close to the road and abandoned. I wrote about the school in the ‘Washington Township’ book in 2019, always with the hope that something could be done to save this bit of Washington history. Every winter, I would have the thought, that one day I would drive past and she would be nothing but a pile of lumber. This past summer, our township Supervisor Sam Previti finally was able to close the deal for purchase, from the owners, and plans were put into place for the move to its new home. Just a look back on how this all started:

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 school was in operation from the 1840’s untill it finally closed in 1955.

On Wednesday October 24, 2025, the day had come for her to be moved to the new area on 31 Mile that will be her new home. With the help of the Romeo High School, teachers, administrators, and students who have designed the new park area, and will be the hand ons workers bringing this bit of history back to it’s original form again.

Starting her move onto Mound Road
Having made the right turn onto 31 Mile and passing the Brabb Cemetery
Waiting to be backed over the new foundation, in the field that will become Thorington Park

I am not sure how many blogs I have written about this school, but the next and probably last one will be sometime in the future when all the work is completed and she becomes a learning tool for students to see what life was like 100 years ago when students of all ages where learning in the same one room school house. With the start of its new roof, and the original bell secured, it’s nice to know that history can still be saved from neglect and made new again.

Hoping your Holiday Season and the New Year coming is safe and happy. On that wee’ note till next month, Monday January 5, 2026.

I would like to thank the Detroit News Paper for use of their images, and the Washington Township station WBRW for spectacular video, that can be seen on Utube, of the moving process it took to get the school to it’s new home.

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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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