8-Sided School House Still Standing Strong

8-Sided School House Still Standing Strong AG WORLD Ag World 22-3-21 Charter Oak School, near Schuline, Ill., is one of the few remaining octagonal one-room schools still standing in America. School was conducted in the building from 1873 until 1953. When built, the school represented the latest in architectural design. Daniel Ling, a Michigan architect who designed the building, felt that an eight-cornered building with windows all around would offer better lighting since light would come in from all sides. It would also offer better wind resistance during storms, he felt. After closing in 1953, the school was vandalized. A former teacher purchased the building and began a local effort to restore it. The school is now under the care of the Randolph County Historical Society and is on the National Register of Historic Places in the U.S. It's open to visitors daily.

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