Greenzweig School

A few years ago the Kuehner family near Trachsville leased the Greenzweig one-room school, built in about 1896, to Towamensing Township in Carbon County.  I believe the Township was asked to pay a dollar a year.  The question arose just what should the Township do with the school.  It was in bad shape, needing repairs.  

As a member of the Towamensing Township Historical Commission, I was dubious about accepting the offer of the school.  The Township already has a one-room school museum on Pohopoco Drive.  It’s Kibler one-room school, owned by the Palmerton Area Historical Society.  Kibler hosts events, is stocked with desks, and is periodically open to the public.  It has a website if you want to check it out.  Why did we need another school?

If we were to keep Greenzweig, we needed some funds to at least put siding on it.  One of the Township Supervisors estimated that at a minimum we would need $14,000 for vinyl siding and for labor to put it up.  How do you raise that kind of money? 

We sent out a letter with the property tax bills asking for donations.  I, pessimist that I am, thought we might get a few hundred dollars.  We received over $5000!  Think about that.  People who were paying their property tax, were willing to add extra money to preserve a one-room school.  

One of the members of the Historical Commission wrangled free siding as well.  So, we are going to proceed with the preservation of the school.  I am absolutely amazed.